Operations Manager

Impact Food Group; Cricklade; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car Allowance

25 days annual leave + holidays

Life assurance

Company pension

Healthcare

Learning & development platform

Job summary

Impact Food Group is seeking an experienced Regional Operations Manager to oversee a portfolio of school kitchens across the North Wessex Downs and surrounding areas. You will travel between sites, ensuring high standards of food, service, and operational efficiency while leading multiple teams.

The role requires hands-on leadership, strong stakeholder management, and a track record of delivering improvements in large-scale catering environments.

Qualifications

• Experience as an Area Manager or Operations Manager in contract or retail catering.
• Managing at least 8 sites across a portfolio.
• Strong people management and stakeholder communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate, and develop your teams to deliver outstanding results.
• Build strong relationships with clients, suppliers, and stakeholders.
• Monitor and improve operational performance across your portfolio.
• Ensure food quality, hygiene, and compliance standards are met.
• Manage financial performance, including budgets and contracts.
• Support Chef Managers with recruitment and HR tasks.
• Present data, reports, and insights to demonstrate operational success.

Skills

People management

Budgeting

Client relations

Multi-site leadership

Food quality

Compliance

Recruitment

HR operations

Data reporting

Office software

Tools

MS Office

Spreadsheets

Presentations

Job description

Impact Food Group (IFG)is one of England’s fastest-growing school food providers,serving aroundone million students every dayacross more than1,500 schools.We are dedicated to delivering high-quality, nutritious meals that support student wellbeing and enjoyment.

Our brands includeInnovate, Cucina, Chapter One (Independent Schools), Hutchison,and Dolce, reflecting our breadth of experience and reach across the school catering sector.

We’re growing fast, and we’re looking for an experienced Operations Manager to oversee a portfolio of schools, supporting our teams and ensuring exceptional food, service, and operational standards. This is a field-based role, so you’ll need to be prepared to travel between sites.

About the role

Job Title: Regional Operations Manager

Location: North Wessex Downs,M4 Corridor and surrounding area.

Working Days: Monday to Friday

Shifts & Working hours: 45 hours per week

Working Weeks: 52 week contract- 5.6 weeks holiday

Pay Details: In line with role

What You’ll Do:

We are looking for a self-motivated, resilient, and highly organised multi-site Operations Manager with a background in high-quality food catering services. As an Operations Manager, you’ll be the driving force behind multiple school kitchens, ensuring every site runs smoothly:

• Lead, motivate, and develop your teams to deliver outstanding results
• Build strong relationships with clients, suppliers, and stakeholders
• Monitor and improve operational performance across your portfolio
• Ensure food quality, hygiene, and compliance standards are consistently met
• Manage financial performance, including budgets, commercial and fixed-price contracts
• Support Chef Managers with recruitment, HR, and day-to-day operations
• Present data, reports, and insights to demonstrate operational success

Who We’re Looking For

You’re a hands-on, results-driven manager who thrives in a fast-paced environment. You’ll have:

• Experience as an Area Manager or Operations Manager in contract or retail catering, managing at least 8 sites
• A proven track record of leading multi-site teams, with strong people management skills
• Confidence communicating with everyone—from kitchen teams to senior stakeholders
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to prioritise effectively
• Strong proficiency with Office tools, spreadsheets, and presentations
• A passion for fresh, contemporary food and delivering outstanding service

We’re looking for someone who leads by example, motivates teams, and genuinely cares about people and food.

What’s in It For You

We don’t just offer a job, we offer a career you can be proud of:

• Salary:Competitiveplus Car Allowance (£5,760)
• 25 days paid annual leave plus bank holidays
• Life assurance and company pension
• Healthcare
• Access to our online learning and development platform
• Employee wellbeing programme
• Salary sacrifice electric car scheme
• IFG Rewards high-street discounts
• Annual Summer Party with company awards

If you’re ready to lead high-performing teams, make a real impact, and take your career to the next level, we’d love to hear from you!

Please note: An interview and assessment will be part of the recruitment process.

IFG are committed to the safeguarding of children, and our employees share this commitment. Successful candidates are requiredtoundergo an enhancedDBS disclosure and children’s barred list check, which IFG will pay for.

We are a committed equal opportunities employer - if you require any assistance for the interview process, please detail within your application. All information is kept confidential and in compliance with GDPR requirements.