Operations Manager

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

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave + bank holidays

Life assurance and company pension

Healthcare

Access to online learning and dev平台

Employee wellbeing programme

Salary sacrifice electric car scheme

IFG Rewards high-street discounts

Annual Summer Party with companyAwards

Job summary

Impact Food Group in England is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to oversee a portfolio of school catering sites, travel between sites as required. You will lead multi-site teams to deliver high-quality food, service, and safety standards.

Key responsibilities include developing teams, building client and supplier relationships, monitoring performance, managing budgets, supporting Chef Managers with HR, and presenting insights to drive improvements.

Qualifications

• Experience as an Area Manager or Operations Manager in contract or retail catering, managing at least 8 sites.
• Proven track record of leading multi-site teams with strong people management skills.
• Confidence communicating with kitchen teams to senior stakeholders.
• Excellent organisational skills with ability to prioritise effectively.
• Proven ability to monitor, report and improve operational performance.

Responsibilities

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

Skills

Leadership

People management

Stakeholder communication

Organisational skills

Multi-site management

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

We re growing fast, and due to new contract wins 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.

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

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

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.

Impact Food Group (IFG) is one of England s fastest-growing school food providers, serving around one million students every day across more than 1,500 schools. We are dedicated to delivering high-quality, nutritious meals that support student wellbeing and enjoyment.

We don t just offer a job, we offer a career you can be proud of:

• 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 required to undergo an enhanced DBS 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.