Operations Manager

Impact Food Group; Swindon; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

25 days annual leave + bank holidays

Life assurance & pension

Healthcare

Learning & development platform

Wellbeing programme

Electric car salary sacrifice

IFG rewards discounts

Annual Summer Party

Job summary

Impact Food Group is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to oversee a portfolio of schools, travelling between sites to ensure quality food, service, and operations across multiple kitchens. You will lead and develop teams, build strong client relationships, and monitor performance to deliver outstanding results.

The ideal candidate will have multi-site operations management experience in contract or retail catering, manage at least eight sites, and excel in people leadership,

Qualifications

• Experience as Area Manager or Operations Manager in contract or retail catering.
• Managed at least 8 sites.
• Strong people management and leadership skills.
• Excellent organizational and prioritization abilities.
• Proficient in Office tools, spreadsheets and presentations.

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate, develop 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.

Skills

Multi-site management

People leadership

Stakeholder communication

Budgeting & reporting

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

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., 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
• 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.

• Salary: Competitive plus 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

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.