Operations Manager

ESS; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading catering company is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to oversee food and hospitality services at Northumbria University. This role encompasses operational excellence, commercial performance, and people leadership, aiming to deliver exceptional experiences across campus. The ideal candidate will have significant contract catering experience, strong leadership abilities, and a passion for food. The position offers a range of benefits and opportunities for career development.

Benefits

Free meals

Free on-site gym

Contributory pension scheme

Wellness and mindfulness classes

Qualifications

• Proven experience in contract catering with multi-unit environments.
• Strong knowledge of health & safety and legislative compliance.
• Demonstrable commercial capability including budget management.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational excellence and compliance in food safety.
• Drive sales growth and cost control strategies.
• Champion a customer-first culture across all outlets.

Skills

Leadership

Food safety knowledge

Commercial capability

People management

Stakeholder management

Education

Relevant qualification in H&S, management or commercial disciplines

Job description

Operations Manager - Newcastle

Operations Manager

Location : Northumbria University

Business : Chartwells - part of Compass Group UK & Ireland

About the role

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Operations Manager to join our senior management team at Northumbria University , working in partnership with our client to deliver outstanding food, hospitality and event catering experiences for students, staff and visitors.

This is a key strategic role, responsible for operational excellence, commercial performance, customer experience and people leadership across a busy, multi-outlet university campus. If you're passionate about food, love delivering great events and thrive in a fast-paced environment, we'd love to hear from you.

Key responsibilities

Operational & Compliance Leadership

Ensure full compliance with food safety, health & safety, brand, legal and contractual standards, maintaining excellent audit results

Implement and monitor operational standards consistently across all units

Proactively identify and mitigate operational risks

Ensure accurate reporting and adherence to company and university policies

People Leadership

Lead, support and develop operational teams through clear communication, coaching and visible leadership

Create a positive, inclusive and high-performing team culture

Manage recruitment, retention, succession planning and absence management

Develop management capability through regular 1 : 1s, performance reviews and development plans

Senior Management Team Contribution

Act as a key member of the Senior Management Team, contributing to strategy and decision-making

Collaborate with peers to deliver shared objectives

Support change initiatives and represent operations confidently with university stakeholders

Commercial Performance

Drive sales growth, cost control and labour optimisation

Analyse financial performance and implement action plans to improve margins

Support commercial strategies, promotions and events aligned to the university calendar

Ensure effective stock management, pricing and purchasing controls

Customer Experience

Champion a customer-first culture across all outlets

Use feedback and insight to continuously improve service and offer

Work closely with university stakeholders to ensure services meet evolving needs

Lead by example in delivering warm, professional service

About you

You'll be a confident, visible leader with a genuine passion for food, people and service excellence. Comfortable engaging with students and senior stakeholders alike, you'll bring energy, creativity and commercial focus to everything you do.

Essential experience

Proven experience in contract catering, ideally within a multi-unit environment

Strong knowledge of food safety, health & safety and legislative compliance

Demonstrable commercial capability, including budget management and margin improvement

Excellent people management and leadership skills

Experience contributing as part of a senior management team

Clear, confident communication and stakeholder management skills

Desirable

Experience in a higher education setting

Multi-site contract catering experience

Relevant qualification in H&S, management or commercial disciplines

Why join Chartwells?

As part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, you'll be joining a market-leading organisation that values its people, invests in development and is passionate about delivering great food and memorable experiences.

We ensure you're rewarded for all your hard work, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes but is not limited to :

• Free meals
• Free on-site gym
• Free onsite swimming pool access
• Contributory pension scheme
• Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes
• Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits
• Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more
• Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and many more
• Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster
• Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands
• Un-wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes
• You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families

About Us

As part of Compass you'll help to feed people, fuel progress and forge connections in around 6,000 venues. Join us to grow your career with the industry leader, and get competitive pay, great perks and unrivalled opportunities for learning and development, at one of the UK's biggest businesses.

Job Reference : com / 1812 / 91078001 / 52781832 / SU #Universities & Colleges

Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive - because diversity is our strength!