Operations Manager - Northumbria University

Compass Group; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food service and hospitality organization is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to oversee operations at Northumbria University. The role involves ensuring operational excellence, managing a diverse team, and driving commercial performance across multiple catering outlets. Ideal candidates will possess a strong background in contract catering, exceptional leadership capabilities, and a passion for delivering outstanding customer experiences. This position offers a comprehensive benefits package and opportunities for career advancement.

Benefits

Free meals

Free on-site gym

Free onsite swimming pool access

Contributory pension scheme

Career development programs

Digital GP access

Travel discounts

Grocery discounts

Cinema ticket discounts

Wellness and mindfulness classes

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Ensure full compliance with food safety, health & safety, brand, legal and contractual standards.
• Lead, support and develop operational teams through clear communication and coaching.
• Drive sales growth, cost control and labour optimisation.
• Champion a customer-first culture across all outlets.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Commercial awareness

Food safety knowledge

Customer service orientation

Education

Relevant qualification in H&S, management or commercial disciplines

Job description

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 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!