Operations Support Manager - Europe

Sodexo; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sodexo retirement plan

Discounts to over 1,900 brands

Gym discount

Employee assistance programme

Job summary

Sodexo is seeking a fluent French-speaking Operational Support Manager to oversee the EMEA portfolio across multiple regions. You will drive operational excellence, lead strategic initiatives, and promote value through continuous improvement for a multi-country client base.

You will collaborate with Regional Account Directors, manage savings plans, and deliver robust reporting while maintaining strong client relationships across diverse teams.

Qualifications

• Fluency in French required.
• Experience in outsourced B2B environments.
• Experience working across international boundaries and diverse teams.
• Track record of developing effective operational strategies across a broad client portfolio.
• Excellent client relationship management and influencing skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead through influence and build strong relationships with Sodexo and client teams.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational effectiveness, profitability and service quality.
• Support commercial, financial and central reporting activities to meet objectives.
• Prepare reports, presentations and data analyses with clear outputs.
• Coordinate changes to contract scope and documentation.
• Organise meetings and actions; use AI to improve efficiency where appropriate.
• Liaise with site and country stakeholders to meet deadlines and support delivery.
• Help build bottom-up annual savings plans and consolidate regionally.
• Track savings delivery and validate with finance.
• Differentiate one-off project savings from recurring savings.
• Identify new savings opportunities through site visits and process reviews.

Skills

French language

Outsourced B2B experience

International experience

Client relationship mgmt

Commercial acumen

Project delivery

Stakeholder management

Business transformation

Communication skills

Opportunity identification

Job description

We are looking for a fluent French-speaking Operational Support Manager to support our EMEA portfolio across WREF, GSC and RDES. This role will work closely with Regional Account Directors, driving operational excellence, project delivery, continuous improvement initiatives and savings plans across multiple countries, while ensuring consistent service delivery and strong client relationships.

The successful candidate will be a proactive, commercially minded professional with excellent stakeholder management skills, capable of supporting strategic initiatives, implementing change and promoting innovative solutions that enhance performance, productivity and value across the EMEA region

Join Sodexo and be part of something greater. You belong in a team where you can act with purpose and thrive in your own way.

Main Responsibilities

• Lead through influence, partnership and strong working relationships with Sodexo, client teams and central subject matter experts.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational effectiveness, profitability and service quality through technology, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Support commercial, financial and central reporting activities to meet contractual and account-wide objectives.
• Prepare reports, presentations, data analysis and business documentation, ensuring outputs are accurate, clear and fit for purpose.
• Support contractual scope management, including updates to change control and specification documentation.
• Coordinate meetings, events, minutes, actions and follow-up activities, using AI where appropriate to improve efficiency.
• Liaise with internal, external, site and country stakeholders to gather information, meet deadlines and support project delivery.
• Work with site teams to build bottom-up annual savings plans, consolidated into a regional view.
• Track delivery of savings against plan throughout the year, validating claims with finance where required.
• Distinguish and report separately on one-off project savings and recurring sustainable savings.
• Identify new savings opportunities through site visits, process reviews and problem-solving work.

Please see attached job description for further information regarding the role requirements

The Ideal Candidate

• Fluency in French language.
• Successful experience operating in an outsourced B2B environment.
• Proven experience working across international boundaries and with diverse teams.
• Demonstrable track record of developing effective operational strategies across a broad client portfolio.
• Exceptional client relationship management skills.
• Ability to develop commercially viable solutions by understanding client needs and pricing products and services appropriately.
• Strong experience in sector contracting and technical service delivery.
• Strong financial, commercial and business acumen.
• Proven track record of initiating and leading complex business transformation projects.
• Proven ability to build profitable client relationships.
• Proven experience identifying new business opportunities.
• Excellent communication, influencing and facilitation skills.
• Strong numeracy and written communication skills.
• Commitment to continuous professional development within the relevant industry or specialism.
• Fluent English language skills.

Package Description

Up to £70,000 depending on experience

Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it's a chance to be part of something greater.

You'll belong in a company and team that values you for you; you'll act with purpose and have an impact through your everyday actions; and you'll be able to thrive in your own way.

In addition, we offer 20+ Sodexo benefits such as Sodexo retirement plan, discounts to over 1,900 brands to shop online, Gym discount to maintain a healthy lifestyle, a confidential 24/7 employee assistance programme providing independent support to overcome whenever life has its obstacles including emotional support, legal and financial advice.

For further details regarding our Sodexo benefits please see attached.

About The Company

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone to build a better life for all.As the global leader in services that improve the Quality of Life, we operate in 55 countries, serving over 100 million consumers each day through our unique combination of On-Site Food and FM Services, Benefits & Rewards Services and Personal & Home Services.

We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities, and we celebrate diversity.We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be natural, and be the best versions of themselves.We recognise that we're on a journey with regards to diversity and inclusion and would therefore welcome applications for candidates from underrepresented backgrounds.

We're a Disability Confident Leader employer. We're committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations. We run a Disability Confident interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria for the job.