People Operations Manager

Compass Group UK & Ireland; London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the food service industry seeks a People Operations Manager for the UK & South Europe. This pivotal role involves partnering with operational leaders to drive talent acquisition, employee engagement, and compliance across diverse teams, ensuring a high-performance culture. The ideal candidate will hold a relevant degree and possess significant HR leadership experience.

Benefits

Free meals

Hybrid working

Contributory pension scheme

Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes

Quick access to a Digital GP

Healthcare benefits

Discounts for family and friends

Qualifications

• 2-3 years of HR experience in a leadership role.
• Fluent in English; Spanish or Italian is a plus.
• Strong understanding of UK and European employment law.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support the People Operations team across multiple locations.
• Drive Talent Attraction and Development initiatives.
• Manage Employee Relations cases and compliance.

Skills

Leadership

Interpersonal Skills

Analytical Skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR, Business, or Hospitality

CIPD qualifications

Job description

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Job Introduction
People Operations Manager - UK & South Europe

Location: King's Cross, London (with travel across King's Cross, Tottenham Court Road, and Southern Europe)
Reporting to: People Operations Director (EMEA & APAC) & Head of Operations (UK)
Join Us in Shaping the Future of Food and People Experience

At Food+ by Compass, we're passionate about more than just food - we're creating environments that support innovation, wellbeing, and collaboration for some of the world's most forward-thinking organisations. Our mission is to deliver delicious, nutritious meals and outstanding service that empower people and enhance productivity.

As People Operations Manager for the UK & South Europe, you'll play a pivotal role in bringing this mission to life. You'll act as a key partner to operational leaders across the UK and Southern Europe (Italy, Spain, and Portugal), guiding and supporting the full People strategy with a focus on Talent Acquisition, Employee Relations, Engagement, Learning & Development, and People Analytics.
Your Impact

In this multi-country, people-first leadership role, you will:

• Lead and support the People Operations team in London, while partnering with local HR teams across Southern Europe.
• Drive Talent Attraction and Development initiatives to recruit, grow, and retain outstanding individuals.
• Champion a high-performance, values-led culture through training, coaching, and engagement strategies.
• Ensure compliance with labour law and company policies, while maintaining operational excellence.
• Collaborate across key functions (culinary, nutrition, marketing, behavioural science, procurement, risk and operations) to embed best people practices and meet client expectations.

Key Responsibilities

Talent Acquisition & Onboarding

• Partner with site leaders to create effective job descriptions and source talent.
• Implement modern, inclusive recruitment practices below senior leadership level.
• Coordinate and deliver high-impact onboarding and induction programmes.
• Manage new starter compliance and badging in line with client frameworks.
• Represent the business at external recruitment events and careers fairs.

Learning & Development

• Design and maintain engaging training programmes tailored to team needs.
• Promote learning culture by championing tools and Compass learning resources.
• Coordinate and facilitate Talent Workshops with clear outcomes and follow-up.

Employee Relations & Engagement

• Manage all Employee Relations cases, including investigations and disciplinary matters.
• Identify ER trends and proactively deliver training and development to reduce risks.
• Lead Employee Engagement Focus Groups and feedback initiatives.

HR Operations & Compliance

• Ensure HR paperwork, systems and practices meet legal and internal requirements.
• Maintain a working knowledge of payroll and time/attendance systems.
• Provide regular data for internal and client-facing labour and people reporting.
• Support with labour forecasting, mobilisation planning and cost analysis.
• Train managers on key HR systems and produce user-friendly toolkits.

Reward & Compensation

• Stay abreast of market trends in pay and benefits to ensure competitive offerings.

Who You Are

• Bachelor's degree in HR, Business, Hospitality, or a related field
• HR qualifications desirable (e.g. CIPD)
• 2-3 years of HR experience with leadership responsibilities in a multi-country setting
• Fluent in English; knowledge of Spanish or Italian is advantageous
• Confident working with diverse stakeholders across functions and geographies
• Strong understanding of UK and European employment law; union experience is a plus
• Excellent interpersonal, influencing and advisory skills
• Passionate about creating a positive, inclusive employee experience
• Commercially aware with strong analytical skills and attention to detail
• Able to remain calm under pressure and lead with integrity

What You'll Love About Working Here

• A purpose-led environment that puts people and values at its core
• A chance to shape the future of People Operations in a growing, global team
• A collaborative culture built on trust, sustainability and continuous improvement
• Real opportunities for professional development and career progression

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
• Hybrid working
• 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
• Discounts that you can share with family and friends

About Us

Restaurant Associates provides brilliant hospitality through our food, drink and services. We work with our partners and collaborate with our clients to achieve great things together.Every day, our teams of passionate hospitality professionals strive for excellence in delivering employee dining and hospitality to some of the UK's leading workplace as well as inspiring exceptional experiences in iconic cultural and heritage destinations.

Job Reference: com/1606/97307002/52744910/SU #RA Group

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!