Project Manager

Company of Cooks; London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading catering company in London is seeking a Project Manager to lead and manage various projects across Central London. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership skills, excellent communication abilities, and a track record in managing complex projects effectively. This full-time position offers a competitive salary of £40,000 per year and numerous benefits to enhance employee wellbeing.

Benefits

Personal Development and Training opportunities

Life assurance scheme

Pension scheme

Holiday allowance

Private medical eligibility

Eye care

Wellbeing strategy access

Family friendly support

Social events

Holiday purchase scheme

Volunteering days

Professional subscriptions

Recognition schemes

Long service awards

High street discount vouchers

Qualifications

• Experience in project management, preferably in a catering or hospitality environment.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Inspires and motivates the team.
• Clearly conveys ideas, expectations, and feedback.
• Plans, prioritises, and manages time and resources efficiently.
• Identifies risks and challenges early.
• Responds effectively to change.
• Manages stakeholder expectations and resolves disagreements.
• Understands the basics of the project’s industry.
• Anticipates and mitigates risks proactively.
• Takes ownership of decisions and outcomes.
• Builds trust and positive relationships.

Skills

Leadership

Communication Skills

Organisational Skills

Problem-Solving Ability

Adaptability

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

Technical Competence

Risk Management

Accountability

Stakeholder Management

Job description

We are Company of Cooks, and we believe brilliant food and drink starts with brilliant people. For over 25 years, we’ve been part of some of the UK’s most loved cultural destinations, from historic palaces and botanical gardens to buzzing galleries and performance spaces, running the cafés, restaurants, bars and events that bring these incredible places to life.

Our values - Craft, Creativity and Community - guide everything we do. They shape how we work together, how we support our partners, and how we make each guest feel welcome. If you care about food, people and doing things properly, you’ll feel right at home here.

Wherever we are, we do more than serve. We bring places to life through food, service and creativity and we’re looking for a Project Manager to join our team in London.

Location: Field based contract, travel required across our Central London sites

Rate of Pay: £40,000 per annum depending on experience

Working Pattern: 40 hours per week, 5/7

Key Responsibilities:

1. Leadership

• Inspires and motivates the team.
• Makes decisions with clarity and confidence.
• Provides direction and sets the tone for collaboration.

2. Communication Skills

• Clearly conveys ideas, expectations, and feedback.
• Listens actively and resolves misunderstandings early.
• Communicates effectively with stakeholders at all levels.

3. Organisational Skills

• Plans, prioritises, and manages time and resources efficiently.
• Keeps documentation, schedules, and workflows well-structured.
• Balances multiple moving parts without losing sight of the big picture.

4. Problem-Solving Ability

• Identifies risks and challenges early.
• Thinks critically to develop practical, workable solutions.
• Stays calm and focused under pressure.

5. Adaptability

• Responds effectively to change, whether from internal or external sources.
• Adjusts plans without losing momentum or focus.
• Encourages flexibility within the team.

6. Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

• Manages stakeholder expectations.
• Resolves disagreements constructively.
• Finds compromises that align with project goals.

7. Technical Competence (Project-Specific)

• Understands the basics of the project’s industry or technical elements.
• Communicates effectively with specialists and translates their input into project terms.

8. Risk Management

• Anticipates and mitigates risks proactively.
• Develops contingency plans and maintains a risk register.
• Maintains project stability even in uncertain conditions.

9. Accountability

• Takes ownership of decisions and outcomes.
• Holds the team accountable while also supporting their success.
• Focuses on delivery and results.

10. Stakeholder Management

• Builds trust and positive relationships.
• Manages expectations transparently.
• Aligns the interests of all parties with the project’s goals.

What's in it for you?

Working with Company of Cooks has its perks! People are at the heart of everything we do, so we've developed a range of benefits to keep you happy.

• Personal Development and Training opportunities
• Life assurance scheme
• Pension scheme
• Holiday allowance
• Private medical eligibility
• Eye care
• A great wellbeing strategy - including access to our Employee Assistance Programme, salary finance
• Family friendly support
• Regular social events and communication with our leaders
• A holiday purchase scheme
• Volunteering days
• Professional subscriptions
• Recognition schemes and people awards
• Long service awards
• Access to some great high street discount vouchers