Regional Operations Director

ETAB-Recruits; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Senior leadership role

Job summary

ETAB-Recruits is seeking a Regional Operations Director to oversee a substantial education catering portfolio across Surrey and Cambridge. You will lead a team of 6–8 Operations Managers, driving service standards and financial performance while maintaining strong client relationships.

The role requires senior leadership experience in education catering, a hands-on approach to team development and a proven ability to optimise profitability across a geographically dispersed portfolio.

Qualifications

• Senior operational management experience within education contract catering.
• Track record of managing a large, geographically spread portfolio through a team of managers.
• Strong budgeting, forecasting and cost control skills.
• Experience building client relationships and supporting contract retention.

Responsibilities

• Leading, coaching and developing 6–8 Operations Managers.
• Overseeing catering operations across approximately 300–400 schools.
• Managing budgets, reviewing performance and identifying opportunities to improve profitability.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with schools and key client stakeholders.
• Driving food quality, service standards and customer satisfaction.
• Ensuring consistent standards of food safety, health and safety, and operational compliance.
• Supporting contract retention, business growth and new contract mobilisations.
• Developing talent and succession plans across the operational team.

Skills

Senior operational management

Education contract catering

Financial budgeting & forecasting

Client relationship management

Leadership & development

Travel across portfolio

Job description

Regional Operations Director – Education Catering

Location: Surrey / Cambridge

ETAB-Recruits is recruiting a Regional Operations Director to oversee a substantial education catering portfolio of approximately 300–400 schools, leading a team of 6–8 Operations Managers.

This opportunity will suit an experienced education catering leader with strong commercial judgement, a commitment to food and service quality, and the ability to deliver results through their management team.

The role

You will take responsibility for operational and financial performance across the portfolio, ensuring your Operations Managers have the direction, support and accountability needed to deliver consistently high standards.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading, coaching and developing 6–8 Operations Managers.
• Overseeing catering operations across approximately 300–400 schools.
• Managing budgets, reviewing performance and identifying opportunities to improve profitability.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with schools and key client stakeholders.
• Driving food quality, service standards and customer satisfaction.
• Ensuring consistent standards of food safety, health and safety, and operational compliance.
• Supporting contract retention, business growth and new contract mobilisations.
• Developing talent and succession plans across the operational team.

About you

We are looking for someone with:

• Senior operational management experience within education contract catering.
• A track record of managing a large, geographically spread portfolio through a team of managers.
• Strong financial understanding, including budgeting, forecasting and cost control.
• Experience building client relationships and supporting contract retention.
• The confidence to address performance challenges and implement improvements.
• An approachable leadership style and a commitment to developing people.
• The ability to travel regularly across the portfolio.

Applications are welcomed from established Regional Operations Directors and experienced senior operational leaders ready to take the next step.

What’s on offer

• A senior leadership role with responsibility for a significant school catering portfolio.