Relief & Event Team Manager

Grazing; Greater London; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Career development

Digital GP

Travel discounts

Groceries discounts

Cinema discounts

Cash rewards

Wellness classes

Family discounts

Job summary

Grazing, part of Compass Group UK&I, is seeking an experienced Relief & Events Manager to support workplace catering operations and deliver outstanding events across multiple locations.

In this fast-paced hospitality role you will lead teams, manage rosters, maintain food safety, and build strong client relationships while ensuring excellent service and memorable experiences.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in catering management and event management.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Excellent organisational and time management abilities.
• Experience in fast-paced, high-volume hospitality or contract catering environments.
• Outstanding communication and customer service skills.
• Knowledge of food hygiene and health & safety legislation.
• Willingness to travel between sites and work varying shifts.
• Food Safety/Hygiene qualification (Level 2 or above).
• Hospitality/Catering Management qualification desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide management support across multiple catering locations to cover planned and unplanned absences.
• Lead daily catering operations, ensuring exceptional food quality, presentation and customer service.
• Supervise, motivate and support catering teams, coordinating rotas and staffing requirements.
• Monitor stock levels, manage ordering and minimise waste.
• Ensure full compliance with food safety, health & safety and company standards.
• Support planning, coordination and delivery of corporate and private events.
• Work alongside the Operations Manager to deliver exceptional events from planning through to completion.
• Liaise with clients to understand event requirements and ensure expectations are exceeded.
• Lead event set-up, service and breakdown, ensuring every detail is delivered to a high standard.
• Manage staffing, logistics and timelines while resolving any on-the-day challenges professionally.
• Provide confident leadership across a variety of teams and locations.
• Support recruitment, onboarding and training where required.
• Create a positive, collaborative and high-performing working environment.
• Lead by example with a hands-on approach.
• Build strong relationships with clients and stakeholders.
• Deliver exceptional customer service at every opportunity.
• Respond to feedback and resolve issues quickly and professionally.
• Complete operational, financial and event reporting accurately.
• Support budget management, cost control and profitability across multiple revenue streams.
• Monitor and report on key performance indicators including client satisfaction, operational efficiency and financial performance.
• Maintain accurate records, schedules and compliance documentation.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Organisational skills

Time management

Customer service

Food hygiene knowledge

Communication

Staff rostering

Education

Level 2 Food Safety/Hygiene

Hospitality or Catering Management qualification (desirable)

Job description

We're looking for an experienced, energetic and hands-on Relief & Events Manager to support our workplace catering operations and deliver outstanding events across multiple locations.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast-paced hospitality environment, enjoys variety, and is passionate about delivering exceptional food, service and customer experiences. Whether you're managing a busy workplace café, supporting a corporate event, or leading a team through a high-volume service, you'll play a key role in ensuring our operations run smoothly and our clients receive the highest standards every time.

If you're a natural problem solver, enjoy leading people, and aren't afraid to roll up your sleeves, we'd love to hear from you.

What You'll Be DoingCatering Operations

• Provide management support across multiple catering locations, covering planned and unplanned absences.
• Lead daily catering operations, ensuring exceptional food quality, presentation and customer service.
• Supervise, motivate and support catering teams, coordinating rotas and staffing requirements.
• Monitor stock levels, manage ordering and minimise waste.
• Ensure full compliance with food safety, health & safety and company standards.

Event Management

• Support the planning, coordination and delivery of corporate and private events.
• Work alongside the Operations Manager to deliver exceptional events from planning through to completion.
• Liaise with clients to understand event requirements and ensure expectations are exceeded.
• Lead event set-up, service and breakdown, ensuring every detail is delivered to a high standard.
• Manage staffing, logistics and timelines while resolving any on-the-day challenges professionally.

Leadership & Team Support

• Provide confident leadership across a variety of teams and locations.
• Support recruitment, onboarding and training where required.
• Create a positive, collaborative and high-performing working environment.
• Lead by example with a hands-on approach.

Client Experience

• Build strong relationships with clients and stakeholders.
• Deliver exceptional customer service at every opportunity.
• Respond to feedback and resolve issues quickly and professionally.

Operations, Compliance & Financial Performance

• Complete operational, financial and event reporting accurately.
• Support budget management, cost control and profitability across multiple revenue streams.
• Monitor and report on key performance indicators including client satisfaction, operational efficiency and financial performance.
• Maintain accurate records, schedules and compliance documentation.

About You

You'll Have

• Proven experience in catering management and event management.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Excellent organisational and time management abilities.
• Experience working in fast-paced, high-volume hospitality or contract catering environments.
• Outstanding communication and customer service skills.
• A strong understanding of food hygiene and health & safety legislation.
• A flexible approach with the ability to travel between sites and work varying shifts.
• A Food Safety/Hygiene qualification (Level 2 or above).
• A Hospitality or Catering Management qualification (desirable).

This Role Is Perfect For Someone Who...

• Enjoys variety and thrives in a role where every day is different.
• Leads by example and isn't afraid to get involved.
• Can motivate teams while maintaining high standards.
• Is highly organised but can adapt quickly to changing priorities.
• Takes pride in delivering exceptional service and memorable customer experiences.
• Wants to make a real impact within a growing and ambitious food business.

What You’ll Need to Know

• Full-time, permanent position.
• Flexible working hours including evenings, weekends and public holidays.
• Regular travel between sites is required.
• This is a physically active role involving lifting, carrying, setting up events and supporting operational delivery.

Why Join Us?

We're a growing hospitality business built on great food, exceptional service and passionate people. We believe in empowering our teams, investing in development and creating an environment where everyone can succeed.

If you're looking for a varied leadership role where you can make a genuine impact across catering operations and events, we'd love to hear from you.

Benefits

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:

• 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/3007/43030001/52823847/SU #Grazing

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!