Senior Operations Manager

Elior Uk; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead multi-site operations in the education sector. This senior role offers the opportunity to drive performance, innovation, and growth while ensuring exceptional service delivery across various contracts. You will mentor teams, implement cost controls, and strengthen client relationships, all while fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Join a multi-award-winning company that values diversity and offers a supportive work environment, flexible working hours, and numerous perks to enhance your career journey.

Benefits

FREE On-Site Lunches

Flexible Working

Holiday Allowance

Company Car or Car Allowance

15% Annual Bonus

Family Leave

Paid Charity Leave

Opportunities for Career Progression

Comprehensive Wellbeing Benefits

Life Assurance & Pension Schemes

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in contract catering, ideally in education.
• Strong financial management skills with P&L and budgeting.

Responsibilities

• Drive financial performance and implement cost controls.
• Build client relationships ensuring satisfaction and retention.
• Champion innovation in food service and operational processes.

Skills

Leadership in multi-site operations

Financial acumen

Communication skills

Stakeholder management

Data-driven performance improvement

Job description

Are you an experienced Operations Manager looking to take the next step in your career? This is your chance to step into a senior leadership role, driving performance, innovation, and growth across a dynamic, multi-site operation in the education sector.

Reporting to the Operations Director, you’ll take responsibility for six key contracts across the Midlands, while also providing senior support to four Operations Managers. Your leadership will ensure exceptional service delivery, strong financial performance, and a culture of continuous improvement.

What you’ll be doing…

• Driving financial performance, implementing cost controls, and optimising efficiency.
• Building and strengthening client relationships, ensuring high satisfaction, retention, and growth.
• Developing and mentoring teams, fostering strong leadership and succession planning.
• Overseeing contract mobilisation and demobilisation, ensuring smooth transitions.
• Championing innovation in food service, menu planning, and operational processes.
• Ensuring compliance with safety, quality, and service standards to uphold excellence.
• Supporting four Operations Managers, ensuring high standards across all sites.

What can you bring?

• Proven leadership experience in multi-site operations within contract catering, ideally in the education sector.
• Strong financial acumen with a track record of P&L and budget management.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A passion for operational excellence, team development, and customer satisfaction.
• A commercially minded approach, using data-driven insights to improve performance.

Our way of saying thank you...

• FREE On-Site Lunches: Savour delicious and healthy meals, on us, every day at work.
• Flexible Working: Enjoy the freedom to balance work and personal life with our flexible working hours.
• Holiday Allowance: Rest and relax with 33 days holiday.
• Company Car or Car Allowance: Choose between a company car or a car allowance to suit your lifestyle and needs.
• 15% Annual Bonus: Earn up to 15% of your salary through our annual bonus scheme.
• Family Leave: Prioritise your family commitments with our family leave options designed to support you during important times.
• Paid Charity Leave: Make a difference in your community with paid time off to volunteer for your favourite causes.
• Opportunities for Career Progression: Grow and advance your career with us, supported by continuous learning and development opportunities.
• Comprehensive Wellbeing Benefits: Access mental health support and a range of wellbeing benefits to keep you feeling your best, both professionally and personally.
• Life Assurance & Pension Schemes: Secure your future with our life assurance and workplace pension schemes.
• Exclusive Discounts & Perks: Enjoy discounts and cashback on entertainment, leisure activities, and much more, alongside our popular cycle-to-work scheme.

Why it's great to work for us...

Elior is a multi-award-winning people business and one of the UK’s leading contract caterers, with over 10,000 colleagues operating across a diverse range of sectors including:

• Workplaces & Office Space
• Sporting Venues & Stadium
• Attraction & Heritage Sites
• Public Sector & Defence
• Health, Care & Hospitals
• Schools, Colleges & Universities

Along with our purpose of enriching lives everywhere, every day, we’re committed to an inclusive culture and want our people to feel appreciated, supported, and fulfilled.

Ultimately, we believe it’s our differences that make us stronger and enrich our work environment, which in turn makes Elior a great place to work!

If you need any support or adjustments during the application process, just let us know. We're happy to help.