Senior Operations Manager Hitchin Luton Bedford

Hertfordshire Catering Ltd (HCL); Welwyn Garden City; In loco; GBP 65.000 - 90.000; Tempo pieno

Vantaggi offerti da questo lavoro

Generous holiday entitlement

Life Assurance

Employee Assistance Programme

Leadership development

Descrizione del lavoro

Hertfordshire Catering Ltd (HCL) is seeking a Senior Operations Manager to lead a multi-site portfolio across Hitchin, Luton and Bedford. This field-based role will oversee operations managers and a mobile workforce, ensuring top-tier food, service and safety standards in schools.

You'll drive commercial performance, build senior client relationships and mobilise new contracts while promoting digital reporting and compliance across sites. A UK driving licence is essential.

Competenze

• Experience leading multi-site operations in education or contract catering.
• Strong commercial acumen including pricing, contract variations and budgeting.
• Ability to build senior client relationships and deliver solutions that balance value and sustainability.
• Proven people leadership with experience developing managers and chefs.
• Knowledge of Food Safety, Health & Safety, safeguarding and compliance requirements.
• A proactive, organised and resilient approach in a fast-paced environment.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel across the region.

Mansioni

• Operational performance across a large multi-site portfolio, ensuring consistent food, service and safety standards.
• Lead a team of Operations Managers and mobile workforce, providing coaching, development and performance oversight.
• Strategic relationships with clients, acting as a senior escalation point for service reviews and queries.
• Commercial performance, including food and labour cost control and contract retention.
• Mobilisation of new contracts, ensuring full operational readiness and compliance.
• Digital adoption across sites, ensuring accurate reporting and effective use of company systems.

Conoscenze

Multi-site operations

Commercial acumen

People leadership

Food Safety & Safety

Travel readiness

Coaching & development

Client relationship management

Descrizione del lavoro

Senior Operations Manager Hitchin Luton Bedford

Field-based across Hitchin, Luton, Bedford (Head Office: Mundells, Welwyn Garden City)

Hours: Full-time, 37 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Reports to:

Regional Operations Manager

Lead High‑Quality Operational Delivery Across a Multi‑Site Catering Portfolio

Are you an experienced multi‑site operations leader who thrives on delivering exceptional food, service and safety standards? HCL is seeking a

Senior Operations Manager to oversee a portfolio of primary and secondary school contracts in leading Operations Managers and ensuring schools receive high‑quality, nutritious and engaging food experiences.

This role covers the following areas:

• Hitchin, Luton, Bedford

What You'll Lead

• Operational performance across a large multi‑site portfolio, ensuring consistent food, service and safety standards.
• A team of Operations Managers and mobile workforce, providing coaching, development and performance oversight.
• Strategic relationships with clients, acting as a senior escalation point for service reviews and queries.
• Commercial performance, including food and labour cost control and contract retention.
• Mobilisation of new contracts, ensuring full operational readiness and compliance.
• Digital adoption across sites, ensuring accurate reporting and effective use of company systems.

What You'll Bring

• Experience leading multi‑site operations in education or contract catering.
• Strong commercial acumen including pricing, contract variations and budgeting.
• Ability to build senior client relationships and deliver solutions that balance value and sustainability.
• Proven people leadership with experience developing managers and chefs.
• Knowledge of Food Safety, Health & Safety, safeguarding and compliance requirements.
• A proactive, organised and resilient approach in a fast‑paced environment.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel widely across the region.

Why Join HCL?

• Generous holiday entitlement
• Life assurance & Employee Assistance Programme
• A values‑driven organisation committed to quality, innovation and community
• Strong focus on personal development and leadership growth