Strategic Operations Director

Compass Group PLC; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive package

Multiple Pension Plan options

Clear Career development plans

Travel deals for your 27 days holiday

Grocery discounts

Up to 44% off cinema tickets

Free wellness classes

Job summary

Compass Group UK&I is seeking an ambitious senior operations leader to run a portfolio of catering contracts. You will own strategy, lead multiple site management teams, and build lasting client relationships while driving profitability and growth.

This role offers genuine autonomy, strategic influence, and strong career progression within a growing organisation. You will be responsible for budgets, client partnerships, and delivering measurable improvements across quality, service, and

Qualifications

• Senior operations leader with multi-site experience
• Strong commercial acumen and stakeholder management
• Proven ability to develop and coach high-performing teams

Responsibilities

• Own and grow a portfolio of catering contracts
• Lead, coach, and inspire multi-site management teams
• Drive operational excellence, service quality, and innovation
• Build strong client partnerships and identify growth opportunities
• Take full accountability for budgets, profitability, and commercial performance
• Deliver strategic improvements that drive long-term business success
• Lead from the front and be an inspiring, influential leader within the team

Job description

If you're an ambitious senior operations leader looking for the opportunity to run a business, influence strategy, and shape the future of a growing organisation, we want to hear from you. As Operations Director, you'll take full ownership of a portfolio of catering contracts, leading high-performing teams, building exceptional client relationships, and driving commercial success. This is more than an operations role-it's a role with real autonomy, strategic influence, and genuine opportunities for career progression!,

• Own and grow a portfolio of catering contracts
• Lead, coach, and inspire multi-site management teams
• Drive operational excellence, service quality, and innovation
• Build strong client partnerships and identify growth opportunities
• Take full accountability for budgets, profitability, and commercial performance
• Deliver strategic improvements that support long-term business success
• Are you passionate about food and people, with the ability to build lasting client relationships?
• Has senior multi-site leadership experience within catering, hospitality, or food services
• Thinks commercially and understands how to drive profitable growth
• Is an inspiring leader who develops high-performing teams
• Builds trusted relationships with clients and stakeholders
• Leads from the front and is ready to take the next step in their career

Our interview process is designed to give you a genuine insight into the role. You'll meet with our Head of Recruitment and Managing Directors, spend time within the business to experience what life as an Operations Director is really like, and finish by delivering a short presentation to showcase your ideas and communication skills!

Restaurant Associates provides brilliant hospitality through our food, drink and services. We work with our partners and collaborate with our clients to achieve great things together. Every day, our teams of passionate hospitality professionals strive for excellence in delivering employee dining and hospitality to some of the UK's leading workplace as well as inspiring exceptional experiences in iconic cultural and heritage destinations. 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!

• Competitive package
• Multiple Pension Plan options
• Clear Career development plans
• Travel deals for your 27 days holiday PLUS bank holidays
• Grocery discounts
• Up to 44% off cinema tickets
• Free wellness classes