Team Manager, Food Production

John Lewis Partnership; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free meals on duty

Free parking on site

Partnership discount in store & online

Discounted cinema tickets & VIP suites

Job summary

John Lewis Partnership in London Pimlico is seeking an experienced Catering Operations Leader to supervise a busy catering brigade and mentor the team to deliver market-leading customer service. The role includes managing the Partner Dining Room, maintaining high standards of presentation and cleanliness, and driving sales while controlling costs.

You will handle catering administration, stock, wastage, staffing, and ensure compliance with Food Hygiene and Health & Safety policies.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 3 year’s experience in supervising catering teams.
• Experience working with all food types and a genuine passion for hospitality.
• A strong understanding of how to manage sales, stock, and wastage to protect the bottom line.

Responsibilities

• Operational leadership: Leading and supervising a busy catering brigade to deliver market-leading customer service. You will act as a "Critical Friend," challenging poor performance and mentoring your team to achieve their best.
• Service excellence: Ensuring the seamless delivery of the Partner Dining Room and function services, maintaining impeccable standards of product presentation and cleanliness.
• Commercial management: Driving sales and managing food and sundry costs. You will identify opportunities for continuous improvement and greater efficiency within the catering operation.
• Administrative oversight: Taking ownership of catering admin, including stock control, wastage recording, and staffing requirements to ensure a profitable and efficient section.
• Compliance & Risk: Supervising and delivering all due diligence checks. You will ensure 100% compliance with John Lewis Food Hygiene and Health & Safety policies at all times.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Food expertise

Commercial awareness

Leadership qualities

IT literacy

Job description

ABOUT THE ROLE

In addition to your contractual pay, any time worked between 22:00 - 06:00 will attract Night Premium at a rate of £4.75 per hour. This will also apply to existing Partners who have enrolled onto Enhanced Hours Premium arrangements.

Salary: £32,700 - £51,200 per annum - salary based on skills and experience

Contract type: Permanent

Working pattern:

• The Hours: Mon - Fri 7am till 3pm
  

Location: London Pimlico, John Lewis Head Office

Key Responsibilities

• Operational Leadership: Leading and supervising a busy catering brigade to deliver market-leading customer service. You will act as a "Critical Friend," challenging poor performance and mentoring your team to achieve their best.
• Service Excellence: Ensuring the seamless delivery of the Partner Dining Room and function services, maintaining impeccable standards of product presentation and cleanliness.
• Commercial Management: Driving sales and managing food and sundry costs. You will identify opportunities for continuous improvement and greater efficiency within the catering operation.
• Administrative Oversight: Taking ownership of catering admin, including stock control, wastage recording, and staffing requirements to ensure a profitable and efficient section.
• Compliance & Risk: Supervising and delivering all due diligence checks. You will ensure 100% compliance with John Lewis Food Hygiene and Health & Safety policies at all times.

Benefits of the Partnership and the role

We believe in rewarding our Partners for their time and energy. After all, they’re the ones that make the John Lewis Partnership special. Benefits include:

Full uniform supplied including safety shoes
Free Meals on Duty depending on hours worked
Free parking on site.
Once you’ve been with us for three months, you’ll get Partnership discount in store and online. That’s 25% off in John Lewis & Partners (12% electrical products, some exclusions apply) and 20% in Waitrose & Partners. You’ll also be able to nominate someone you live with to share your discount.
Discounted cinema tickets & VIP suites with discounted tickets at the O2 arena
Discounted rates on holidays at the John Lewis Partnerships hotels, where only Partners and their guests can stay
Excellent work life balance, including focus on well being and flexible working and our marketing leading equal parenthood leave Policy

Essential Skills/Experience You’ll Need

• Supervisory Experience: A minimum of 3 year’s experience in supervising catering teams.
• Food Expertise: Experience working with all food types and a genuine passion for hospitality.
• Commercial Awareness: A strong understanding of how to manage sales, stock, and wastage to protect the bottom line.
• Leadership Qualities: The ability to lead by example, foster trust within a team, and remain flexible to support other departments when required.
• IT Literacy: Proficient computer skills to manage administrative tasks and ordering systems.
  

Desirable Skills/Experience You May Have

• Experience working in a high-pressure, customer-facing selling or service environment.
• Previous experience in a dedicated administration or logistics function.

Closing Date:

November 2, 2026

Pay:

£32,700.00 - £51,200.00 Annual

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hours of Work:

Mon - Fri 7am - 3pm

Job Level:

Partnership Level 8

Where You'll Be Working:

London Central Office, 1 Drummond Gate, London, , SW1V 2QQ

ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP

We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.

We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.

As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect.

We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective.

As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.

Important points to note:

It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays. Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third-party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles.

We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.