Temporary Catering Services Manager

The Q Cafe Company; Ireland; On-site; EUR 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Meals on duty

Life assurance scheme

Free parking

Bike to Work and Tax Saver Schemes

Job summary

The Q Cafe Company in Cork is actively seeking a Catering Services Manager for a healthcare site on a Specified Purpose Contract. You will lead a dedicated catering team to deliver safe, nutritious meals while upholding top standards of food safety and service.

The role requires strong leadership, healthcare catering experience, and a focus on cost control and continuous improvement. On-site duties include managing budgets, staff, and patient-centered dining experiences.

Qualifications

• Experience managing catering operations, ideally within healthcare, care homes, hospitals, or contract catering.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Experience managing budgets and achieving financial targets.
• Excellent food safety and HACCP knowledge.
• Strong customer service and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while maintaining high standards.

Responsibilities

• Manage the day-to-day catering operation, ensuring exceptional food quality and service standards.
• Lead, motivate, and develop a team of chefs, catering assistants, and service staff.
• Deliver a patient-centred dining experience tailored to individual dietary and nutritional requirements.
• Ensure compliance with HACCP, food safety, allergen management, and health & safety regulations.
• Manage budgets, food costs, labour costs, stock control, and purchasing.
• Monitor service performance through KPI reporting and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop innovative menus in collaboration with culinary and dietetic teams.
• Build strong relationships with clients, healthcare staff, patients, residents, and visitors.
• Support sustainability initiatives, food waste reduction programmes, and responsible sourcing practices.
• Ensure all audits, inspections, and compliance requirements are successfully achieved.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Budget management

Food safety HACCP

Customer service

Education

Food Safety Management qualification

HACCP certification

Job description

We are currently recruiting for a Catering Services Manager on a Specified Purpose Contract for a healthcare site in Cork, 4 days over 7.

The Catering Services Manager will will lead a dedicated catering team, ensuring the delivery of safe, nutritious, and high-quality food services while maintaining the highest standards of customer care, food safety, and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilites

• Manage the day-to-day catering operation, ensuring exceptional food quality and service standards.
• Lead, motivate, and develop a team of chefs, catering assistants, and service staff.
• Deliver a patient-centred dining experience tailored to individual dietary and nutritional requirements.
• Ensure compliance with HACCP, food safety, allergen management, and health & safety regulations.
• Manage budgets, food costs, labour costs, stock control, and purchasing.
• Monitor service performance through KPI reporting and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop innovative menus in collaboration with culinary and dietetic teams.
• Build strong relationships with clients, healthcare staff, patients, residents, and visitors.
• Support sustainability initiatives, food waste reduction programmes, and responsible sourcing practices.
• Ensure all audits, inspections, and compliance requirements are successfully achieved.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Previous experience managing catering operations, ideally within healthcare, care homes, hospitals, or contract catering.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Experience managing budgets and achieving financial targets.
• Excellent food safety and HACCP knowledge.
• Strong customer service and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while maintaining high standards.
• Excellent communication and organisational abilities.
• A passion for food, hospitality, and delivering outstanding customer experiences.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Food Safety Management qualification.
• HACCP certification.
• Catering, Hospitality, or Business Management qualification.
• Experience working within healthcare or residential care settings.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary package.
• Career progression opportunities.
• Ongoing training and professional development.
• Supportive management team.
• Employee wellbeing initiatives.
• Opportunities to make a meaningful impact within healthcare services.
• Uniforms supplied
• Meals whilst on duty
• Life assurance scheme
• Free parking
• Bike to Work and Tax Saver Schemes

The Q Cafe Company is an Irish owned contract catering company. Our core values encompass passion for great food; protecting the environment; integrity; innovation; motivation of staff with a happy and positive environment; empowerment of staff though support networks, our QWellness programme, training and career pathways; finally, the cultivation of a community via our QFamily ethos.

In The Q Cafe Company we are committed to a productive, happy and exciting workplace