Food and Retail Operations Manager

Job Introduction

Do you have a strong Catering Management background and a passion for food? Are you looking for a new role where you can be adventurous with the food offer and utilise your creative flair? We may have the opportunity for you!

We are currently looking for a Food and Retail Operations Manager to join the team at Alderley Park; our leading bio-pharmaceutical site in Cheshire. The role holder will primarily be based in Cheshire, with occasional travel required to our Birmingham site.

You will be responsible for 5 Catering Outlets across the site, ensuring the Food and Retail services are delivered to the highest standard. You will also manage the cleaning operations across the site and so Soft Services experience is desirable.

The ideal candidate will have proven experience in managing and leading a successful food function, with a good understanding of external catering developments and trends. You will have excellent communication skills and the ability to build and maintain strong relationships with clients.

We are looking for someone who has the tenacity to drive innovation and challenge the norm – in order to improve the Quality of Life of our customers and clients. If this sounds like you - get in touch today!

Role Responsibility

• Meet the demands of customers by providing exceptional Food, Retail & Hospitality services 
• Ensure financial documentation and accountancy of the catering unit (and those from suppliers) is accurate and within agreed budgeted levels
• Manage the quality and hygiene of the food cycle from preparation through to delivery
• Manage and self-audit health, safety, environment and quality performance in their entirety within Catering, Retail & Soft Services 
• Motivate and lead a team to perform their roles to the highest standard
• Actively seek and identify opportunities for business growth within the contract and external market
• P & L reporting completed in a timely manner, with performance ahead of the company targets
• Service development and continuous improvement via planned and communicated plan

The Ideal Candidate

Essential 

• Proven experience in managing and leading a motivated food function 
• Industry acumen and knowledge of external catering developments & innovations
• Strong financial understanding and demonstrable budgeting management 
• Demonstrative customer focus and service skills
• Strong communication, and negotiation skills 
• Experience working in a standards /compliance environment 
• Relevant craft and H&S qualifications and training
• Recognised health and safety qualifications e.g. IOSH  

Desirable

• Relevant HACCP and food safety qualification
• Sound commercial knowledge with understanding of client and Sodexo budget framework 

Package Description

Competitive salary + bonus + flexible benefits fund

About the Company

In the UK and Ireland, Sodexo employs some 35,000 employees to deliver integrated facilities management services to clients at over 2,000 locations in the corporate, healthcare, education, leisure, defence and justice sectors. With an annual turnover of over £1bn, we provide everything from catering, cleaning and reception to security, laboratory and grounds maintenance services, enabling our clients to focus on their core business.

We are building on our support to the Armed Forces community through the development of specific pathways within our recruitment process to  support ex-forces personnel and reservists, those applying for jobs with us who meet the ideal candidate criteria for the role advertised are guaranteed to progress to the selection process