Catering Operations Manager - Independent Schools

Job Introduction

A career-enhancing opportunity has become available for a Catering Operations Manager to join our team on the Woldingham School site - set in 700 acres of beautiful Surrey countryside, this is one of the UK's leading day and boarding schools for girls.

We are looking for a high-calibre professional with a proven track record in managing high-end catering and hospitality service delivery, excellent knowledge of catering industry and innovations in this space as well as outstanding leadership, communication and customer service skills.

To fully appreciate the scope and nature of the role, previous experience operating in boarding school environment and managing a multi-million pound contract is preferred. Flexibility working in a 7-day-operation is a must.

We offer a salary up to £55,000, flexible benefits package, prestigious working environment and excellent development and progression opportunities within world-leading catering and hospitality provider.

Location:

It is less than three miles to the M25, only 30 minutes from Gatwick and 45 minutes from Heathrow. Direct trains reach the school in 25 minutes from Clapham Junction to the train station in the school grounds.

Shift outline:

This is a 5/7 operation 52 weeks per year, with groups and weddings in school holidays. There will be an expectation of doing one weekend in 3 or 4 weeks, dependent on business requirement. Flexibility is key.

Role Responsibility

• Effectively manage the Sodexo team to ensure that exemplary services are provided at the school. 
• Manage resources and promote an ethos of teamwork and to instil a culture of continuous improvement.
• Ownership for the service at the school leading a management team to ensure delivering against Key Performance Indicators.
• Accountable for strategic aims of the school and support with growth and development of the contract
• Act as the primary representative of Sodexo within the contract by the effective management of all Managers to ensure the delivery of both qualitative and quantitative results
• Be proactive engaging all stakeholders within the school
• Provide strategic direction for the client in the management and development of the account
• Foster long term profitable relationships with the schools to maintain existing business and identify new business opportunities by delivering operational excellence
• Provide direction and expertise to the operating teams by promoting Sodexo strategies and best business practices in order to uphold the Company mission and values
• Manage all aspects of Food Safety, Health and Safety and implement robust systems to ensure accountability at all levels
• To communicate and report to clients all areas of Health and Safety in the provision of buildings and maintenance requirements 
• Effective time management and planning to meet deadlines to ensure a ‘best in class’ service
• Motivate, lead and direct a high performing team to achieve their objectives
• Manage all aspects of service planning and execution for Weddings, functions and lets 

The Ideal Candidate

• Proven experience of catering and high-end hospitality management, preferably in independent school environment
• Proven track record managing a multi-million pound catering & hospitality contract
• Industry acumen and knowledge of external catering developments & innovations
• Outstanding leadership and people management skills
• Strong strategic and financial understanding and demonstrable in understanding budgets
• Experienced in adhering to and driving company initiatives
• Proven ability communicating at different levels
• Strong communication and negotiation skills
• Experience working in a standards /compliance environment
• Relevant qualifications and training
• IT literate

Sodexo and our clients are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults within a regulated activity. This role will require applicants to undergo screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and/ or Disclosure Scotland.

About the Company

In the UK and Ireland, Sodexo employs some 36,000 employees to deliver integrated facilities management services to clients at over 2,000 locations in the energy, 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. 

At Sodexo we are committed to a leading role in promoting equality opportunities and valuing diversity and inclusion. We seek to create a work environment based on mutual respect for all individuals, building a culture that appreciates and values the experiences and skills brought by each person to benefit our organisation and work hard to ensure that all people, whatever their race, colour, sex, gender identity  disability, nationality, national or ethnic origin, religion or belief, marital/partnership or family status, sexual orientation, age, social class, educational background, employment status, working pattern, are welcome to and included within our organisation.  

We’re a Disability Confident Leader employer. We’re committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations. 

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.