Senior Culinary Operations & Inventory Manager
Senior Culinary Operations & Inventory Manager

Senior Culinary Operations & Inventory Manager

Southampton Full-Time 48000 - 72000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead culinary operations and inventory management for P&O Cruises, ensuring top-notch guest experiences.
  • Company: Carnival UK is a leading cruise line dedicated to creating unforgettable holiday experiences.
  • Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work, annual bonuses, extensive leave, and health perks like private medical insurance.
  • Why this job: Join a dynamic team focused on innovation, quality, and making a real impact on guest satisfaction.
  • Qualifications: Experience in high-volume culinary environments and strong financial acumen are essential.
  • Other info: This role involves travel, with up to 50% time spent onboard our ships.

The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.

Carnival UK is in search of a brand new Senior Culinary Operations Manager who will be accountable for the delivery of the onboard guest experience in culinary operations and inventory management across the P&O Cruises fleet.

The P&O Cruises Guest Experience team is at the heart of our fleet operation. As the first point of contact for our shipboard leadership team, we help them to navigate between ship and shore as a source of advice and direction. We plan to meet the changing needs of our guests, and we inspire and lead our crew to SHINE as they deliver our guest service programme. And when things aren’t quite right, we do what it takes to recover brilliantly.

As the Senior Culinary Operations Manager, you’ll develop and optimise the onboard food production, galley and inventory processes to ensure the delivery of our corporate menus and operating brand standards. You will provide culinary expertise to the fleet and work across the ship and shore teams to drive quality and efficiency improvement.

Accountabilities include:

  • Ensure effective processes are in place across the fleet to optimise food quality and delivery.
  • Develop capability in line with industry best practice in terms of design, production, waste management, presentation and product consistency.
  • Provide guidance to the fleet in terms of galley operations and equipment, ensuring an innovative approach, embracing emerging trends.
  • Work with the Culinary Development team to bring operational knowledge and insight to new product and concept design processes, ensuring operational requirements and onboard constraints are considered.
  • People Management through supporting the recruitment of onboard roles, provide input into crew scheduling and coach and support the onboard management team.

This role is classified as a CUK06 offered as a full-time position, on a permanent basis. We offer hybrid work including up to two days from home. Please note that this role will require time on board our ships to match the needs of the business, with up to 50% of your time travelling.

Requirements:

Your Expertise and Leadership

To thrive as a Senior Culinary Operations Manager, we’re looking for:

  • Breadth of experience or knowledge of a range of food/kitchen/galley environments, including multi-site or resort style and high-volume businesses, and as an advantage experience of working in a food or culinary role in a corporate/head office environment.
  • Strong financial & commercial acumen, with an understanding and experience of budgets.
  • Experience of liaising and influencing multidisciplinary stakeholders in an established, complex environment.
  • Experience of managing remote teams.

About You:

A Catalyst for Change

We believe that diversity enriches our team. We’re interested in candidates who:

  • Provide Leadership and direction: Taking responsibility for self and team actions, ensuring a positive impact on both culture and behaviours.
  • Work collaboratively and engage others, with a focus on accountability and team spirit.
  • Drive change and improvement through all actions, ensuring this is cascaded through team and cross departmental engagements.

Why Join Us?

Working with us is about more than a job. It’s about creating unforgettable holiday happiness for our guests and a fulfilling career for you. Our benefits package reflects our commitment to your wellbeing:

  • Annual bonus
  • Extensive learning and development opportunities
  • Minimum 25 days leave, bank holiday allowance and holiday trading scheme
  • Recognition scheme with prizes and awards
  • Contributory Defined Contribution Pension scheme
  • Company paid private medical and dental insurance and health assessment
  • In-house Occupational Health help and access to digital GP
  • Life Assurance
  • Parental and adoption leave
  • Employee Shares Plan
  • Electric Car and Cycle to Work schemes
  • Employee Discounted Cruising plus Friends and Family offers

Ready to Lead?

If guiding an onboard Culinary Operations team to new heights excites you, we’re eager to hear from you. Apply now to start your journey with us, where your performance-led leadership will make a difference in our shared success.

Senior Culinary Operations & Inventory Manager employer: Carnival

Carnival UK is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that prioritises employee wellbeing and growth. As a Senior Culinary Operations Manager, you will benefit from extensive learning opportunities, a competitive benefits package including annual bonuses and private medical insurance, and the chance to make a meaningful impact on guest experiences across the P&O Cruises fleet. With a commitment to diversity and collaboration, you'll thrive in an environment that encourages innovation and leadership while enjoying the unique advantage of hybrid working and travel opportunities.
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Contact Detail:

Carnival Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Culinary Operations & Inventory Manager

✨Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with the latest culinary trends and innovations. This will not only help you in interviews but also demonstrate your commitment to staying ahead in the industry, which is crucial for a role focused on optimising food production and delivery.

✨Tip Number 2

Network with professionals in the culinary and hospitality sectors. Attend industry events or join relevant online forums to connect with others who may have insights into the role or the company, which can give you an edge during the application process.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare to discuss your experience with managing remote teams and liaising with multidisciplinary stakeholders. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully navigated complex environments, as this is a key requirement for the position.

✨Tip Number 4

Research Carnival UK and P&O Cruises thoroughly. Understanding their brand values, guest experience philosophy, and operational challenges will allow you to tailor your discussions and show how your expertise aligns with their goals.

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Culinary Operations & Inventory Manager

Culinary Expertise
Inventory Management
Food Quality Assurance
Budget Management
Stakeholder Engagement
Team Leadership
Operational Efficiency
Change Management
Cross-Departmental Collaboration
Training and Development
Problem-Solving Skills
Communication Skills
Adaptability
Trend Analysis
Waste Management

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in culinary operations and inventory management. Emphasise any leadership roles you've held and specific achievements that demonstrate your ability to optimise food production and enhance guest experiences.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for the culinary industry and how your background aligns with the responsibilities of the Senior Culinary Operations Manager role. Mention your experience with multi-site operations and your approach to managing remote teams.

Showcase Your Financial Acumen: Since strong financial and commercial acumen is crucial for this role, include examples of how you've successfully managed budgets or improved cost efficiencies in previous positions. This will demonstrate your capability to handle the financial aspects of culinary operations.

Highlight Leadership Skills: Discuss your experience in leading teams and driving change within an organisation. Provide specific examples of how you've motivated and engaged team members, as well as how you've collaborated with multidisciplinary stakeholders to achieve common goals.

How to prepare for a job interview at Carnival

✨Showcase Your Culinary Expertise

Be prepared to discuss your experience in various culinary environments, especially high-volume and multi-site operations. Highlight specific examples where you've optimised food quality and delivery, as this will resonate with the role's focus on enhancing guest experiences.

✨Demonstrate Financial Acumen

Since strong financial and commercial understanding is crucial for this position, come equipped with examples of how you've managed budgets or improved cost efficiencies in previous roles. This will show your capability in handling the financial aspects of culinary operations.

✨Emphasise Leadership Skills

Prepare to discuss your leadership style and how you've successfully managed remote teams. Share instances where you've driven change and improvement within a team, as this aligns with the company's values of accountability and collaboration.

✨Engage with Stakeholders

Expect questions about your experience liaising with multidisciplinary stakeholders. Be ready to provide examples of how you've influenced decisions in complex environments, showcasing your ability to navigate between ship and shore effectively.

Senior Culinary Operations & Inventory Manager
Carnival
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  • Senior Culinary Operations & Inventory Manager

    Southampton
    Full-Time
    48000 - 72000 £ / year (est.)

    Application deadline: 2027-05-05

  • C

    Carnival

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