At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage and inspire teams while ensuring quality food service across multiple school sites.
- Company: Join one of England’s fastest-growing school food providers with a social impact mission.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus potential, free meals, and ongoing development opportunities.
- Other info: Access to free qualifications and monthly incentives for top performers.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in students' lives by providing better food and support.
- Qualifications: Experience managing multiple sites and a passion for food and service.
The predicted salary is between 38000 - 42000 € per year.
Welcome to Impact Food Group (IFG). We are one of England’s fastest-growing school food providers, serving around one million students every day across more than 1,500 schools. We are dedicated to delivering high-quality, nutritious meals that support student wellbeing and enjoyment. Our brands include Innovate, Cucina, Chapter One (Independent Schools), Hutchison, and Dolce, reflecting our breadth of experience and reach across the school catering sector.
Are you an experienced Contract Catering Operations Support Manager who still likes to be involved with food? Looking to make a real difference? Be part of a growing business with a powerful social impact mission. We want awesome people to help us feed more children better food.
About the Role
- Area Covering: East London - Newham, Stratford, Ilford and surrounding areas
- Working Days: Monday to Friday
- Shifts & Working hours: 45 hours per week
- Working Weeks: 52 weeks per year (25 days paid annual leave plus bank holidays)
- Pay Details: £38,000 per year plus car allowance of £3,840 per year (paid monthly)
- Benefits: Bonus potential of up to 10% (Discretionary) of salary based on performance, free meals on shift, uniform, pension and other great company benefits
Join Our Team
Due to continued business growth, an exciting opportunity has arisen for experienced Operations Support Managers to join our team. In this role, you will work closely with the Operations Manager, supporting a portfolio of sites within your region. You’ll bring multi-site management experience, a genuine passion for food and service, and strong craft skills, with the confidence to step into the kitchen and support when needed.
Responsibilities
- Manage, inspire, and engage teams
- Understand, track, and drive the schools’ restaurant profit contribution, balancing commercial performance with quality and service
- Build trusted relationships with clients and stakeholders to help deliver our shared goal of feeding more students, better food
What You’ll Bring
- Experience managing at least four sites, supporting and guiding Chef Managers in the smooth day-to-day running of each location, while also building and maintaining strong client relationships.
- A chef by trade, with a hands-on approach and a willingness to step into the kitchen whenever needed.
- Confident communicating at all levels, from the kitchen through to the boardroom.
- Self-motivated, resilient, and highly organised, with a strong ability to prioritise effectively.
- You’ll be confident using the Microsoft Office suite, with strong skills in creating clear, professional spreadsheets and presentations that effectively showcase performance and results.
What’s in it for you
We’ll give you the opportunity to grow and build a career you can be proud of. You’ll have access to a wide range of free qualifications and ongoing development opportunities, as well as a staff discount scheme across over 850 retailers. We also run monthly incentives, giving our top-performing teams the chance to win shopping vouchers and other rewards.
Next Steps
If you think you’ve got what it takes, and the times above suit you, we’d love to hear from you! This role will require both an interview and a kitchen visit as part of the selection process. IFG are committed to the safeguarding of children and our employees share this commitment. Successful candidates are required to undergo an enhanced DBS check, which IFG will pay for. We are a committed equal opportunities employer - if you require any assistance for the interview process, please detail within your application. All information is kept confidential and in compliance with GDPR requirements.
Area Support Manager in Ilford employer: Bridgwater Academy Quantock Campus
Impact Food Group (IFG) is an exceptional employer dedicated to making a meaningful difference in the lives of students through high-quality, nutritious meals. With a strong focus on employee growth, IFG offers extensive development opportunities, a supportive work culture, and a range of benefits including performance bonuses and staff discounts. Join us in East London as an Area Support Manager and be part of a passionate team committed to feeding more children better food while enjoying a fulfilling career.
Contact Detail:
Bridgwater Academy Quantock Campus Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Area Support Manager in Ilford
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research Impact Food Group, their mission, and their brands. This way, when you chat with them, you can show off your knowledge and passion for what they do.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend industry events. Building relationships can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for that interview! Think about how your experience aligns with the role of Area Support Manager. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've managed teams and improved operations in the past.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team!
We think you need these skills to ace Area Support Manager in Ilford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food:When you're writing your application, let your love for food shine through! Share any experiences that highlight your culinary skills or your commitment to providing quality meals. We want to see that you’re not just about the numbers but also about making a real difference in students' lives.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to reflect the specific requirements of the Area Support Manager role. Highlight your multi-site management experience and how it aligns with our mission at Impact Food Group. This shows us you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in joining our team.
Be Clear and Professional:Use clear and professional language in your application. We appreciate well-structured documents that are easy to read. Don’t forget to showcase your Microsoft Office skills by presenting your achievements and experiences in a neat format—this is your chance to impress us!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to the right people. Plus, it shows us you’re proactive and keen to be part of our growing business. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Bridgwater Academy Quantock Campus
✨Know Your Food
Since this role is all about food and service, make sure you brush up on your culinary knowledge. Be ready to discuss your favourite dishes, cooking techniques, and how you can bring your passion for food into the role. Show them that you’re not just a manager but someone who genuinely loves being in the kitchen.
✨Showcase Your Multi-Site Management Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed multiple sites in the past. Highlight specific challenges you faced and how you overcame them. This will demonstrate your ability to juggle responsibilities and keep everything running smoothly across different locations.
✨Build Relationships
The job involves building trusted relationships with clients and stakeholders. Think of instances where you’ve successfully built rapport with clients or team members. Be ready to share these stories to show that you understand the importance of collaboration and communication in achieving shared goals.
✨Be Ready for the Kitchen Visit
Since part of the selection process includes a kitchen visit, prepare yourself to step back into a chef's shoes. Brush up on your cooking skills and be ready to demonstrate your hands-on approach. This is your chance to shine and show that you can lead by example in the kitchen!
