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- Tasks: Lead and develop teams across 12 education catering contracts with a focus on fresh food.
- Company: Join a vibrant, diverse contract catering company dedicated to excellence in the education sector.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary of £36,000 and fantastic benefits while working term time only.
- Why this job: Be part of a passionate team that values fresh food and exceptional service in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in multi-site education contract catering and strong leadership skills are essential.
- Other info: This role offers a unique opportunity to make a real impact in the education sector.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 50400 £ per year.
Job Description
Operations Manager – Education Catering (Home Counties)
Salary: £45,000 – £50,000 DOE + Car Allowance + Bonus
Full-time | 40 hours per week | 52 weeks per year
Ready to take your career to the next level in a role where you can make a real impact on the future generation's food experience?
Our client, a market-leading contract catering company with a passion for transforming school food, is on the hunt for a dynamic Operations Manager to join their growing team. Known for their creativity, innovation, and commitment to excellence in education catering, this is a business that's redefining what school meals can be.
As an Operations Manager, you'll be responsible for overseeing a portfolio of Primary and Secondary school contracts across the Home Counties. Your mission? To ensure that every meal served is not only delicious and on-trend but also delivered with the highest standards of care and service.
What You'll Be Doing
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Leading, inspiring and developing a team of site managers to deliver outstanding food and service
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Driving contract performance and ensuring services exceed client and customer expectations
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Monitoring and managing budgets while ensuring operational efficiency and quality aren't compromised
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Keeping food quality aligned with current food trends and children's preferences
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Playing a key role in client relationship management, retention, and new business development
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Ensuring full compliance with all Health & Safety, food hygiene, and safeguarding procedures
What We're Looking For
You're already an experienced operator in the education catering sector, with a strong track record of managing multiple sites. You bring:
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A passion for great food and service
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Strong leadership skills with a focus on team development and motivation
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Commercial awareness and the ability to drive performance and profitability
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Excellent communication and client management skills
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A process-driven mindset with the ability to maintain high standards across all operations
Why You'll Love This Role
This isn't just another job – it's a chance to join a company where people come first and progression is part of the package. Here's what you can expect:
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Competitive salary, car allowance, and bonus scheme
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A fresh new benefits programme, including private healthcare, enhanced parental leave, and even your birthday off
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Industry-leading learning and development opportunities
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The chance to shape the future of school meals – and the future of a growing business
Please note: All successful applicants will be required to complete an enhanced DBS check, in line with the company's commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
AMRT1_UKCT
Operations Manager - Contract Catering employer: Cartwheel Recruitment Ltd
Contact Detail:
Cartwheel Recruitment Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Manager - Contract Catering
✨Tip Number 1
Make sure to showcase your leadership skills during the interview. Share specific examples of how you've successfully led teams in a multi-site environment, especially within education contract catering.
✨Tip Number 2
Demonstrate your passion for fresh food by discussing any relevant initiatives or projects you've been involved in. This could include menu development, sourcing local ingredients, or implementing sustainability practices.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your financial acumen. Be ready to explain how you've monitored budgets, improved profitability, or managed costs in previous roles, as this is crucial for the Operations Manager position.
✨Tip Number 4
Highlight your client relationship management skills. Think of examples where you've built strong partnerships with clients and how that has positively impacted service delivery and customer satisfaction.
We think you need these skills to ace Operations Manager - Contract Catering
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience in multi-site management within education contract catering. Emphasize your leadership skills, passion for fresh food, and any relevant financial monitoring experience.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your enthusiasm for the role and the company. Share specific examples of how you've successfully led teams and improved service quality in previous positions.
Showcase Your Client Relationship Skills: Demonstrate your ability to forge and maintain client relationships. Include examples of how you've effectively communicated with clients and resolved issues in a customer-facing role.
Highlight Your Problem-Solving Abilities: Provide examples in your application that showcase your logical problem-solving skills. Describe situations where you had to think on your feet and how you successfully navigated challenges in a fast-paced environment.
How to prepare for a job interview at Cartwheel Recruitment Ltd
✨Show Your Passion for Fresh Food
Make sure to express your genuine love for fresh food during the interview. Share specific examples of how you've implemented fresh food initiatives in your previous roles, especially in the education sector.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and how you have successfully led teams in a multi-site environment. Highlight any mentoring or training experiences that showcase your ability to develop others.
✨Be Client-Focused
Since this role is client-facing, be ready to talk about how you've built and maintained strong client relationships in the past. Provide examples of how you've handled customer feedback and improved service delivery.
✨Prepare Financial Insights
Brush up on your financial monitoring skills and be prepared to discuss how you've managed budgets and reports in previous positions. Show that you can think critically about financial data and its impact on operations.
