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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and inspire teams to deliver exceptional food experiences in schools.
- Company: Join a market leader transforming school meals with creativity and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, car allowance, bonus, and fresh benefits like private healthcare.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on children's food experiences while advancing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in education catering with strong leadership and communication skills required.
- Other info: All applicants must complete an enhanced DBS check for child safeguarding.
The predicted salary is between 39000 - 45000 £ per year.
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 Surrey. 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
- Leading, inspiring and developing a team of site managers to deliver outstanding food and service
- Driving contract performance and ensuring services exceed client and customer expectations
- Monitoring and managing budgets while ensuring operational efficiency and quality aren't compromised
- Keeping food quality aligned with current food trends and children's preferences
- Playing a key role in client relationship management, retention, and new business development
- 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:
- A passion for great food and service
- Strong leadership skills with a focus on team development and motivation
- Commercial awareness and the ability to drive performance and profitability
- Excellent communication and client management skills
- 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:
- Competitive salary, car allowance, and bonus scheme
- A fresh new benefits programme, including private healthcare, enhanced parental leave, and even your birthday off
- Industry-leading learning and development opportunities
- 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.
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
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in education catering. Understanding what’s currently popular among school meals can help you demonstrate your passion for great food and service during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the education catering sector. Attend industry events or join relevant online forums to connect with others who can provide insights or even refer you to opportunities within their organisations.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience managing multiple sites effectively. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've driven performance and maintained high standards across operations in your previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your leadership skills by preparing to discuss how you’ve inspired and developed teams in the past. Highlighting your ability to motivate others will resonate well with the hiring team.
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 the education catering sector. Focus on your leadership skills, budget management, and any relevant achievements that demonstrate your ability to drive performance and profitability.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for transforming school food and how your values align with the company's mission. Mention specific examples of how you've inspired teams and exceeded client expectations in previous roles.
Highlight Relevant Skills: Emphasise your strong communication and client management skills. Provide examples of how you've successfully managed multiple sites and maintained high standards of service and food quality.
Showcase Your Knowledge of Trends: Demonstrate your understanding of current food trends and children's preferences in your application. This shows that you are not only experienced but also forward-thinking and innovative in your approach to education catering.
How to prepare for a job interview at Cartwheel Recruitment Ltd
✨Show Your Passion for Food and Service
Make sure to express your enthusiasm for great food and service during the interview. Share examples of how you've previously improved food quality or customer satisfaction in your past roles, especially in the education catering sector.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and how you inspire and develop teams. Highlight specific instances where you've successfully led a team to achieve outstanding results, particularly in managing multiple sites.
✨Understand the Business and Its Goals
Research the company and its approach to education catering. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their mission of transforming school food and exceeding client expectations while maintaining operational efficiency.
✨Prepare for Compliance Questions
Since compliance with Health & Safety and food hygiene is crucial, be prepared to answer questions about your experience with these regulations. Discuss how you've ensured compliance in previous roles and how you plan to maintain high standards in this position.
