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- Tasks: Lead and innovate catering operations at a prestigious independent school.
- Company: Join Lodestone House, part of the UK's leading foodservice organisation.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, career development, and exclusive discounts.
- Other info: Flexible working hours with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of catering in a dynamic educational environment.
- Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in catering or hospitality is essential.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 72000 £ per year.
Brighton College & Brighton College Prep Handcross
Responsible To: Director of Operations / Regional Manager– Lodestone House
Location: Based at Brighton College, supporting Brighton College, Brighton College Prep Handcross and any other associated Brighton College Schools as required.
Work Level: Senior Leadership / Strategic Account Level
Working Hours: 40 hours, 5 days over 7
Salary: Up to £72,000
Annual Leave Entitlement: 25 days + Bank Holidays
Contract: Permanent
Role Context
Lodestone House operates the catering and hospitality services at Brighton College, one of the UK's most prestigious independent schools and named School of the Decade. Brighton College continues to expand its operations both within the UK and internationally and represents a complex, high‐profile and fast‐paced catering and hospitality environment.
This newly created senior leadership role oversees all catering and hospitality operations and works in close partnership with the Head of Catering Operations (Brighton College). The role exists to provide strategic direction, operational structure, commercial grip and senior leadership across the Brighton College and Brighton College Prep Handcross catering and hospitality operation, with the potential for further growth in the future.
Catering and hospitality are viewed as core to the pupil and staff experience, not simply a support function. Food quality, service standards, nutrition, sustainability and operational reliability are all critical to the College's daily life and reputation.
The catering operation supports:
- A large day and boarding pupil population across multiple age groups in central Brighton and a Prep boarding school, based in Handcross.
- High‐volume daily breakfast, lunch and supper services with over 3,000 meals served per day across the group including customers with complex allergen and intolerance needs.
- Extensive hospitality provision including formal dinners and receptions, sporting and cultural events, parent, alumni and donor events, conferences, summer schools and commercial lettings, and a busy calendar of evening and weekend activity.
The operation is characterised by:
- High service expectations
- A strong focus on food quality, nutrition and sustainability
- Significant logistical complexity
- A requirement for absolute reliability alongside innovation and evolution
Overall Purpose of the Role
To provide strategic, operational and commercial leadership across the Brighton College catering and hospitality operation, ensuring delivery of a seamless, best‐in‐class service that reflects the College's ambition, reputation and uncompromising standards. The role will set the strategic direction of catering and hospitality, lead and manage complex catering projects, introduce and refine structure and process, support and enable the Head of Catering Operations to deliver day‐to‐day excellence, and be fully accountable for financial performance, and senior stakeholder reporting.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership & Direction: Set and drive the strategic direction for catering and hospitality across Brighton College. Translate Brighton College's vision and values into a clear catering and hospitality strategy. Act as a senior strategic advisor to Brighton College leadership. Ensure alignment between Brighton College expectations and Lodestone House / Compass Group frameworks.
- Operational Excellence: Oversee all catering and hospitality operations across Brighton College and Brighton College Prep Handcross. Introduce clarity, structure and rhythm into operational planning. Ensure consistently high standards of food quality, service and customer experience.
- Project Leadership & Change Management: Lead major catering and hospitality projects including service redesign, process implementation and offer evolution. Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, with minimal operational disruption and within the agreed budget. Establish clear project ownership, governance and delivery plans. Manage risk, dependencies and stakeholder expectations throughout delivery. Translate strategic intent into practical, deliverable outcomes.
- Financial Accountability & Commercial Performance: Full accountability for contract financial performance. Lead monthly financial reporting, forecasting and variance analysis with the support of the Catering Financial Manager. Prepare and present financial and operational proposals to Brighton College and internal leadership teams.
- Data, Insight & Reporting: Use data to drive decision‐making and performance improvement. Translate complex financial and operational data into meaningful insight. Ensure clear, accurate and trusted reporting.
- People Leadership & Organisation: Ensure the operation is correctly structured with the right capability in the right roles. Coach and support senior leaders including the Head of Catering Operations, Deputy Head of Catering. Build a culture of accountability, pride and continuous improvement.
- Client & Stakeholder Management: Build trusted relationships with Brighton College senior leadership. Act as a senior ambassador for Lodestone House and Compass Group.
- Health, Safety & Compliance: Ensure full compliance with all food safety, health & safety and people policies.
Working Pattern
This is a demanding senior leadership role within an extremely busy operation. While predominantly Monday to Friday, evening and weekend working will be required to support key operational and hospitality activity.
Why Join Lodestone House
This role offers a unique opportunity to operate at the highest level within independent education catering. We believe in recognising and rewarding your contribution. Our comprehensive benefits package includes (but is not limited to):
- Working for the UK's leading foodservice organisation with global reach.
- The ability to shape and influence strategy within a flagship independent school account.
- Contributory pension scheme.
- Career development through our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes.
- Digital GP access and healthcare support for you and your immediate family.
- Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and more.
- Grocery discounts with major retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury's and Morrisons.
- Up to 44% off cinema tickets.
- Cashback rewards on a wide range of brands.
- Free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes.
- Share your discounts with family and friends.
- 25 Days Annual Leave + Bank Holidays.
Person Specification
Essential:
- Senior leadership experience within catering, hospitality or foodservice.
- Proven financial and commercial accountability.
- Strong stakeholder management and presentation skills.
- Experience leading complex, high‐profile operations.
- Highly organised, solution‐focused and resilient.
Desirable:
- Independent education experience.
- Project or change management experience.
- Degree qualified or equivalent.
- Chef or operational food background.
Director Of Catering NEW Lodestone House Posted today £72,000 per year Brighton Operations employer: Chartwells Independent
Contact Detail:
Chartwells Independent Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Director Of Catering NEW Lodestone House Posted today £72,000 per year Brighton Operations
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the catering and hospitality industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential contacts. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Brighton College and Lodestone House thoroughly. Understand their values, mission, and recent developments. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you’re genuinely interested in the role and the organisation.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to articulate your vision for the catering operations at Brighton College. Think about how you can bring innovation and excellence to the table. A strong, clear vision can set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us. Let’s make it happen!
We think you need these skills to ace Director Of Catering NEW Lodestone House Posted today £72,000 per year Brighton Operations
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Director of Catering role. Highlight your relevant experience in catering and hospitality, and show how your skills align with the strategic direction of Brighton College.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: This is a senior leadership position, so don’t hold back on showcasing your leadership experience. Share specific examples of how you've led teams, managed complex operations, and driven strategic initiatives in your previous roles.
Be Data-Driven: Since the role involves financial accountability and performance improvement, include any experience you have with data analysis and reporting. Show us how you've used data to make informed decisions and improve operations in the past.
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 and shows your enthusiasm for joining the StudySmarter team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Chartwells Independent
✨Know Your Catering Strategy
Before the interview, dive deep into the catering strategy of Brighton College. Understand their vision and how you can align your experience with their goals. Be ready to discuss how you would enhance their operations and contribute to their reputation for excellence.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Director of Catering, strong leadership is key. Prepare examples from your past where you've successfully led teams or projects. Highlight your ability to coach and support senior leaders, as well as how you've built a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
✨Demonstrate Financial Acumen
This role requires financial accountability, so brush up on your financial reporting skills. Be prepared to discuss how you've managed budgets, forecasted financial performance, and presented proposals to senior stakeholders. Use specific numbers and outcomes to illustrate your success.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Stakeholder management is crucial in this position. Think about how you've built trusted relationships in previous roles. Be ready to share strategies for managing expectations and communicating effectively with various stakeholders, especially in a high-profile environment like Brighton College.