At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead multiple catering outlets, ensuring high standards and customer satisfaction.
- Company: Join Compass Group, a leader in the catering industry with a focus on diversity.
- Benefits: Enjoy free meals, discounts, wellness classes, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic role with excellent growth potential and a supportive team culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a vibrant university environment while growing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in catering management and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 35000 - 45000 £ per year.
Benefits:
- Free meals
- Subsidised car parking
- Contributory pension scheme
- Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes
- Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits
- Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more
- Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and many more
- Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster
- Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands
- Unwind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes
- You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families
As Group Manager, you will hold full responsibility for the operational delivery and performance of multiple catering outlets across a busy university campus. You will lead safe, compliant, commercially focused and customer‑centric operations, ensuring consistently high standards across all areas of the business. The role encompasses responsibility for financial performance, labour management, staffing, customer experience, food safety compliance, stock control, hospitality, vending and event operations. You will ensure seamless service delivery within a diverse, high‑volume and fast‑paced environment while driving operational excellence and continuous improvement. You will organise and supervise all catering operations in accordance with Compass Group UK & Ireland standards, contractual requirements and statutory regulations, ensuring the efficient and effective management of all resources, including people, stock and company assets.
Key Responsibilities
- Operational Leadership
- Lead and manage the day‑to‑day operation of multiple catering outlets across campus
- Ensure all services are delivered safely, efficiently and to agreed company and client standards
- Drive operational consistency, customer satisfaction and commercial performance
- Ensure all hospitality and event catering is delivered to the highest standard
- Support vending and retail operations to maximise service delivery and revenue opportunities
- Client Relationship Management
- Build and maintain strong relationships with university stakeholders and clients
- Ensure all contractual obligations are fully understood and consistently delivered
- Communicate regularly with clients and respond proactively to operational feedback
- Implement action plans following client satisfaction surveys
- Act as a positive ambassador for Compass Group at all times
- Financial & Commercial Management
- Manage all site costs effectively, including labour, food, consumables and operational expenditure
- Deliver labour schedules in line with budget and business requirements
- Minimise agency usage and overtime spend through effective workforce planning
- Monitor gross profit performance and ensure purchasing compliance targets are achieved
- Analyse sales trends and identify opportunities to improve revenue and profitability
- Ensure accurate completion of financial and operational reporting
- Customer Experience & Retail Standards
- Ensure all retail and catering areas are fully stocked, presented and operating to high standards
- Deliver excellent customer service across all outlets and hospitality services
- Support and implement company promotions and marketing initiatives
- Ensure products are correctly priced and aligned with company and client requirements
- Act on customer feedback to continuously improve the consumer experience
- Food Safety, Health & Safety & Compliance
- Ensure full compliance with all food safety, health & safety and statutory regulations
- Maintain accurate training records and ensure all team members complete required training
- Investigate and report incidents appropriately, implementing corrective actions where required
- Conduct regular compliance checks and audits across all operational areas
- Promote a strong health & safety culture across the business
- People Management
- Lead, motivate and develop teams to deliver operational excellence
- Ensure all team members are trained, supported and understand their responsibilities
- Manage recruitment, onboarding, succession planning and performance management
- Conduct regular team briefings and encourage engagement through initiatives such as Your Voice
- Monitor labour turnover and absenteeism, implementing action plans where necessary
- Create a positive, inclusive and high‑performing team culture
Skills & Experience
Essential
- Proven experience managing successful catering operations within a similar environment
- Experience leading and developing teams within a high‑volume operation
- Strong financial and commercial acumen
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
- Good understanding of food safety and health & safety legislation
- IT literate with experience using operational and financial systems
- Minimum of 2 years’ catering management experience
- NVQ Level 1 & 2 or City & Guilds 706/1 and 2
- Basic Food Hygiene Certificate
Desirable
- Experience within a university or education catering environment
- Strong knowledge of food production methods and operational procedures
- Experience managing hospitality and event catering
- Self‑motivated with the ability to adapt within a changing environment
- Good culinary knowledge and chef skills
Key Behaviours
- Results driven with strong attention to detail
- Customer focused with a passion for service excellence
- Positive and proactive approach to leadership
- Strong organisational and problem‑solving skills
- Ability to hold teams accountable while supporting development
- Collaborative team player with the ability to build strong working relationships
About Us
As part of Compass you'll help to feed people, fuel progress and forge connections in around 6,000 venues. Join us to grow your career with the industry leader, and get competitive pay, great perks and unrivalled opportunities for learning and development, at one of the UK's biggest businesses. Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive - because diversity is our strength!
Group Catering Manager - University of Kent employer: Chartwells Universities
At Compass Group UK&I, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that prioritises employee well-being and growth. As a Group Catering Manager at the University of Kent, you will benefit from competitive pay, free meals, and access to exclusive discounts, while leading a dynamic team in a fast-paced environment that values diversity and fosters professional development through our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Group Catering Manager - University of Kent
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the catering and hospitality industry, especially those who have ties to universities. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the university's catering operations. Understand their values and what they look for in a Group Catering Manager. Tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've led teams in high-pressure environments. Highlight your ability to drive operational excellence and improve customer satisfaction.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, you’ll find all the latest opportunities tailored to your skills and experience.
We think you need these skills to ace Group Catering Manager - University of Kent
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Group Catering Manager role. Highlight your experience in managing catering operations and any relevant achievements that showcase your leadership skills. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about this role and how your background aligns with our needs. Be sure to mention your understanding of food safety and customer service excellence.
Showcase Your Financial Acumen:Since financial management is key for this role, don’t forget to include examples of how you've successfully managed budgets or improved profitability in previous positions. We love seeing those numbers!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s quick and easy, and ensures your application goes directly to us. Plus, we can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Chartwells Universities
✨Know Your Catering Operations
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of catering operations, especially in a university setting. Understand the unique challenges and opportunities that come with managing multiple outlets on a busy campus. Be ready to discuss how you would ensure high standards and customer satisfaction across all areas.
✨Showcase Your Financial Acumen
Since financial performance is key in this role, prepare to talk about your experience with budgeting, cost management, and revenue generation. Bring examples of how you've successfully managed operational costs and maximised profitability in previous roles.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
As a Group Catering Manager, you'll need to lead and motivate teams effectively. Think of specific instances where you've developed team members or improved team dynamics. Be ready to share your approach to fostering a positive and inclusive team culture.
✨Prepare for Client Relationship Management
Building strong relationships with university stakeholders is crucial. Prepare to discuss how you've successfully managed client expectations and responded to feedback in the past. Highlight your communication skills and any strategies you've used to maintain client satisfaction.
