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- Tasks: Lead a diverse team to deliver exceptional food and hospitality experiences for students.
- Company: Christ's Hospital, a historic independent boarding school with a charitable mission.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, pension scheme, career development, and exclusive discounts.
- Why this job: Shape a unique dining experience in a prestigious educational environment.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership experience in hospitality or education, with strong financial acumen.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team committed to nurturing young people and celebrating diversity.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
Christ’s Hospital is a school like no other. Founded in 1552, this historic independent boarding school provides a first-class education to pupils from a wide variety of backgrounds. Its charitable mission to offer life-changing opportunities through bursaries is at the heart of everything the school does. Set in 1,200 acres of beautiful Sussex countryside with some of the most recognisable architecture in the UK independent sector, Christ’s Hospital blends centuries of tradition with a forward-thinking educational ethos.
Food and hospitality play a central role in daily life at Christ’s Hospital from nourishing over 900 pupils and staff within our exceptional kitchen and dining room to delivering hospitality events that reflect the school’s stature and ambition. We are now seeking an exceptional Contract Director to lead this prestigious contract, driving operational excellence, culinary innovation, and a service experience that mirrors the school’s distinctive identity.
Why Join Us
We believe in recognising and rewarding your contribution. Our comprehensive benefits package includes (but is not limited to):
- 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
- 27 Days Annual Leave + Bank Holidays
The Role
This is a high-profile leadership role, responsible for shaping and delivering the catering and hospitality vision at one of the most unique schools in the country. You’ll lead a large, diverse team of over 70 to provide exceptional daily service across breakfast, lunch and supper, as well as a café, match teas, packed meals, and a rich hospitality calendar that includes formal dinners, parent events, and celebrations.
Key responsibilities include:
- Strategic Leadership: Inspire and develop a team of managers to deliver an exceptional food and service experience aligned to Christ’s Hospital’s values and culture.
- Client Partnership: Build a strong strategic relationship with the school, acting as a trusted partner in enhancing the food and hospitality offer for over 900 pupils and staff.
- Commercial Excellence: Deliver financial targets, identify opportunities for innovation and efficiency, and ensure the contract achieves both operational and commercial success.
- Innovation & Engagement: Work with marketing and culinary teams to design age-appropriate, seasonal, and sustainable food concepts. Drive pupil engagement through tasting tables, feedback forums, and student committees to ensure the offer evolves with their needs.
- People Development: Recruit, train, and inspire talented individuals, creating a strong succession pipeline and embedding a culture of pride, professionalism, and continuous improvement.
- Operational Excellence: Uphold the highest standards of health & safety, compliance, food quality and service, ensuring every meal reflects the high standards expected in this prestigious environment.
About You
You’ll bring proven experience of leading large, complex teams across multiple sites or a high-profile single site, ideally within education, hospitality, or a similar sector. Commercially astute and operationally excellent, you’ll have:
- A strategic mindset with the ability to deliver day-to-day excellence while shaping long-term vision
- Strong financial acumen and experience managing significant budgets
- A genuine passion for food and service, with the ability to elevate the everyday into something special
- Exceptional leadership and stakeholder management skills
- Flexibility, resilience, and the ability to thrive in a dynamic, community-focused environment
A Rare Opportunity
This is the chance to lead a landmark contract in one of the UK’s most inspiring school settings. By combining your commercial expertise with a deep respect for Christ’s Hospital’s mission and history, you’ll help shape an experience that nourishes young people and reflects the school’s values every single day.
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!
Contract Director - Christ\'s Hospital employer: Chartwells
Contact Detail:
Chartwells Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Contract Director - Christ\'s Hospital
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with alumni from Christ's Hospital. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Christ's Hospital and its values. Show how your experience aligns with their mission of providing life-changing opportunities through food and hospitality. Tailor your answers to reflect their ethos!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors to build confidence. Focus on articulating your leadership style and how you can inspire a large team to deliver exceptional service.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the Christ's Hospital community.
We think you need these skills to ace Contract Director - Christ\'s Hospital
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food and Service: When writing your application, let your love for food and hospitality shine through! Share specific examples of how you've elevated dining experiences in the past, as this aligns perfectly with our mission at Christ's Hospital.
Highlight Your Leadership Skills: We want to see how you inspire and develop teams. Use your application to showcase your leadership style and any successful projects where you’ve built strong relationships and driven operational excellence.
Be Strategic and Commercially Savvy: Demonstrate your financial acumen by discussing how you've managed budgets or identified opportunities for innovation in previous roles. This will show us that you can deliver both operational success and commercial excellence.
Tailor Your Application to Us: Make sure to personalise your application for Christ's Hospital. Research our values and culture, and reflect them in your writing. We love seeing candidates who take the time to understand what makes us unique!
How to prepare for a job interview at Chartwells
✨Know the School's Values
Before your interview, take some time to really understand Christ's Hospital's mission and values. This isn't just about knowing their history; it's about being able to articulate how your leadership style and vision align with their commitment to providing life-changing opportunities through education.
✨Showcase Your Culinary Passion
As a Contract Director, your love for food and service should shine through. Prepare examples of how you've previously elevated dining experiences or implemented innovative culinary concepts. Be ready to discuss how you can bring that same passion to Christ's Hospital.
✨Demonstrate Financial Acumen
Since managing significant budgets is key for this role, come prepared with specific examples of how you've successfully delivered financial targets in past positions. Highlight any innovative strategies you've used to enhance commercial success while maintaining high standards.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
This role requires exceptional stakeholder management skills. Think of instances where you've built strong relationships with clients or team members. Be ready to discuss how you would engage with pupils, staff, and parents to ensure their needs are met and their voices are heard.
