At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead multiple catering outlets, ensuring high standards and customer satisfaction on campus.
- Company: Join Compass Group, a leader in the catering industry with a vibrant culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy free meals, discounts, career growth opportunities, and wellness classes.
- Other info: Dynamic role with excellent career progression and a supportive team atmosphere.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in catering management and strong team leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 35000 - 45000 £ per year.
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
Qualifications
- 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
Benefits
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. We ensure you're rewarded for all your hard work, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:
- 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
Group Manager - University of Kent in Canterbury employer: Compass Group PLC
At Compass Group UK & Ireland, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters growth and development. As a Group Manager at the University of Kent, you will benefit from competitive pay, comprehensive perks including free meals and subsidised parking, and unparalleled opportunities for career advancement within one of the UK's largest businesses. Join us to lead a dynamic team in a fast-paced environment while enjoying exclusive discounts and wellness initiatives that enhance your work-life balance.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Group Manager - University of Kent in Canterbury
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at the University of Kent or Compass Group on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and might just get your foot in the door.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the university's catering operations. Know their values and how they align with your experience. This shows you're genuinely interested and ready to contribute!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your answers to common interview questions, especially around leadership and customer service. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses and highlight your achievements.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email reiterating your enthusiasm for the role can leave a lasting impression. Plus, it shows you’re proactive and keen!
We think you need these skills to ace Group Manager - University of Kent in Canterbury
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in managing catering operations. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:We want to see how you've led teams in high-pressure environments. Share specific examples of how you've motivated staff and improved customer satisfaction in your previous roles.
Demonstrate Financial Acumen:Since financial management is key, include details about how you've managed budgets, reduced costs, or increased revenue in past positions. Numbers speak volumes!
Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Compass Group PLC
✨Know Your Catering Operations
Before the interview, brush up on your knowledge of catering operations, especially in a university setting. Familiarise yourself with the specific challenges and opportunities that come with managing multiple outlets on a busy campus. This will show your potential employer that you understand the unique environment and can hit the ground running.
✨Demonstrate Financial Acumen
Be prepared to discuss your experience with financial management in catering. Bring examples of how you've successfully managed budgets, reduced costs, or improved profitability in previous roles. This will highlight your strong financial and commercial acumen, which is crucial for the Group Manager position.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Think of specific instances where you've led a team to success. Be ready to share stories about how you've motivated staff, handled conflicts, or implemented training programmes. This will demonstrate your ability to lead and develop teams effectively, which is key for this role.
✨Engage with Client Relationship Management
Prepare to discuss how you've built and maintained relationships with clients or stakeholders in past roles. Highlight any strategies you've used to gather feedback and implement improvements based on client satisfaction surveys. This will show that you're customer-focused and understand the importance of strong client relationships.
