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 growth.
- Benefits: Enjoy free meals, discounts, wellness classes, and a comprehensive benefits package.
- Other info: Diverse team culture with excellent opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a vibrant university environment while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in catering management and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 35000 - 45000 £ per year.
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
- Un-wind 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
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 in Canterbury employer: Compass Group UK
At Compass Group UK&I, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that values diversity and inclusivity. As a Group Catering Manager at the University of Kent, you'll benefit from a comprehensive rewards package, including free meals, subsidised parking, and extensive career development opportunities through our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes. Join us in a dynamic environment where you can lead a passionate team, drive operational excellence, and enjoy unique perks like exclusive travel discounts and wellness classes.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Group Catering Manager - University of Kent in Canterbury
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the catering industry, especially those linked to universities. Attend events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy about reaching out for a chat. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you’ve got a portfolio of your past catering successes or any cool projects, make sure to have it ready to share. This can really set you apart from other candidates and give potential employers a taste of what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the university and its catering needs. Understand their values and how you can contribute to their goals. Tailor your responses to show that you’re not just a fit for the role, but also for their culture. We want to see that you’re genuinely interested!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us. So, get your application in and let’s get the conversation started!
We think you need these skills to ace Group Catering Manager - University of Kent in Canterbury
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 leading teams, as well as any relevant qualifications. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
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 you can contribute to our team. Be sure to mention your understanding of food safety and customer service excellence.
Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Whether it's improving customer satisfaction scores or managing budgets effectively, we love to see how you've made a positive impact in your previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smooth application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Compass Group UK
✨Know Your Catering Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of catering operations, especially in a university setting. Understand the key responsibilities of a Group Catering Manager and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with managing multiple outlets, ensuring food safety, and delivering excellent customer service.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your ability to lead and develop teams in a high-volume environment. Think about times when you've motivated staff, managed recruitment, or implemented training programmes. This role is all about people management, so demonstrate your leadership style and how it drives operational excellence.
✨Get Familiar with Financials
Since financial performance is crucial for this role, be ready to discuss your experience with budgeting, cost control, and revenue improvement strategies. Bring specific examples of how you've successfully managed site costs and maximised profitability in previous roles.
✨Engage with Client Relationships
This position requires strong relationship management skills. Prepare to talk about how you've built and maintained relationships with clients or stakeholders in the past. Highlight your communication skills and any proactive measures you've taken to respond to feedback and improve client satisfaction.
