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- Tasks: Lead catering operations, ensuring top-notch food and event experiences for students and staff.
- Company: Join Chartwells, part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, a leader in food service.
- Benefits: Enjoy free meals, gym access, discounts, and a comprehensive benefits package.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a vibrant university setting while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in contract catering and strong leadership skills are essential.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values creativity and personal growth.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Location: Northumbria University
Business: Chartwells – part of Compass Group UK & Ireland
About the role
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Operations Manager to join our senior management team at Northumbria University, working in partnership with our client to deliver outstanding food, hospitality and event catering experiences for students, staff and visitors. This is a key strategic role, responsible for operational excellence, commercial performance, customer experience and people leadership across a busy, multi-outlet university campus. If you’re passionate about food, love delivering great events and thrive in a fast-paced environment, we’d love to hear from you.
Key responsibilities
- Operational & Compliance Leadership
- Ensure full compliance with food safety, health & safety, brand, legal and contractual standards, maintaining excellent audit results
- Implement and monitor operational standards consistently across all units
- Proactively identify and mitigate operational risks
- Ensure accurate reporting and adherence to company and university policies
- People Leadership
- Lead, support and develop operational teams through clear communication, coaching and visible leadership
- Create a positive, inclusive and high-performing team culture
- Manage recruitment, retention, succession planning and absence management
- Develop management capability through regular 1:1s, performance reviews and development plans
- Senior Management Team Contribution
- Act as a key member of the Senior Management Team, contributing to strategy and decision-making
- Collaborate with peers to deliver shared objectives
- Support change initiatives and represent operations confidently with university stakeholders
- Commercial Performance
- Drive sales growth, cost control and labour optimisation
- Analyse financial performance and implement action plans to improve margins
- Support commercial strategies, promotions and events aligned to the university calendar
- Ensure effective stock management, pricing and purchasing controls
- Customer Experience
- Champion a customer-first culture across all outlets
- Use feedback and insight to continuously improve service and offer
- Work closely with university stakeholders to ensure services meet evolving needs
- Lead by example in delivering warm, professional service
About you
You’ll be a confident, visible leader with a genuine passion for food, people and service excellence. Comfortable engaging with students and senior stakeholders alike, you’ll bring energy, creativity and commercial focus to everything you do.
Essential experience:
- Proven experience in contract catering, ideally within a multi-unit environment
- Strong knowledge of food safety, health & safety and legislative compliance
- Demonstrable commercial capability, including budget management and margin improvement
- Excellent people management and leadership skills
- Experience contributing as part of a senior management team
- Clear, confident communication and stakeholder management skills
Desirable:
- Experience in a higher education setting
- Multi-site contract catering experience
- Relevant qualification in H&S, management or commercial disciplines
Why join Chartwells?
As part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, you’ll be joining a market-leading organisation that values its people, invests in development and is passionate about delivering great food and memorable experiences. 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
- Free on-site gym
- Free onsite swimming pool access
- 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
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!
Catering Operations Manager - Northumbria University in Newcastle upon Tyne employer: Compass Group UK
Contact Detail:
Compass Group UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Catering Operations Manager - Northumbria University in Newcastle upon Tyne
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at Northumbria University or Chartwells on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the latest trends in catering and hospitality. Show us your passion for food and service excellence, and how you can bring that to the table!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your leadership stories! We want to hear about times you've led teams to success. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.
✨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 are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Catering Operations Manager - Northumbria University in Newcastle upon Tyne
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in contract catering and people management. We want to see how your skills align with the role of Operations Manager at Northumbria University!
Show Your Passion: Let your enthusiasm for food, hospitality, and event catering shine through in your application. We love candidates who are genuinely excited about creating memorable experiences for students and staff!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your key achievements and relevant experience stand out without any fluff.
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 this fantastic opportunity at Chartwells.
How to prepare for a job interview at Compass Group UK
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of food safety, health and safety regulations, and compliance standards. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you're serious about operational excellence.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've led teams in the past. Think about specific situations where you’ve developed team culture or managed recruitment. This will demonstrate your people management skills and ability to create a positive environment.
✨Understand the Business
Familiarise yourself with Chartwells and Compass Group's commercial strategies. Be ready to discuss how you can drive sales growth and improve margins based on your previous experiences. This shows you’re not just a leader but also commercially savvy.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Think about how you would engage with both students and senior stakeholders. Prepare to share your approach to building relationships and ensuring services meet evolving needs. This will highlight your communication skills and customer-first mindset.
