Account Director

Account Director

Full-Time 43200 - 72000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
C

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead high-quality service delivery in private healthcare, focusing on catering and retail operations.
  • Company: Join Medirest, part of Compass Group UK&I, a leader in healthcare services across the UK.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a dynamic workplace with opportunities for growth, inclusivity, and collaboration.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in healthcare while driving innovation and excellence in service delivery.
  • Qualifications: Proven leadership in food-led services, strong financial management, and contract expertise required.
  • Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values your unique talents and promotes career advancement.

The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.

Overview

Job Title: Account Director
Location: RHS Wisley
Salary: £75,000 – £80,000 DOE
Contract: Full-Time, Permanent, 5 out of 7 days per week

As the Account Director of this vast, prestigious, multiple catering outlet venue, you will take on a key leadership role within the team to shape the strategy, deliver exceptional food and service as well as drive the commercial performance of the venue. As a newly won contract to the Restaurant Associates Venues team, we require a leader who is confident with implementing processes, comfortable with balancing strategic and commercial decision making and enjoys developing innovative approaches to move the venue forward.

In this role, you will be leading a talented team alongside working with senior partners, and you will embody the Restaurant Associates Venues values and cultures as well as implementing processes that will ensure this venue continues to be high performing whilst having guest experience at heart. This is a highly visible, client-facing leadership role where innovation, accountability, and collaboration are key.

Responsibilities

  • Lead day-to-day operations across the multiple catering outlets on site, consisting of restaurants, coffee shops, and event spaces
  • Take ownership of the full P&L, including forecasting, and financial reporting to internal senior stakeholders
  • Co-create and implement strategic plans with RHS Wisley and internal teams to ensure the guests experience the highest standard of food and beverage on offer
  • Champion employee engagement, wellbeing, and team development on site
  • Deliver and exceed standards in customer service, food quality, and compliance
  • Drive sales growth through creative marketing and events planning with an innovative approach to increase potential sales and market position
  • Act as the on-site cultural ambassador, fostering a positive and inclusive workplace
  • Inspire a team to embody the Restaurant Associates Venues culture and work with the senior operators on site to continue implementing this.

The Ideal Candidate

  • Minimum of 3+ years proven experience in a similar senior/regional role.
  • Proven experience in previous contract catering, hospitality and/or venue management roles.
  • Ideally worked in a similar environment – heritage/culture visitor attraction venue with multiple different food offering operations – grab & go, restaurants, events-based dining such as canapes and bowl food.
  • Strong financial acumen and track record of delivering against budgets
  • Inspirational leader with excellent communication and stakeholder skills
  • Commercially savvy and results-driven, with a focus on continuous improvement along with strong KPI management.
  • Passionate about food, service, and guest experience
  • Confident, client-facing, and calm under pressure
  • Able to balance strategic thinking with operational delivery

Benefits

  • 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

Part of Compass Group UK&I, Restaurant Associates provides brilliant hospitality through our food, drink and services. We work with our partners and collaborate with our clients to achieve great things together.Every day, our teams of passionate hospitality professionals strive for excellence in delivering employee dining and hospitality to some of the UK\\\’s leading workplace as well as inspiring exceptional experiences in iconic cultural and heritage destinations.

Job Reference: com/0409/43818001/52760942/SU #RA Venues

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!

#J-18808-Ljbffr

Account Director employer: Compass Group

At Compass Group UK&I, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, particularly for the role of Contract Director in our dynamic healthcare environment. Our commitment to fostering a collaborative and inclusive workplace ensures that every team member feels valued and empowered, while our focus on food-led innovation and operational excellence provides ample opportunities for professional growth and development. Join us to make a meaningful impact in private healthcare, where your leadership will drive positive change and enhance service delivery across our extensive portfolio.
C

Contact Detail:

Compass Group Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Account Director

✨Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in food-led innovation and healthcare services. This knowledge will not only help you during interviews but also demonstrate your passion for the role and the industry.

✨Tip Number 2

Network with professionals in the private healthcare sector, especially those involved in catering and facilities management. Building these connections can provide valuable insights and potentially lead to referrals.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've driven process improvements and managed large-scale contracts in previous roles. Highlighting your achievements will showcase your suitability for the position.

✨Tip Number 4

Research Medirest and Compass Group UK&I thoroughly. Understanding their values, culture, and recent developments will allow you to tailor your approach and show that you're genuinely interested in joining their team.

We think you need these skills to ace Account Director

Leadership Excellence
Commercial Acumen
Contract Management Expertise
Change Management
Customer Focus
Analytical Skills
Financial Management
Budgeting and Forecasting
Process Improvement
Stakeholder Engagement
Team Leadership
Risk Management
Operational Excellence
Service Delivery Optimization

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in food-led services, leadership roles, and contract management. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to drive process improvements and manage diverse teams.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for food-led innovation and your commitment to delivering outstanding service in private healthcare. Mention how your skills align with the key responsibilities outlined in the job description.

Highlight Relevant Achievements: In both your CV and cover letter, include quantifiable achievements that reflect your commercial acumen and success in managing budgets, improving service delivery, and enhancing customer satisfaction.

Showcase Leadership Skills: Emphasise your experience in leading high-performing teams and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Provide examples of how you've inspired accountability and excellence in previous roles.

How to prepare for a job interview at Compass Group

✨Understand the Role Thoroughly

Before the interview, make sure you have a deep understanding of the responsibilities and expectations of the Contract Director position. Familiarise yourself with the key areas such as food-led operations, financial management, and stakeholder engagement to demonstrate your knowledge and enthusiasm.

✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills

Prepare examples from your past experiences that highlight your leadership abilities. Discuss how you've successfully led teams, driven process improvements, and managed diverse groups in challenging environments, particularly in healthcare settings.

✨Demonstrate Commercial Acumen

Be ready to discuss your experience with budgeting, forecasting, and cost control. Highlight specific instances where you've maximised profitability or revenue opportunities, as this is crucial for the role.

✨Emphasise Your Change Management Experience

Share examples of how you've identified improvement opportunities and led transformation initiatives. This will show your proactive approach and ability to drive positive change within an organisation.

Land your dream job quicker with Premium

You’re marked as a top applicant with our partner companies
Individual CV and cover letter feedback including tailoring to specific job roles
Be among the first applications for new jobs with our AI application
1:1 support and career advice from our career coaches
Go Premium

Money-back if you don't land a job in 6-months

C
Similar positions in other companies
UK’s top job board for Gen Z
discover-jobs-cta
Discover now
>