At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and innovate catering operations at a prestigious independent school.
- Company: Join Brighton College, recognised as School of the Decade.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, and exclusive discounts.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and professional development.
- Why this job: Shape the future of catering in a dynamic educational environment.
- Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in catering or hospitality required.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 72000 £ per year.
Brighton College & Brighton College Prep Handcross
Location: Based at Brighton College, supporting Brighton College, Brighton College Prep Handcross and any other associated Brighton College Schools as required.
Role Context
Lodestone House operates the catering and hospitality services at Brighton College, one of the UK’s most prestigious independent schools and named School of the Decade. Brighton College continues to expand its operations both within the UK and internationally and represents a complex, high-profile and fast-paced catering and hospitality environment.
This newly created senior leadership role oversees all catering and hospitality operations and works in close partnership with the Head of Catering Operations (Brighton College). The role exists to provide strategic direction, operational structure, commercial grip and senior leadership across the Brighton College and Brighton College Prep Handcross catering and hospitality operation, with the potential for further growth in the future.
Brighton College is one of the UK’s most prestigious and forward-thinking independent schools and has been recognised nationally as School of the Decade. Founded in 1845, the College has built an outstanding reputation for academic excellence, pastoral care, innovation and an unapologetically ambitious approach to education. The College educates pupils from ages 3 to 18 and operates as a large, dynamic community, combining day and boarding provision. It has consistently ranked at the top of national league tables and is widely regarded as a benchmark for best practice across the independent education sector.
Internal Brighton College Prep Handcross educates pupils from nursery through to 13+, with a strong emphasis on academic foundations, pastoral care and preparing pupils for progression into senior independent education, including Brighton College.
Catering and hospitality are viewed as core to the pupil and staff experience, not simply a support function. Food quality, service standards, nutrition, sustainability and operational reliability are all critical to the College’s daily life and reputation.
The catering operation supports:
- A large day and boarding pupil population across multiple age groups in central Brighton and a Prep boarding school, based in Handcross
- High-volume daily breakfast, lunch and supper services with over 3,000 meals served per day across the group including customers with complex allergen and intolerance needs
- Extensive hospitality provision including formal dinners and receptions, sporting and cultural events, parent, alumni and donor events, conferences, summer schools and commercial lettings, and a busy calendar of evening and weekend activity
The operation is characterised by:
- High service expectations
- A strong focus on food quality, nutrition and sustainability
- Significant logistical complexity
- A requirement for absolute reliability alongside innovation and evolution
Overall Purpose of the Role
To provide strategic, operational and commercial leadership across the Brighton College (which includes Brighton College and Brighton College Prep Handcross) catering and hospitality operation, ensuring delivery of a seamless, best-in-class service that reflects the College’s ambition, reputation and uncompromising standards. The role will set the strategic direction of catering and hospitality, lead and manage complex catering projects, introduce and refine structure and process, support and enable the Head of Catering Operations to deliver day-to-day excellence, and be fully accountable for financial performance, and senior stakeholder reporting.
Internal Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Direction.- Set and drive the strategic direction for catering and hospitality across Brighton College.
- Translate Brighton College’s vision and values into a clear catering and hospitality strategy.
- Act as a senior strategic advisor to Brighton College leadership.
- Ensure alignment between Brighton College expectations and Lodestone House / Compass Group frameworks.
- Oversee all catering and hospitality operations across Brighton College and Brighton College Prep Handcross.
- Introduce clarity, structure and rhythm into operational planning.
- Ensure consistently high standards of food quality, service and customer experience.
- Lead major catering and hospitality projects including service redesign, process implementation and offer evolution.
- Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, with minimal operational disruption and within the agreed budget.
- Establish clear project ownership, governance and delivery plans.
- Manage risk, dependencies and stakeholder expectations throughout delivery.
- Translate strategic intent into practical, deliverable outcomes.
- Full accountability for contract financial performance.
- Lead monthly financial reporting, forecasting and variance analysis with the support of the Catering Financial Manager.
- Prepare and present financial and operational proposals to Brighton College and internal leadership teams.
- Use data to drive decision-making and performance improvement.
- Translate complex financial and operational data into meaningful insight.
- Ensure clear, accurate and trusted reporting.
- Ensure the operation is correctly structured with the right capability in the right roles.
- Coach and support senior leaders including the Head of Catering Operations, Deputy Head of Catering.
- Build a culture of accountability, pride and continuous improvement.
- Build trusted relationships with Brighton College senior leadership.
- Act as a senior ambassador for Lodestone House and Compass Group.
- Ensure full compliance with all food safety, health & safety and people policies.
Working Pattern
This is a demanding senior leadership role within an extremely busy operation. While predominantly Monday to Friday, evening and weekend working will be required to support key operational and hospitality activity.
Why Join Lodestone House
This role offers a unique opportunity to operate at the highest level within independent education catering. We believe in recognising and rewarding your contribution. Our comprehensive benefits package includes (but is not limited to):
- Working for the UK’s leading foodservice organisation with global reach.
- The ability to shape and influence strategy within a flagship independent school account.
- 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.
- 25 Days Annual Leave + Bank Holidays.
Person Specification
Essential:- Senior leadership experience within catering, hospitality or foodservice.
- Proven financial and commercial accountability.
- Strong stakeholder management and presentation skills.
- Experience leading complex, high-profile operations.
- Highly organised, solution-focused and resilient.
- Independent education experience.
- Project or change management experience.
- Degree qualified or equivalent.
- Chef or operational food background.
Director Of Catering in Arlington employer: Compass Group
Brighton College offers an exceptional work environment for the Director of Catering, where you will play a pivotal role in shaping the catering and hospitality strategy at one of the UK's most prestigious independent schools. With a strong emphasis on employee growth through comprehensive career development programmes, a generous benefits package, and a culture that values innovation and excellence, this position provides a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact while enjoying a supportive and dynamic workplace. Located in the vibrant city of Brighton, you will be part of a community that prioritises quality, sustainability, and high service standards.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director Of Catering in Arlington
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the catering and hospitality industry. Attend events, join relevant groups, and don’t be shy about asking for introductions. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Brighton College and its catering operations. Understand their values and what they stand for. Tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with their mission and how you can contribute to their success.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors. Focus on articulating your leadership style and how you've successfully managed complex operations in the past. This will help you feel more confident when it’s your turn to shine.
✨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 and engaged. Show us you’re serious about joining the team!
We think you need these skills to ace Director Of Catering in Arlington
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to reflect the specific skills and experiences that match the Director of Catering role. Highlight your leadership experience in catering and hospitality, and don’t forget to mention any relevant projects you've led!
Showcase Your Strategic Vision:In your application, demonstrate how you can translate Brighton College’s vision into a clear catering strategy. Use examples from your past roles where you’ve successfully implemented strategic changes or improvements.
Highlight Financial Acumen:Since financial accountability is key for this role, be sure to include any experience you have with budget management, forecasting, and financial reporting. Show us how you’ve driven financial performance in previous positions.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website for the best chance of being noticed. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets to the right people!
How to prepare for a job interview at Compass Group
✨Know Your Catering Strategy
Before the interview, dive deep into the catering strategy of Brighton College. Understand their vision and how you can align your experience with their goals. Be ready to discuss how you would enhance their operations and maintain high service standards.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Director of Catering, strong leadership is key. Prepare examples from your past where you've successfully led teams or projects. Highlight your ability to coach and support senior leaders, as well as how you've built a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
✨Prepare for Financial Discussions
Financial accountability is crucial for this role. Brush up on your financial reporting skills and be prepared to discuss how you've managed budgets in previous roles. Think about how you can translate complex data into actionable insights that drive performance.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Stakeholder management is a big part of this position. Be ready to talk about how you've built trusted relationships in the past. Consider discussing specific strategies you've used to manage expectations and communicate effectively with senior leadership.
