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- Tasks: Lead catering operations and create unforgettable food experiences for students and staff.
- Company: Join Chartwells, part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, a leader in the catering industry.
- Benefits: Enjoy free meals, gym access, travel discounts, and a comprehensive benefits package.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on campus life while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in contract catering and strong people management skills required.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values creativity and personal growth.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
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, 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
Contact Detail:
Compass Group 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 might just get your foot in the door.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the university's catering services. Show us you know what makes their food and events special, and how you can contribute to that success.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your leadership stories! We want to hear about times you've led teams to success, especially in fast-paced environments. Be ready to share how you create a positive team culture.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're serious about joining our team at Chartwells.
We think you need these skills to ace Catering Operations Manager - Northumbria University in Newcastle upon Tyne
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the role of Catering Operations Manager. Highlight your experience in contract catering and any leadership roles you've held. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Share your passion for food and hospitality, and explain why you’re excited about this opportunity at Northumbria University. Let us know how you can contribute to our team!
Showcase Your People Skills: As a people leader, it’s crucial to demonstrate your ability to manage and develop teams. Include examples of how you've created positive team cultures or led successful projects. We love seeing strong leadership in action!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at Chartwells!
How to prepare for a job interview at Compass Group
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, make sure you’re well-versed in the key responsibilities of the Catering Operations Manager role. Brush up on your knowledge of food safety, health and safety regulations, and compliance standards. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you’re serious about operational excellence.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This role requires strong people management abilities, so be prepared to share examples of how you've led teams in the past. Think about specific situations where you’ve developed team culture or handled recruitment and retention. Highlighting your leadership style will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Acumen
Since commercial performance is a big part of this job, come ready to discuss your experience with budget management and margin improvement. Prepare to talk about how you’ve driven sales growth in previous roles and any strategies you’ve implemented to optimise costs.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
The ability to communicate effectively with both students and senior stakeholders is crucial. Think of examples where you’ve successfully collaborated with different groups to achieve shared objectives. Showing that you can bridge the gap between various stakeholders will set you apart from other candidates.