At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a £12 million retail operation across multiple hospital sites, ensuring exceptional customer experiences.
- Company: Join Elior, a people-first business with over 10,000 colleagues dedicated to enriching lives.
- Benefits: Enjoy free meals, flexible working, generous holiday allowance, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Diversity and inclusion are at our core; we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in healthcare while leading high-performing teams in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in multi-site management and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 36000 £ per year.
Lead a £12 million retail operation that makes a difference every day. We're looking for an experienced Operations Manager to lead our retail operations across eight hospital sites in the South Region, overseeing a £12 million turnover business. This is an exciting opportunity to manage a diverse portfolio of staff and visitor restaurants, coffee shops, retail outlets and vending services, delivering exceptional customer experiences while driving commercial performance across a large, multi-site operation. Working in partnership with our NHS clients, you'll lead high-performing teams, build strong stakeholder relationships and ensure operational excellence across your portfolio. This is a fantastic opportunity for a commercially minded leader who thrives in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment and is passionate about delivering outstanding retail services within healthcare.
What you'll be doing
As Operations Manager, you'll take ownership of a portfolio of hospital retail sites, ensuring they consistently deliver excellent customer service, commercial success and operational excellence. You'll:
- Lead, coach and develop Site Managers and their teams across multiple hospital locations.
- Drive retail sales and profitability while effectively managing budgets and financial performance.
- Ensure outstanding customer experiences across restaurants, coffee shops, retail outlets and vending services.
- Recruit, induct, train and support managers to build engaged, high-performing teams.
- Build strong relationships with NHS stakeholders and clients, providing regular operational updates and maintaining excellent service standards.
- Monitor compliance, health & safety and company procedures across all sites.
- Lead the successful mobilisation and demobilisation of contracts, working closely with support functions to ensure a seamless transition.
- Identify opportunities for continuous improvement, innovation and growth across your portfolio.
Working Pattern: 5 days over 7 (predominantly Monday to Friday)
What can you bring?
We're looking for a passionate and commercially minded leader who thrives in a multi-site environment. You'll have:
- Proven experience managing multiple sites and leading large operational teams.
- Strong retail or contract catering management experience (healthcare experience is desirable).
- Excellent leadership skills with the ability to inspire, motivate and develop teams.
- Strong financial and commercial acumen, with experience managing budgets and driving sales growth.
- Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder management skills, with confidence working alongside clients and senior leaders.
- The ability to prioritise, solve problems and deliver results in a fast-paced operational environment.
If you're an experienced multi-site leader looking for your next challenge and want to play a key role in delivering exceptional retail services within the NHS, we'd love to hear from you.
Brilliant Work Deserves Brilliant Perks!
At Elior, we believe that when you love where you work, it shows. That’s why we make sure our team feels appreciated, supported, and set up for success!
Here’s what’s waiting for you:
- Free, tasty meals – Enjoy tasty, nutritious food on us while you work!
- Flexible working – including part time roles, because life doesn’t run on a 9-5 schedule.
- Plenty of Time to Unwind – generous holiday allowance of 33 days, with the option to buy more.
- Leave for life’s important moments – whether family, personal or unexpected.
- Give back time – paid volunteering days for the causes you care about.
- Room to grow – career development and learning opportunities for all stages of your career.
- Financial security – pension schemes and life assurance.
- Drive in Style – Enjoy a company car or car allowance.
One small thing—we welcome you to apply using the name you feel most comfortable with! No need for legal names at this stage.
Why You’ll Love Working Here
We’re a people-first business with over 10,000 colleagues across the UK, serving everything from stadiums to hospitals, schools to workplaces. Our mission? To enrich lives everywhere, every day. And here’s the best part - 87% of our team say they’re proud to work here! Why? Because we create a place where you’re listened to, trusted, supported, and valued.
Not sure you match every single requirement? Apply anyway! Research shows that many people - especially women and those from underrepresented backgrounds - hold back unless they meet 100% of the criteria. But we hire for potential, not just experience. If you’re passionate and ready to grow, we want to hear from you!
We Celebrate You!
At Elior, diversity and inclusion aren’t just policies, they’re who we are. We know that different perspectives make us stronger, and we’re dedicated to creating an environment where everyone feels seen, heard, and empowered to succeed.
Need any support or adjustments during the application process? Just let us know - we’re happy to help! Ready to join us? Hit ‘Apply Now’ and let’s chat!
Operations Manager – Retail Healthcare in London employer: Elior Uk
Elior UK is an exceptional employer that values its team members by offering flexible working hours and free meals, making it an ideal workplace for those seeking a balanced lifestyle. With a strong focus on personal and professional development, employees are encouraged to grow within the company while enjoying generous holiday allowances. Join us in a supportive work culture where your contributions truly make a difference.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Manager – Retail Healthcare in London
✨Get Your Retail Game On
Start by getting to know the local retail scene. Make a list of stores that align with your vibe and visit them. You'll be surprised at how many job openings come from chatting with staff or managers in-store. Plus, showing that you have a genuine interest in their brand can make you stand out when applying for that full-time role!
✨Join Retail Networks and Forums
Tap into retail-specific communities and forums, whether online or in-person. Platforms like Retail Week or local retail meetups can provide invaluable insights and connections. You never know who might drop a tip about an upcoming job at companies like Elior Uk, so don’t miss out on building those relationships!
✨Be Ready for Busy Season Opportunities
Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal hiring windows, especially in the run-up to major shopping periods. Retailers often look for full-time staff to carry through busy times and may even keep you on after the season. Stay proactive by regularly checking in with your favourite retailers about their hiring plans.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail’s all about customer interactions, so make sure you showcase any relevant experience in your conversations and interviews. Share specific examples of your customer service skills and how they’ve led to positive outcomes. This is your moment to shine when applying to roles at places like Elior Uk!
We think you need these skills to ace Operations Manager – Retail Healthcare in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any experience where you've dealt with customers, whether it’s resolving issues or enhancing the shopping experience. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations with ease.
Tailor Your CV for Retail:When applying for a full-time role like this one at Elior Uk, customise your CV to reflect retail-specific buzzwords. Include any relevant skills such as inventory management or visual merchandising, and if you have experience with POS systems, shout about it! This will show you’re serious about joining the retail team.
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Don’t just repeat your CV in your cover letter! Use it as a chance to explain why you're excited about the opportunity at Elior Uk and how your values align with their brand. Mention specific aspects of the company that resonate with you and let your enthusiasm shine through!
Highlight Your Adaptability:In retail, things can get busy and unpredictable, so demonstrate how adaptable and flexible you are. Share examples of times you've had to adjust your approach on the fly or take on new responsibilities. This will show Elior Uk that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Elior Uk
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail is all about providing an exceptional customer experience, so be ready to discuss your past customer service stories. We should have examples on hand of how we've handled difficult situations or gone above and beyond to meet a customer's needs. These anecdotes will bring your application to life!
✨Familiarity with Point of Sale Systems
Many retail roles require us to work with Point of Sale (POS) systems, so it's a good idea to brush up on any relevant software you’ve used before. If you’re familiar with systems like Shopify or Square, don’t forget to mention this during the interview. Highlighting technical proficiency can set us apart from other candidates!
✨Understand Product Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss the products that the store sells and how we can contribute to their sales. Showing enthusiasm for the products and a willingness to learn can impress interviewers. We should research popular items or trends in the industry before the interview, so we can speak confidently about them.
✨Be Ready for Role-Playing Scenarios
Many retail interviews include role-playing scenarios where we might have to deal with a difficult customer or upsell a product. Practising these scenarios with a friend or family member can help us feel more comfortable. The key here is to showcase our problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure!
