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- Tasks: Lead high-quality food service across multiple schools and ensure operational excellence.
- Company: Join HCL, a values-driven organisation focused on quality and community.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous holidays, life assurance, and a strong focus on personal development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in education by delivering exceptional food experiences.
- Qualifications: Experience in multi-site operations and strong leadership skills required.
- Other info: Fast-paced environment with opportunities for growth and travel.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Location: Field-based across the region (Head Office: Mundells, Welwyn Garden City)
Salary Grade: M1
Hours: Full-time, 37 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Reports to: Regional Operations Manager
Lead High‑Quality Operational Delivery Across a Multi‑Site Catering Portfolio
Are you an experienced multi‑site operations leader who thrives on delivering exceptional food, service and safety standards? HCL is seeking a Senior Operations Manager to oversee a portfolio of primary and secondary school contracts, leading Operations Managers and ensuring schools receive high‑quality, nutritious and engaging food experiences.
What You’ll Lead
- Operational performance across a large multi‑site portfolio, ensuring consistent food, service and safety standards.
- A team of Operations Managers and mobile workforce, providing coaching, development and performance oversight.
- Strategic relationships with clients, acting as a senior escalation point for service reviews and queries.
- Commercial performance, including food and labour cost control and contract retention.
- Mobilisation of new contracts, ensuring full operational readiness and compliance.
- Digital adoption across sites, ensuring accurate reporting and effective use of company systems.
What You’ll Bring
- Experience leading multi‑site operations in education or contract catering.
- Strong commercial acumen including pricing, contract variations and budgeting.
- Ability to build senior client relationships and deliver solutions that balance value and sustainability.
- Proven people leadership with experience developing managers and chefs.
- Knowledge of Food Safety, Health & Safety, safeguarding and compliance requirements.
- A proactive, organised and resilient approach in a fast‑paced environment.
- Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel widely across the region.
Why Join HCL?
- Generous holiday entitlement
- Life assurance & Employee Assistance Programme
- A values‑driven organisation committed to quality, innovation and community
- Strong focus on personal development and leadership growth
If you’re a forward‑thinking operational leader who enjoys driving performance, inspiring teams and delivering outstanding customer outcomes, we’d love to hear from you.
Senior Operations Manager - Welwyn Garden City employer: HCL
Contact Detail:
HCL Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Operations Manager - Welwyn Garden City
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend local events, and join relevant online groups. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their values and how they align with yours. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain your experience and how it relates to the role of Senior Operations Manager. Highlight your leadership skills and any successful projects you've led in multi-site operations.
✨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 Senior Operations Manager - Welwyn Garden City
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Senior Operations Manager role. Highlight your multi-site operations experience and any relevant achievements in food service and safety standards.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you’re the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've led teams and improved operational performance in previous positions, especially in education or contract catering.
Showcase Your Leadership Style: We want to know how you lead and develop your team. Include details about your coaching methods and how you've successfully managed diverse teams in fast-paced environments.
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, make sure to apply directly through our website. This way, we can easily track your application and get back to you quicker!
How to prepare for a job interview at HCL
✨Know Your Portfolio
Before the interview, dive deep into the specifics of the multi-site operations you'll be managing. Familiarise yourself with HCL's approach to food service in schools and think about how your experience aligns with their standards. This will show that you're not just interested in the role, but also in the company’s mission.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Be ready to discuss your leadership style and how you've successfully developed teams in the past. Prepare examples of how you've coached Operations Managers or chefs to achieve high performance. This is crucial for demonstrating your ability to lead a diverse team effectively.
✨Understand Commercial Acumen
Brush up on your knowledge of budgeting, pricing, and contract management. Be prepared to discuss how you've managed costs in previous roles and how you can apply that experience to ensure commercial success at HCL. This will highlight your strategic thinking and financial savvy.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills in a fast-paced environment. Think of specific challenges you've faced in multi-site operations and how you overcame them. This will help you demonstrate your proactive and resilient approach, which is key for this role.
