At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and inspire teams across multiple school kitchens to deliver exceptional food and service.
- Company: Join Impact Food Group, a fast-growing school food provider dedicated to student wellbeing.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days leave, healthcare, pension, and exciting employee rewards.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal growth and development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the lives of students while advancing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in multi-site management and a passion for high-quality food service.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Impact Food Group (IFG) is one of England's fastest-growing school food providers, serving around one million students every day across more than 1,500 schools. We are dedicated to delivering high-quality, nutritious meals that support student wellbeing and enjoyment.
We're looking for an experienced Operations Manager to oversee a portfolio of schools, supporting our teams and ensuring exceptional food, service, and operational standards. This is a field-based role, so you'll need to be prepared to travel between sites.
What You'll Do:
- Lead, motivate, and develop your teams to deliver outstanding results
- Build strong relationships with clients, suppliers, and stakeholders
- Monitor and improve operational performance across your portfolio
- Ensure food quality, hygiene, and compliance standards are consistently met
- Manage financial performance, including budgets, commercial and fixed-price contracts
- Support Chef Managers with recruitment, HR, and day-to-day operations
- Present data, reports, and insights to demonstrate operational success
Who We're Looking For:
You're a hands-on, results-driven manager who thrives in a fast-paced environment. You'll have:
- Experience as an Area Manager or Operations Manager in contract or retail catering, managing at least 8 sites
- A proven track record of leading multi-site teams, with strong people management skills
- Confidence communicating with everyone—from kitchen teams to senior stakeholders
- Excellent organisational skills and the ability to prioritise effectively
- Strong proficiency with Office tools, spreadsheets, and presentations
- A passion for fresh, contemporary food and delivering outstanding service
We're looking for someone who leads by example, motivates teams, and genuinely cares about people and food.
What's in It For You:
- 25 days paid annual leave plus bank holidays
- Life assurance and company pension
- Healthcare
- Access to our online learning and development platform
- Employee wellbeing programme
- Salary sacrifice electric car scheme
- IFG Rewards high-street discounts
- Annual Summer Party with company awards
If you're ready to lead high-performing teams, make a real impact, and take your career to the next level, we'd love to hear from you!
Please note: An interview and assessment will be part of the recruitment process. IFG are committed to the safeguarding of children, and our employees share this commitment. Successful candidates are required to undergo an enhanced DBS disclosure and children's barred list check, which IFG will pay for. We are a committed equal opportunities employer - if you require any assistance for the interview process, please detail within your application. All information is kept confidential and in compliance with GDPR requirements.
Operations Manager employer: leisurejobs
Impact Food Group (IFG) is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where you can truly make a difference in the lives of students through high-quality food services. With a strong focus on employee development, IFG provides extensive training opportunities, a supportive culture, and a range of benefits including generous annual leave, healthcare, and wellbeing programmes. Join us in the Reading/Oxford area to lead passionate teams and enjoy a fulfilling career in a rapidly growing sector dedicated to student wellbeing.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the food catering industry, especially those who might know about opportunities at Impact Food Group. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to a foot in the door.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching IFG's brands and their approach to school catering. Show us you’re passionate about fresh food and student wellbeing—this will definitely impress!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your people management skills! Think of examples where you've led teams successfully. We want to see how you motivate and develop others, so be ready to share your stories.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining our team at IFG.
We think you need these skills to ace Operations Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experience mentioned in the job description. Highlight your background in high-quality food catering services and any multi-site management experience you've got. We want to see how you can lead and motivate teams!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about food service and how your experience aligns with our mission at Impact Food Group. Be genuine and let your personality come through!
Showcase Your Achievements:When detailing your past roles, focus on specific achievements that demonstrate your ability to improve operational performance and lead teams. Numbers speak volumes, so if you’ve boosted efficiency or improved service quality, let us know!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at leisurejobs
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you understand the ins and outs of the school catering sector. Research Impact Food Group, their brands, and their mission. Being able to discuss their operations and how you can contribute will show your genuine interest and preparedness.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led multi-site teams in the past. Think about specific challenges you faced and how you motivated your teams to achieve outstanding results. This is your chance to demonstrate your people management skills!
✨Be Ready to Discuss Compliance
Since food quality and hygiene are crucial, brush up on relevant regulations and standards. Be prepared to talk about how you've ensured compliance in previous roles and how you would maintain these standards across multiple sites.
✨Bring Data to the Table
As an Operations Manager, you'll need to present data and insights. Prepare to discuss how you've used data to improve operational performance in the past. Having concrete examples will help you stand out as a results-driven candidate.
