Area Catering Manager

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Area Catering Operations Manager to lead and deliver a high‑quality, compliant and financially sustainable school meals service across a designated group of schools. You will play a key role in ensuring nutritious, tasty meals are delivered to children and young people, while driving customer satisfaction, operational excellence and value for money. Managing Kitchen Managers across multiple sites, you will balance people leadership, budget management and service development to support the continued growth of Havering’s Catering Service.

Havering’s Catering Service is part of the Council’s traded services portfolio and currently provides over 15,000 meals per day to more than 50 schools within and outside the borough. The service is growing and prides itself on fresh, cooked food, strong customer relationships and high compliance standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and deliver an excellent school meals service across allocated sites, maximising meal take‑up and customer satisfaction
• Ensure full compliance with food safety, health & safety, nutrition standards, HACCP, COSHH and safeguarding requirements
• Lead, motivate and develop Kitchen Managers and catering teams
• Manage budgets, income generation and resource allocation
• Work closely with the Executive Development & Training Chef on menu and recipe development
• Implement and monitor quality assurance processes and audits
• Build strong relationships with schools, stakeholders and partners
• Produce management and performance reports
• Deputise for the Catering Operations Manager and lead projects as required

What we’re looking for – Essential

• Proven management experience in large‑scale catering, ideally in an educational setting
• Strong leadership, communication and people management skills
• In‑depth knowledge of food safety and catering legislation
• Experience of menu and recipe development
• Sound understanding of budget management and reporting
• OND/HND in Catering or equivalent experience
• Level 3/4 Advanced Food Hygiene qualification
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle

Desirable

• Nutrition qualification
• Training or coaching qualifications
• Marketing or sales experience

Benefits and Perks

• Competitive local government salary (Grade 7)
• Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions
• Generous annual leave entitlement plus bank holidays
• Flexible working arrangements where service delivery allows
• Access to learning, development and professional training opportunities
• Employee Assistance Programme providing confidential advice and support
• Cycle to Work scheme and salary sacrifice options
• Staff discounts platform offering savings on shopping, leisure and travel
• Opportunity to make a real difference to children and young people across Havering

This role involves travel between sites and occasional evening or weekend work. The post holder must demonstrate a strong commitment to safeguarding, equality, health and safety, and confidentiality in line with council policies.

Equality, diversity and safeguarding

We want everyone to choose Havering. When you apply for a job with us, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. Our residents and service users come from all walks of life, and so do our employees. Find out what it means to Choose Havering.

The London Borough of Havering has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.