At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and enhance catering operations in schools, ensuring exceptional food experiences.
- Company: Aspens Services, a leading contract caterer focused on school food.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, car allowance, enhanced parental leave, and your birthday off!
- Other info: Limitless career progression and comprehensive learning opportunities await you!
- Why this job: Join a fast-growing company and make a real impact on young minds through food.
- Qualifications: Experience in hospitality or contract catering, with strong leadership and communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 € per year.
Location: Dartford
Aspens Services is a market‑leading contract caterer specialising in school food. We don’t just serve meals—we create fantastic food experiences that fuel young minds! By blending deep knowledge of the education sector with the latest high‑street food trends, we encourage creativity and excitement in every kitchen. Our commitment to quality care for both clients and children has fueled rapid growth, and we are looking for passionate people to join our journey.
The role involves overseeing the comprehensive performance of our catering operations across a portfolio of Primary and Secondary school contracts. This pivotal role includes leading your team to deliver exceptional food operations while exceeding client expectations.
Core Responsibilities and Accountabilities
- Ensuring the strategic delivery and financial viability of all assigned contracts.
- Contract Management & Enhancement: Ensuring all contracted services are adhered to, efficiently delivered, and enhanced to surpass the expectations of clients, customers, and the company.
- Financial Oversight & Control: Reviewing the performance and profitability of each contract, strictly controlling costs without compromising service quality or delivery standards.
- Culinary Standardisation: Upholding the highest food quality standards, ensuring menus and service delivery align with current high street trends and industry best practices.
- Team Leadership & Development: Managing, supporting, and fostering the professional development, progress, and performance of line‑reporting managers, maintaining high team engagement.
- Business Growth Support: Collaborating with sales to support business retention and proactively assist in obtaining new business opportunities.
- Compliance & Risk Management: Ensuring rigorous compliance with all relevant Health & Safety and Hygiene procedures across all sites.
About you
We require a seasoned professional with current experience in the hospitality or contract catering sector, ideally in a similar multi‑site management role. The successful candidate will possess:
- Demonstrated ability to coach and develop teams, instilling a collective commitment to maintaining high service standards and professional conduct.
- Excellent communication skills, capable of leading client meetings, effectively managing client expectations, and navigating complex challenges to achieve positive outcomes.
- A service‑focused and process‑led mindset, ensuring all operational standards, procedures, and systems are rigorously maintained.
- Excellent computer skills, strong initiative, and a profound desire for continuous learning and professional achievement.
As one of the UK’s fastest‑growing independent businesses, we place our people at the core of our success, offering limitless career progression.
Career Investment
We provide comprehensive learning and development programmes, offering the opportunity to gain professional qualifications with dedicated support.
Total Rewards Package
Alongside a competitive salary and a car allowance, our comprehensive benefits programme includes:
- Enhanced parental leave
- Your birthday as an additional day of paid leave
Please note: we expect all staff to share our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children/young people so an enhanced DBS disclosure will be sought by the company.
Operations Manager in Dartford employer: Miquill
Aspens Services is an exceptional employer that prioritises the growth and development of its team members while delivering outstanding food experiences in the education sector. Located in Dartford, we offer a vibrant work culture that encourages creativity and collaboration, alongside a comprehensive benefits package including enhanced parental leave and additional paid time off for birthdays. Join us to be part of a rapidly growing company that values your contributions and supports your professional journey with extensive learning opportunities.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Manager in Dartford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the hospitality and catering sectors. Attend industry events or join relevant online groups to meet potential employers and learn about job openings before they hit the market.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your skills! Prepare a portfolio that highlights your achievements in operations management, especially in contract catering. Use real examples to demonstrate how you've improved service quality or boosted team performance.
✨Tip Number 3
Ace the interview! Research Aspens Services thoroughly and come prepared with questions that show your interest in their mission of creating fantastic food experiences. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We encourage you to submit your application directly on our site for the best chance of getting noticed. Tailor your application to highlight your relevant experience in managing multi-site operations.
We think you need these skills to ace Operations Manager in Dartford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Operations Manager role. Highlight your achievements in contract management, team leadership, and financial oversight to show us you’re the right fit!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about the role and how your background in hospitality or contract catering makes you the perfect candidate for our team.
Showcase Your Communication Skills:Since excellent communication is key for this role, make sure your application is clear and concise. Use professional language but let your personality shine through—after all, we want to get to know the real you!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. 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 Miquill
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into Aspens Services and their approach to school food. Familiarise yourself with their values, recent projects, and how they blend culinary trends with education. This knowledge will help you connect your experience to their mission.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As an Operations Manager, you'll be leading teams. Prepare examples of how you've successfully coached and developed teams in the past. Highlight specific instances where your leadership made a difference in service standards or team engagement.
✨Be Financially Savvy
Brush up on your financial oversight skills. Be ready to discuss how you've managed budgets, controlled costs, and improved profitability in previous roles. Use concrete numbers and outcomes to illustrate your success.
✨Emphasise Compliance and Safety
Given the importance of Health & Safety in this role, prepare to discuss your experience with compliance and risk management. Share examples of how you've ensured safety standards were met and how you handled any challenges that arose.
