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- Tasks: Lead and innovate in conference and events catering, ensuring exceptional guest experiences.
- Company: Join a dynamic team at a leading venue with a focus on excellence.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, staff meals, and personal development opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape memorable events and drive operational success in a fast-paced environment.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in catering operations and strong commercial acumen required.
- Other info: Be part of a vibrant culture with opportunities for growth and collaboration.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Head of conference & events – catering is a senior leadership role with full responsibility for the strategic planning, commercial performance, and flawless delivery of all conference and events catering operations. This position shapes the guest experience, drives operational excellence, and delivers strong commercial results across a diverse and high-profile events portfolio. Reporting directly to the food & beverage director, the role has significant influence across operations, people leadership, and commercial performance.
What’s a flavour of the day-to-day
- Strategic leadership
- Develop and deliver the conference & events catering strategy in line with wider business objectives
- Identify and implement innovative approaches to event catering and guest experience
- Continuously review operational models to improve efficiency, consistency, and performance
- Team leadership and culture
- Lead, motivate, and develop a high-performing conference & events catering team
- Create a culture of service excellence, accountability, and respect
- Conduct regular 1:1s, team meetings, and business reviews
- Provide clear direction, coaching, and structured development pathways
- Financial and commercial management
- Manage departmental budgets including forecasting, cost control, and reporting
- Oversee non-F&B purchasing in line with budgets and supplier agreements
- Maximise labour productivity through effective workforce planning and forecasting
- Monitor gross profit, cash handling, and stock control
- Ensure accurate and timely client billing in collaboration with internal teams and third-party suppliers
- Sales and commercial collaboration
- Work closely with internal sales teams to support catering-led sales strategies for conferences and events
- Contribute to menus, proposals, and commercial offerings
- Event delivery
- Oversee end-to-end event delivery, from planning and setup through to execution and breakdown
- Liaise with logistics and operational teams to ensure seamless delivery
- Undertake duty management and operational shifts as required
- Systems and technology
- Act as a super-user for till systems and back-of-house conference & events functionality
- Ensure compliance with workforce management systems for scheduling, approvals, and payroll accuracy
- Quality, compliance and standards
- Monitor service delivery against agreed standards and SLAs
- Ensure compliance with company policies, licensing laws, Trading Standards, and EHO regulations
- Training and development
- Work with the people team to deliver a robust training and development framework
- Ensure all statutory and bespoke training is completed and recorded
- Client and stakeholder management
- Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, suppliers, and internal stakeholders
- Act as the primary point of contact for client queries, ensuring service delivery exceeds expectations
Skills and experience
Essential
- Significant senior experience leading conference & events catering operations within a large venue or multi-site environment
- Proven ability to lead and manage large teams through strong leadership behaviours, coaching, and structured communication
- Strong commercial acumen with experience managing budgets, labour efficiency, and operational performance
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
- Highly organised, resilient, and comfortable managing multiple priorities in fast-paced environments
- Self-motivated, proactive, and solutions-focused
Desirable
- Personal licence holder
- Experience delivering large-scale or VIP events (500+ guests) from concept through to delivery and evaluation
What’s in it for you
- Competitive salary
- Staff meals
- Personal training and development opportunities
- Exposure across the wider business
- Sick pay
Head of Conference & Events in Manchester employer: MSSHOSP
Contact Detail:
MSSHOSP Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Conference & Events in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy to reach out to folks on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on your dream job!
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your skills! Create a portfolio or a presentation that highlights your past successes in event management. When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, whip it out and let them see what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its events. Know their style, their audience, and what makes them tick. This way, you can tailor your answers to show how you can elevate their conference and events catering game.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities waiting for you, and applying directly shows your enthusiasm. Plus, it’s a great way to get noticed by our hiring team!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Conference & Events in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experience mentioned in the job description. Highlight your leadership experience in conference and events catering, and don’t forget to showcase your commercial acumen!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you’re the perfect fit for the Head of Conference & Events role. Share specific examples of how you've driven operational excellence and improved guest experiences in the past.
Showcase Your Team Leadership Skills: We want to see how you lead and motivate teams! Include examples of how you've developed high-performing teams and created a culture of service excellence. This will help us understand your approach to people leadership.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at MSSHOSP
✨Know Your Strategy
Before the interview, make sure you understand the strategic goals of the conference and events catering role. Be ready to discuss how you would align your vision with the company's objectives and share innovative ideas that could enhance guest experiences.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in leading large teams. Discuss specific instances where you motivated your team, improved performance, or created a culture of service excellence. This will demonstrate your capability to lead effectively in a high-pressure environment.
✨Master the Numbers
Brush up on your financial management skills. Be prepared to talk about your experience with budgeting, cost control, and maximising labour productivity. Providing concrete examples of how you've managed budgets successfully will show your strong commercial acumen.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Think about how you’ve built relationships with clients and internal stakeholders in the past. Be ready to discuss your approach to managing client queries and ensuring service delivery exceeds expectations, as this is crucial for the role.
