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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a high-profile client partnership and inspire a talented team in London.
- Company: Dynamic, innovative business at the heart of London's contract catering sector.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, pension scheme, healthcare benefits, travel discounts, and wellness classes.
- Why this job: Shape the future of an exciting account while driving operational excellence and growth.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in senior leadership within contract catering and exceptional client relationship skills.
- Other info: Opportunity to develop a high-performance culture and enjoy comprehensive rewards.
The predicted salary is between 68000 - 102000 £ per year.
Join a high turnover operation at the heart of London’s contract catering sector! We’re seeking an experienced, commercially driven EMEA Account Director to lead a high-profile client partnership and inspire a large, talented team. As the strategic lead for one of our corporate sites, you’ll champion operational excellence, elevate the customer experience, and drive continuous growth across a complex, multi-stakeholder environment. This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of an exciting account within a dynamic, innovative, and people-focused business.
Main Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership: Lead the end-to-end strategic direction of a successful site, ensuring delivery of exceptional service standards and alignment with client objectives across the EMEA region.
- Client Relationship Management: Act as the primary senior point of contact for the client, nurturing a strong partnership, anticipating needs, and proactively driving value, innovation, and continuous improvement.
- Operational Excellence: Oversee daily catering and hospitality operations, ensuring consistency, quality, and compliance across all service lines.
- Team Leadership & Development: Inspire, coach, and develop a large team, cultivating a high-performance culture focused on engagement, accountability, and growth.
- Financial Management: Own the P&L for the site, managing budgets, forecasting, reporting, and driving commercial performance.
What you’ll bring
- Proven experience in a senior leadership role within the contract catering industry.
- Strong track record of managing high-value, complex accounts.
- Exceptional client relationship skills, with the ability to engage, influence, and build trust at executive level.
- Demonstrated ability to lead large, diverse teams (100+ employees) across EMEA/global regions.
- Commercially astute, with strong financial acumen.
- Strategic thinker with the ability to translate client needs into innovative, value-adding solutions.
We ensure you’re rewarded for all your hard work, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package like this includes but is not limited to:
- Contributory pension scheme.
- Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes.
- Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits.
- Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more.
- Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and many more.
- Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster.
- Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands.
- Unwind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes.
- You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families.
Account Director - EMEA employer: Restaurant Associates
Contact Detail:
Restaurant Associates Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Account Director - EMEA
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and don’t be shy about introducing yourself. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that dream job.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company inside out, understand their values, and think about how your experience aligns with their needs. We want you to walk in feeling confident and ready to showcase why you’re the perfect fit for the Account Director role.
✨Tip Number 3
Follow up after your interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in keeping you top of mind. We suggest mentioning something specific from your conversation to show you were engaged and are genuinely interested in the position.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we’ve got loads of resources to help you prepare for the next steps in your job search journey.
We think you need these skills to ace Account Director - EMEA
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Account Director role. Highlight your experience in managing high-value accounts and leading large teams, as these are key aspects of the job. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
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 this role. Share specific examples of how you've driven operational excellence and built strong client relationships in the past.
Showcase Your Strategic Thinking: In your application, demonstrate your strategic thinking abilities. We’re looking for someone who can translate client needs into innovative solutions, so share any relevant experiences that showcase this skill.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Restaurant Associates
✨Know Your Numbers
As an Account Director, you'll need to demonstrate your financial acumen. Brush up on key metrics related to P&L management and be ready to discuss how you've driven commercial performance in previous roles. This shows you understand the business side of things.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare to talk about your experience leading large teams. Think of specific examples where you've inspired and developed talent. Highlighting your ability to cultivate a high-performance culture will resonate well with interviewers looking for a strategic leader.
✨Client-Centric Mindset
Be ready to discuss how you've built and maintained strong client relationships. Share stories that illustrate your proactive approach to anticipating client needs and driving value. This is crucial for the role, so make it a focal point in your responses.
✨Strategic Thinking in Action
Think of instances where you've translated client needs into innovative solutions. Prepare to explain your thought process and the impact of your strategies. This will showcase your ability to think critically and strategically, which is essential for this position.
