Assistant Catering Manager - London

Oak View Group is reinventing the way the world comes together. Driven by a passion to revolutionise the live events industry with dynamic thinking and an unshakeable dedication to those we serve, OVG turns up the volume on what makes life extraordinary.

The Market at 22 Bishopsgate is a bustling and thriving space that caters for every preference and appetite. Home to a restaurant and terraced bar, food stalls, as well as a dedicated events space, exclusively available to 22B occupiers and their visitors during the week and open to the public for Saturday brunch.

The operation is managed by Rhubarb, a leading luxury hospitality company and part of Oak View Group (OVG) - a global powerhouse in live entertainment and venue management. It’s a complex, fast-paced environment with multiple stakeholders, high volumes, and absolutely no room for the back of house operation to slip.

Role Purpose: We are looking for an Assistant Catering Manager to support the on-site Catering Manager across a busy corporate catering operation in the City. This is a hands-on, client-facing role where you will be involved in the running of the service from start to finish - stepping up to lead the team when required and ensuring standards are maintained throughout.

You will work closely with the Catering Manager day to day, deputising in their absence and taking ownership of specific areas of the operation. The role involves regular contact with the client, so a professional manner and polished front-of-house presence are important. You will also liaise with the wider Rhubarb team, contributing to the weekly review of service delivery and flagging any operational issues as they arise.

This is the right role for someone who has built solid experience in a quality hospitality environment and is ready to take the next step into management - learning the ropes of a corporate contract operation with experienced colleagues around them.

What you’ll be doing

• Supporting the Catering Manager with daily operations - briefings, allergen labelling, service preparation, and ensuring the café and meeting spaces are consistently presented to the required standard.
• Deputising for the Catering Manager in their absence, taking responsibility for the team and the smooth running of the operation.
• Dealing with client-facing queries and requests on the day, maintaining a professional and responsive approach at all times.
• Assisting with stock control, weekly stock takes, and flagging any shortages, equipment issues, or ordering discrepancies to the line manager.
• Helping to identify and communicate gaps in service delivery or process, contributing ideas for improvement to the wider team.
• Supporting compliance across health and safety, team training, and end-of-day reporting in line with Rhubarb’s standard.

What we’re looking for

• Someone with a genuine grounding in quality hospitality service who is ready to step into an assistant management role.
• You do not need to have managed a full operation independently, but you should be comfortable taking the lead when required and confident in a client-facing environment.
• A background in corporate hospitality, a high-end hotel, conference and banqueting, or contract catering is what we are looking for - ideally somewhere where standards are non-negotiable and attention to detail is part of the culture. Previous experience in a pure corporate or directors dining environment is a real advantage.
• At least one to two years in a hospitality role with some supervisory or team-leading responsibility.
• A polished, professional manner with the confidence to represent Rhubarb directly to a corporate client.
• Organised and reliable - someone the Catering Manager can genuinely count on.
• Good working knowledge of food and beverage service, allergen awareness, and basic health and safety.
• Positive, adaptable, and willing to get stuck in - this is a busy environment and flexibility matters.

Good to know

While we are open to candidates who are earlier in their career, some familiarity with a corporate hospitality, high-end hotel, or conference and banqueting environment is important. The expectations of this client site are high, and you will need to hit the ground running on professional standards and client conduct.

The role is Monday to Friday with the occasional weekend shift. Salary is £32,000 to £34,000 depending on experience, plus the benefits below.

This is also a genuine stepping stone. The natural progression from this role is into the Catering Manager position, and Rhubarb will support you with structured training covering food safety, health and safety, and in-house operational development as you grow into the role.

Rhubarb is part of Oak View Group, recognised as a great place to work. We are a business that backs its people - this role comes with real mentorship, clear progression, and a team around you that wants you to succeed.

Benefits:

• Enhanced holiday entitlement.
• Learning and Development opportunities.
• Gifts for colleagues becoming new parents or getting married.
• Celebration on big birthdays.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Referral Scheme.
• Corporate Gym Discount.

Our Inclusion Commitments: OVG is for everyone. Diversity drives innovation, strengthens our people, improves our service, and raises our excellence. Wherever you come from, wherever you are going, we’d love to hear from you. If you need any additional support or adjustments with your application, let us know and we will work with you to ensure you have everything you need.

Employee Screening and Eligibility to Work: In line with the requirements of the Asylum Immigration Act 1996, all applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK. Documented evidence of eligibility will be required from candidates as part of the recruitment process.