At a Glance
- Tasks: Support operational excellence across independent schools, ensuring top-notch food and service.
- Company: Join Sodexo, a global leader in improving quality of life.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, 28 days holiday, hybrid working, and free lunch.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for training, development, and community involvement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in diverse environments while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Catering management experience and strong relationship-building skills required.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Salary: £Competitive per annum
Location: Multi-site role across central Scotland (regular travel) – ideally based around Edinburgh, Dunfermline, Midlothian, West Lothian
Benefits:
- Highly competitive salary
- 28 days holiday (including bank holidays)
- Site closures on Christmas day & New Year day
- Hybrid working
- Day shifts with very occasional evenings/weekends as required
- Mileage paid for business travel
- Company pension scheme
- Free lunch on site
- Company laptop & mobile
- Free on-site parking and/or good public transport links
- Wellbeing support (Employee Assistance Programme + Occupational Health)
- Training & development (including apprenticeships for all levels)
- Access to Sodexo's internal career pathways
- Paid PVG/DBS check
- Retail, leisure and lifestyle discounts (high street, holidays, cinema + cashback)
- Discounted gym/health club memberships
- Recognition programmes to celebrate great work
- 3 paid volunteering days
- Refer a Friend bonus up to £500 (for Sodexo employees)
- Cycle to Work scheme
About the role:
This is a brand-new opportunity to join Independents by Sodexo – Scotland in a key support role that helps our school sites consistently deliver outstanding food, service and client experience. You'll work closely with the Senior Account Manager, providing hands‐on operational support across a portfolio of independent schools and stepping in to cover and keep things running smoothly when needed.
You'll be the kind of person who loves variety: relationship‐building one minute, troubleshooting the next, then rolling your sleeves up on site to support teams, service standards, workforce planning and reporting.
Where you'll be based:
This is a multi-site Scotland role with regular travel, primarily supporting sites in and around Edinburgh, Perth, St Andrews and Ayrshire (with occasional additional locations and limited UK travel around once per year). You'll typically spend one day per week at Strathallan School. The rest of the week will flex depending on business needs and site priorities. Hybrid working is possible (typically 1 day per week from home, with more flexibility during the summer months).
What you'll be doing:
- Supporting the Senior Account Manager to deliver operational excellence and strong, long‐term client relationships
- Driving continuous improvement across people, systems, processes and service standards
- Building trusted relationships with clients and stakeholders, representing Sodexo professionally at all times
- Supporting managers with HR processes including recruitment, performance, absence and engagement, in line with Sodexo policy
- Coordinating and communicating best practice and initiatives across the district (e.g. marketing activity, projects, WFM)
- Championing Health & Safety, compliance and safeguarding requirements in schools (including PVG and food safety/allergen standards)
- Supporting service delivery with strong admin and reporting—accurate, on time, and to a high standard
- Providing on‐site operational cover when required (e.g. absence cover)
- Supporting stock/equipment controls and ensuring services are delivered within budget
- Deputising for the Senior Account Manager when needed
What you'll bring:
- Catering management experience is essential
- Confident leading, supporting and motivating teams across multiple sites
- Strong client relationship skills—credible, calm and solutions‐focused
- Organised and able to prioritise in a fast‐paced, changing environment
- Excellent attention to detail (especially with admin, compliance and reporting)
- Comfortable presenting, training and engaging teams
- IT confident and happy working across multiple systems (e.g. Teams, eProfit, Power BI, workforce management tools)
- Happy to travel regularly and provide on‐site support when required (full driving licence preferred; mileage paid)
Why join us?
You'll be joining a supportive, high‐performing team in a role with real variety, visibility and impact—helping shape consistent standards across some fantastic independent school environments. If you enjoy developing people, improving operations, and delivering a fresh‐food, high‐quality service, you'll feel right at home.
Our food ethos:
You'll help champion our Fresh Food From Scratch philosophy across the region.
About Sodexo:
At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone to build a better life for all. As the global leader in services that improve the Quality of Life, we operate in 55 countries, serving over 100 million consumers each day through our unique combination of On‐Site Food and FM Services, Benefits & Rewards Services and Personal & Home Services.
We are committed to being an inclusive employer. We are a forces friendly employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people with a diverse variety of experiences, backgrounds and identities. We encourage our employees to get involved with our Employee Networks such as Pride, Sodexo Parents & Carers, Sodexo Disability, Ability network, SoTogether, Generations and Origins.
We're a Disability Confident Leader employer. We're committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations. We run a Disability Confident interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria for the job.
Ready to be part of something greater? Sodexo reserves the right to close this advert early if we are in receipt of a high number of applications.
Regional Catering Operations Manager in Edinburgh employer: Sodexo Group
Sodexo is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee wellbeing and professional growth, offering a highly competitive salary, generous holiday allowance, and a supportive work culture. With opportunities for hybrid working, comprehensive training programmes, and a commitment to inclusivity, employees can thrive in a dynamic environment while making a meaningful impact across independent schools in Scotland.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Regional Catering Operations Manager in Edinburgh
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the catering and operations field. Attend industry events or local meet-ups to make new contacts. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Familiarise yourself with Sodexo's values and how they align with your own. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly gets what they're about.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience in catering management makes you the perfect fit for the Regional Catering Operations Manager role. Keep it concise but impactful—show them why you're the one they need!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, you’ll find all the latest opportunities there, so keep checking back for new roles that suit your skills.
We think you need these skills to ace Regional Catering Operations Manager in Edinburgh
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the job description. Highlight your catering management experience and any relevant achievements to show us you're the right fit for the role.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you’re passionate about this role and how your background aligns with our values. Be genuine and let your personality shine through!
Showcase Your Relationship-Building Skills:Since this role involves building strong client relationships, share examples of how you've successfully managed relationships in the past. We want to see your people skills in action!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into our hands quickly and efficiently. Plus, it shows us you're keen to join our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sodexo Group
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, make sure you understand the role of a Regional Catering Operations Manager. Familiarise yourself with Sodexo's values and their Fresh Food From Scratch philosophy. This will help you demonstrate your alignment with their mission and show that you're genuinely interested in the position.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past catering management experience that highlight your ability to lead teams, build client relationships, and improve operations. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses, making it easier for the interviewer to see your impact.
✨Ask Smart Questions
Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare thoughtful questions about the company culture, team dynamics, and expectations for the role. This not only shows your interest but also helps you gauge if this is the right fit for you.
✨Be Ready to Adapt
Given the multi-site nature of the role, be prepared to discuss how you handle change and adapt to different environments. Share examples of how you've successfully managed diverse teams or tackled unexpected challenges in previous roles.
