At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic multi-service operation in hospitality, dining, and retail at a prestigious school.
- Company: Join Sodexo, a global leader in hospitality and service excellence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible benefits, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive culture that values innovation and people-first leadership.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a vibrant educational environment while leading high-performing teams.
- Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in hospitality or contract catering is essential.
The predicted salary is between 58000 - 58000 £ per year.
Location: George Watson’s College, Colinton Road, Edinburgh, EH10 5EG
Full Time – 40 Hours per Week (5 over 7)
Salary: Up to £58,000 per annum + £1,300 Flexible Benefits Fund
Lead a flagship independent school partnership in one of Edinburgh’s most prestigious educational environments. We are looking for an inspiring senior operator and people leader to lead our multi-service operation at George Watson’s College - a flagship independent school partnership where hospitality, dining, retail, events, and service excellence are central to the customer experience. This is an exceptional opportunity for an ambitious hospitality or contract catering professional who thrives in fast-paced environments and enjoys building high-performing teams, strong client relationships, and commercially successful operations.
Leading a diverse multi-service operation spanning hospitality, dining, retail, events, and support services, you’ll play a key leadership role in shaping the future of the partnership — driving standards, innovation, engagement, and operational performance across a large and dynamic environment. Joining during a significant mobilisation and development phase, you’ll have the opportunity to make a visible impact from day one, influencing service delivery, team culture, customer experience, and long-term growth.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Leading a large, multi-functional team across hospitality, catering, retail, and support services
- Driving a positive, high-performance culture through strong leadership, coaching, and team development
- Building trusted relationships with senior school stakeholders and acting as a strategic operational partner
- Delivering exceptional dining, hospitality, and customer experiences for pupils, staff, parents, and guests
- Taking ownership of financial performance, including budgets, labour management, retail growth, and profitability
- Supporting and leading mobilisation activity to ensure a smooth and successful transition
- Identifying opportunities to enhance service delivery, increase engagement, and introduce innovative ideas across the operation
- Ensuring the highest standards of food safety, compliance, health & safety, and operational excellence
- Working collaboratively with the Cleaning Manager to deliver a seamless, integrated service across the campus
What We’re Looking For
We’d love to hear from candidates who bring:
- Senior leadership experience within contract catering, hospitality, hotels, or multi-service environments
- Strong commercial awareness with experience managing budgets and driving financial performance
- Experience leading large teams within fast-paced customer-focused operations
- A passion for hospitality, service excellence, and creating positive customer experiences
- The confidence to build strong client relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels
- A proactive and solutions-focused leadership style
- Experience within education or independent schools would be advantageous, but is not essential
- Mobilisation or transformational project experience would also be beneficial
What Success Looks Like
In this role, success will be measured by your ability to:
- Build a highly engaged, high-performing team culture across the operation
- Deliver exceptional hospitality, dining, and retail experiences that enhance the reputation of the school partnership
- Develop strong, trusted relationships with senior stakeholders across George Watson’s College
- Drive commercial performance through innovation, customer engagement, and retail growth
- Lead a successful mobilisation and create strong operational foundations for long-term success
- Continuously improve service standards, team capability, and customer satisfaction across the operation
- Create an environment where people feel motivated, supported, and proud of the service they deliver
This role will suit a visible, hands-on leader who enjoys creating high-performing teams, building strong partnerships, and delivering operational excellence within a premium customer-focused environment.
Why Join Sodexo?
At Sodexo, you’ll be part of something bigger - joining a business that values innovation, development, and people-first leadership. This role offers the opportunity to:
- Lead a prestigious and highly visible independent school partnership
- Shape the future of a growing multi-service operation
- Work within a premium hospitality-focused environment
- Develop your career within a global organisation with genuine progression opportunities
- Join a supportive and collaborative culture where your ideas and leadership can make a real impact
Alongside a competitive salary, we also offer a strong benefits package, development opportunities, and the chance to build a long-term career with Sodexo.
Please note: Sodexo reserves the right to close this advert early if we receive a high number of applications. Sodexo and our Clients are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Certain roles will require applicants to undergo screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (UK) and / or Disclosure Scotland (Scotland).
Contract Manager Soft FM and Catering employer: Sodexo
Sodexo is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to lead a prestigious independent school partnership in Edinburgh. With a strong focus on innovation and people-first leadership, employees benefit from a collaborative work culture, competitive salary, and a comprehensive benefits package, all while having the chance to make a significant impact in a dynamic environment. Join us to develop your career within a global organisation that values your ideas and fosters professional growth.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Contract Manager Soft FM and Catering
✨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 get insider info on job openings.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the school and its values. Understand their approach to hospitality and service excellence, so you can showcase how your experience aligns with their goals during the chat.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your leadership skills! Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've built high-performing teams and driven operational success in previous roles. This will help you stand out as a candidate who can lead their multi-service operation.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Contract Manager Soft FM and Catering
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in hospitality and contract catering. We want to see how your skills align with the role of Contract Manager at George Watson’s College!
Showcase Leadership Skills:Since this role is all about leading a large team, don’t forget to emphasise your leadership experience. Share examples of how you've built high-performing teams and fostered a positive culture in previous roles.
Highlight Financial Acumen:This position involves managing budgets and driving financial performance, so be sure to include any relevant experience you have in this area. We love seeing candidates who can demonstrate their commercial awareness!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of success. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sodexo
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into the specifics of the role. Understand the key responsibilities like leading a multi-functional team and driving financial performance. Familiarise yourself with George Watson’s College and its values to show you’re genuinely interested.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Be ready to discuss your leadership approach. Prepare examples of how you've built high-performing teams and fostered a positive culture in previous roles. Highlight your coaching techniques and how you’ve influenced stakeholders at all levels.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Awareness
Since this role involves managing budgets and driving profitability, come prepared with examples of how you've successfully managed financial performance in past positions. Discuss any innovative ideas you've implemented that led to retail growth or enhanced service delivery.
✨Engage with Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions to ask during the interview. This could be about their vision for the partnership or how they measure success in service delivery. Engaging with your interviewers shows your enthusiasm and helps you assess if the role is the right fit for you.
