At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic team in hospitality, catering, and retail at a prestigious school.
- Company: Join Sodexo, a global leader in service excellence and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible benefits, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Opportunity for growth in a supportive, collaborative culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a vibrant educational environment while shaping future service standards.
- 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 in Livingston employer: Sodexo
Sodexo is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and supportive work environment at George Watson’s College in Edinburgh, where you can lead a prestigious independent school partnership. With a strong focus on innovation, employee development, and a people-first culture, you will have the opportunity to shape a high-performing team while enjoying competitive benefits and genuine career progression within a global organisation. Join us to make a meaningful impact in a premium hospitality-focused setting that values your leadership and ideas.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Contract Manager Soft FM and Catering in Livingston
✨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 company and its culture. Understand their values and how they align with your experience in contract management and hospitality. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly gets what they're about.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills during interviews. Share specific examples of how you've built high-performing teams and improved service delivery in past roles. This will demonstrate your ability to lead effectively in a fast-paced environment.
✨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 and engaged in the process.
We think you need these skills to ace Contract Manager Soft FM and Catering in Livingston
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Contract Manager role. Highlight your experience in hospitality and contract catering, and how it aligns with the needs of George Watson’s College. We want to see how you can bring your unique skills to our team!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since this role is all about leading a diverse team, don’t hold back on sharing examples of your leadership style. Talk about how you've built high-performing teams and fostered a positive culture in previous roles. We love to see inspiring leaders!
Demonstrate Commercial Awareness:We’re looking for someone who understands the financial side of operations. Be sure to mention any experience you have with managing budgets and driving profitability. Show us how you can contribute to the financial success of our partnership!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it’s super easy! Let’s get your journey started with us at StudySmarter.
How to prepare for a job interview at Sodexo
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into the specifics of contract management in hospitality and catering. Familiarise yourself with George Watson’s College and its values, as well as the expectations for the role. This will help you demonstrate your genuine interest and understanding of the environment you'll be working in.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your senior leadership experience, especially in fast-paced environments. Think about times when you've built high-performing teams or improved service delivery. Be ready to discuss how you can drive a positive culture and influence stakeholders effectively.
✨Financial Acumen is Key
Since financial performance is crucial for this role, brush up on your budget management skills. Be prepared to discuss how you've successfully managed budgets in the past and driven profitability. Highlight any innovative ideas you've implemented that led to retail growth or cost savings.
✨Engage with Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t shy away from asking insightful questions. Inquire about the school's vision for the partnership or how they measure success in this role. This shows your enthusiasm and helps you gauge if the environment aligns with your leadership style.
