At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and manage multiple food service units, ensuring exceptional customer experiences.
- Company: Join SSP, the global food travel experts with over 500 brands.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, discounts, wellbeing support, and ongoing development opportunities.
- Other info: SSP is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team that values people and delivers great food experiences.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in multi-unit operations and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 € per year.
Lead General Manager - Birmingham New Street Station
If you\'re passionate about food and travel, you\'ve come to the right place. We are the Global food travel experts, and we have something delicious for everyone. Whether you\'re flying, taking a train, or just passing by, we have the best food and drink options for you.
We work with more than 500 brands, from our own creations like Upper Crust, Millie’s Cookies, Café Local and Beer House, to well-known franchises like M&S, Starbucks, Burger King, The Breakfast Club & BrewDog.
As Lead General Manager, you\'ll be rewarded with a competitive salary and enjoy:
- Discounted meal on shift
- Colleague discount - up to 50%
- Friends & Family discount up to 20% (T&C apply)
- Flexible working
- Management bonus scheme
- Access to digital GPs, 24/7 helpline for you & family
- Wellbeing support through Retail Trust and family friendly leave
- Variety of networks to support you, Neurodiversity, LGBTQ+ and many more
- Life assurance
- Apprenticeships and ongoing development opportunities
- Share incentive plan (SIP)
Role Summary
It takes a lot of great people to run one our units, and it takes an Inspirational Leader to ensure our units deliver exceptional customer service and operational excellence. You’ll face lots of interesting challenges as you lead your team and business to be the “best part of our customers journey” every day.
Your Key Accountabilities
The Lead General Manager is accountable for leading and managing the full site operation, overseeing multiple units within a location (locations). They are responsible for driving commercial performance, operational excellence and compliance standards across the site. This role ensures a seamless and efficient operation while fostering a high-performing, people-focused culture that delivers results in line with business goals.
Main Responsibilities
People Management & Talent Development
Lead, coach, and develop Managers and their teams to build capability and engagement across the site.
Oversee scheduling and workforce planning to meet operational demands and optimise labour spend.
Support recruitment, onboarding and retention efforts across all site units.
Financial Accountability
Take full ownership of the site’s P&L, identifying opportunities to improve revenue, reduce costs and maximise profitability.
Monitor and manage labour, waste, and stock control in line with targets.
Analyse performance data to inform decisions and take corrective action where needed.
Standards, Compliance & Audits
Ensure full compliance with all Food Safety, Health & Safety, and operational policies and procedures.
Lead internal and external audits across the site, driving continuous improvement and embedding best practices.
Ensure all units maintain required documentation and are always audit-ready.
Business Performance & Strategic Input
Work closely with Operations managers and support functions to contribute to the wider regional strategy.
Identify and implement local initiatives to improve customer satisfaction, team engagement and commercial performance.
Act as the key point of contact for site-wide communications and operational updates.
Sustainability awareness to include environmental and social responsibility
Key Skills and Experience
- Proven experience managing multi-unit operations, ideally within a high-volume retail, hospitality or food service environment.
- Strong leadership and people development skills, with a track record of building high-performing teams.
- Solid understanding of P&L management, labour control and commercial decision-making.
- Experience in Food Safety and Health & Safety compliance, including managing audits.
- Excellent organisational, communication and problem-solving skills.
- Adaptability, resilience and a hands-on approach to managing through others.
- Experience using operational systems like WFM, Lynx
- Ability to respond to unexpected challenges such as staff shortages, customer complaints, supply chain issues
- Experience of communicating with external and internal stakeholders
SSP are proud to be an equal-opportunity employer that seek to recruit and retain the most talented individuals from a variety of backgrounds, skills and perspectives.
Start the best part of your journey with us!
#J-18808-LjbffrLead General Manager - Birmingham New Street employer: SSP Food Travel Experts
At SSP, we pride ourselves on being a leading employer in the food travel sector, offering a vibrant work culture that values diversity and employee well-being. As the Lead General Manager at Birmingham New Street Station, you will benefit from competitive pay, flexible working arrangements, and extensive development opportunities, all while leading a passionate team dedicated to delivering exceptional customer experiences. Join us to be part of a supportive environment that champions personal growth and offers unique perks like discounted meals and access to wellbeing resources.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead General Manager - Birmingham New Street
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the brands and food offerings at Birmingham New Street Station. Understanding the unique selling points of each brand will help you demonstrate your passion for food and travel during any discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Highlight your experience in managing multi-unit operations, especially in high-volume environments. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've driven commercial performance and operational excellence in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and how you develop high-performing teams. Think of instances where you've successfully coached managers and improved team engagement, as this is crucial for the Lead General Manager role.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on food safety and health regulations relevant to the hospitality industry. Being knowledgeable about compliance standards will show that you're serious about maintaining operational excellence and can handle audits effectively.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead General Manager - Birmingham New Street
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in managing multi-unit operations, particularly in high-volume retail or food service environments. Emphasise your leadership skills and any achievements in people development.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for food and travel, as well as your understanding of the role's key accountabilities. Mention specific examples of how you've driven commercial performance and operational excellence in previous roles.
Highlight Compliance Experience:Since the role requires knowledge of Food Safety and Health & Safety compliance, be sure to include any relevant certifications or experiences you have in these areas. This will demonstrate your capability to manage audits and ensure compliance.
Showcase Problem-Solving Skills:In your application, provide examples of how you've successfully navigated unexpected challenges in previous positions, such as staff shortages or customer complaints. This will illustrate your adaptability and resilience, which are crucial for this role.
How to prepare for a job interview at SSP Food Travel Experts
✨Show Your Passion for Food and Travel
Since the role is centred around food and travel, make sure to express your enthusiasm for both. Share personal experiences related to food or travel that highlight your passion and how it aligns with the company's mission.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
As a Lead General Manager, you'll need strong leadership abilities. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past, focusing on your coaching and development skills, as well as how you foster a high-performing culture.
✨Understand P&L Management
Be ready to discuss your experience with P&L management and financial accountability. Highlight specific instances where you've improved revenue or reduced costs, showcasing your commercial decision-making skills.
✨Prepare for Compliance Questions
Given the importance of Food Safety and Health & Safety compliance, brush up on relevant regulations and be prepared to discuss how you've ensured compliance in previous roles. This will demonstrate your commitment to operational excellence.
