At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and manage multiple food service units, ensuring exceptional customer experiences.
- Company: Global food travel experts with a passion for delicious offerings.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, discounts, flexible working, and wellbeing support.
- Other info: Opportunities for personal development and a supportive work culture.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team and make a real impact in the food industry.
- Qualifications: Experience in multi-unit operations and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
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 of £45,000 p.a. 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 of 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. 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 seeks to recruit and retain the most talented individuals from a variety of backgrounds, skills and perspectives.
Lead General Manager - East Midlands in London employer: SSP Food Travel Experts
As a Lead General Manager with us, you'll be part of a dynamic team that thrives on delivering exceptional food experiences across the East Midlands. We offer a supportive work culture that prioritises employee wellbeing, with benefits like flexible working hours, generous discounts, and ongoing development opportunities to help you grow in your career. Join us and enjoy the unique advantage of working in a vibrant environment where your leadership can make a real impact on customer journeys and team success.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead General Manager - East Midlands in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their values and how they align with your own. This will help you stand out as someone who genuinely cares about being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your interview skills with a friend or in front of a mirror. Focus on articulating your experience and how it relates to the Lead General Manager role. Confidence is key, so make sure you’re ready to shine!
✨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 with our brand.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead General Manager - East Midlands in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:Let your love for food and travel shine through in your application. We want to see how your enthusiasm aligns with our mission of providing the best food experiences for customers on the go.
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV highlights your experience in managing multi-unit operations and developing high-performing teams. We’re looking for specific examples that demonstrate your leadership skills and operational excellence.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your cover letter, keep it straightforward. We appreciate clarity, so get straight to the point about why you’re the perfect fit for the Lead General Manager role and how you can contribute to our success.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity.
How to prepare for a job interview at SSP Food Travel Experts
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Lead General Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your understanding of P&L management. Brush up on financial metrics and be ready to discuss how you've improved revenue or reduced costs in previous roles. This shows you’re not just a people manager but also a savvy business leader.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership and people development skills. Think about times when you’ve successfully coached a team or resolved conflicts. This will help the interviewers see how you can inspire and engage your team to deliver exceptional customer service.
✨Be Audit-Ready
Familiarise yourself with Food Safety and Health & Safety compliance standards. Be prepared to discuss your experience with audits and how you ensure operational excellence. This will demonstrate your commitment to maintaining high standards across all units.
✨Think Strategically
Consider how you can contribute to the wider regional strategy. Bring ideas for local initiatives that could improve customer satisfaction and team engagement. Showing that you think beyond day-to-day operations will set you apart as a candidate who can drive business performance.
