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 options.
- 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 40000 - 45000 € 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 up to £45,000 pa 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 Spectrum Life 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 (York, Scarborough & Hull). 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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!
Lead General Manager in Leeds employer: SSP UK & Ireland
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 a Lead General Manager in Leeds, you'll 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 enjoy a supportive environment with a focus on personal growth and a commitment to sustainability.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead General Manager in Leeds
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the food and hospitality industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy to reach out to current employees at companies you’re interested in. 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. Understand their values and how they align with your own. When you walk into that interview, show them you’re not just another candidate – you’re someone who genuinely cares about making their customers' journeys the best part of their day.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your leadership stories! As a Lead General Manager, you’ll need to showcase your experience in managing teams and driving performance. Think of specific examples where you’ve turned challenges into successes and be ready to share them during your interviews.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team. Keep an eye on our careers page for the latest opportunities and get your application in as soon as you can!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead General Manager in Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When you're writing your application, let your passion for food and travel shine through! We want to see how excited you are about the role and how it aligns with our mission of providing the best food experiences.
Tailor Your CV:Make sure to customise your CV to highlight your experience in managing multi-unit operations. We love seeing specific examples of how you've led teams and improved performance in similar environments.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to see your key achievements and skills. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the good stuff!
Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about what we do!
How to prepare for a job interview at SSP UK & Ireland
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into the company’s values and their food offerings. Familiarise yourself with their brands like Upper Crust and BrewDog. This shows your passion for food and travel, which is key for a Lead General Manager.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past. Think about specific challenges you faced and how you motivated your team to achieve operational excellence. This role is all about inspiring others, so let that shine through!
✨Be Ready for Financial Talk
Brush up on your P&L management knowledge. Be prepared to discuss how you've improved revenue and managed costs in previous roles. They’ll want to see that you can take ownership of the site's financial performance.
✨Demonstrate Compliance Knowledge
Understand the importance of Food Safety and Health & Safety regulations. Be ready to discuss how you've ensured compliance in past positions and how you would maintain audit readiness across multiple units.
