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- Tasks: Lead a team to deliver top-notch catering services in schools.
- Company: Join Surrey County Council's innovative Twelve15 service.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, pension, and health support.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on students' dining experiences while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing teams and understanding food service standards.
- Other info: Flexible term-time working with ongoing training opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 32535 - 36873 £ per year.
We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council. We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all.
This role has a starting salary of £32,535 for working 36 hours per week, 40 weeks per year (pro rata to £36,873 full time equivalent). This is a fixed-term / secondment opportunity until August 2026, supporting the continued delivery of the Twelve15 service.
We are excited to be recruiting an Operations Team Leader to join our fantastic team. This role contributes directly to the success of the Twelve15 service, leading operational delivery across a defined portfolio of school catering sites. You will operate with a limited degree of professional independence and autonomy, with a strong focus on customer service, operational standards, financial performance and people leadership.
This is a term-time only role, working 36 hours per week, 40 weeks per year. Although you will only work during term time, you will receive a monthly salary paid evenly across the year, including school holidays.
Our Offer to You
- Final salary pension
- Discounts on various services including food shopping
- Health and wellbeing support
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Full induction and structured onboarding
- Term time only working to support work/life balance
- Ongoing training and development opportunities
About the Role
As an Operations Team Leader, you will play a key role in delivering a first-class catering service across your portfolio of schools. You will lead, support and manage Chef Managers and site teams, ensuring that the highest standards of food quality, customer service, food safety and health and safety are consistently achieved.
Customer service is at the heart of the Twelve15, and you will work closely with school clients and internal stakeholders, acting as a key point of contact and ensuring that service delivery meets agreed standards and contractual expectations. You will also be responsible for ensuring financial targets are met or exceeded, to train and develop your team to reach their full potential and work towards maximising customer participation and client engagement.
This role champions strong standards, accountability and a "one team" culture, encouraging growth and development within teams to deliver service excellence.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead on the delivery of the Twelve15 service across a defined portfolio, ensuring consistently high standards of food quality and customer service
- Ensure compliance with minimum standards of operation, food safety and health and safety policies
- Monitor and manage financial performance, ensuring budgets and targets are met or exceeded
- Communicate effectively with school clients and stakeholders, managing relationships and expectations
- Capture, monitor and report performance data using CRM and other systems
- Actively support and implement Twelve15 business development and marketing plans across sites
- Performance-manage and develop team members, encouraging growth, engagement and continuous improvement
- Promote a strong "one team" culture aligned with the Twelve15 Vision and Mission
Your Application
In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours:
- Proven experience managing teams in a catering, food service or operational environment
- Strong understanding of food standards, customer service and operational compliance
- Experience managing budgets and delivering against financial targets
- Excellent people management, leadership and communication skills
- Ability to work independently across multiple locations
We'd love your application to evidence how your skills and experience align with this role and with Twelve15's values and behaviours. We also welcome applications from candidates who may not meet every requirement but bring strong transferable experience and a passion for service excellence.
To apply, we request that you submit a CV and you will be asked the following questions:
- What does excellent customer service look like in a school catering environment, and how would you ensure it is delivered consistently across multiple sites?
- Please tell us about your experience managing teams and supporting their performance and development.
Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description and our Life at Surrey handbook to gain insight into working with us.
Contact Us
Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment. If you have any questions about the role, including flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment, please get in touch by emailing recruit.twelve15@surreycc.gov.uk.
The job advert closes at 23:59 on 12th February 2026 with interviews to follow.
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)
Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.
We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview. Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we're committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.
Operations Team Leader employer: Surrey County Council
Contact Detail:
Surrey County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Team Leader
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your colleagues and connections within Surrey County Council. They might have insights or even inside info about the Operations Team Leader role that could give you an edge.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by practising common questions related to team management and customer service in catering. We want you to showcase your experience and how it aligns with the Twelve15 values.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion for service excellence! Think of examples where you've gone above and beyond in your previous roles. This will help you stand out as someone who truly embodies the spirit of the Twelve15 service.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our fantastic team.
We think you need these skills to ace Operations Team Leader
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Experience: Make sure your CV highlights your experience managing teams in catering or food service. We want to see how you've led teams and delivered excellent customer service, so don’t hold back!
Tailor Your Answers: When answering the application questions, relate your responses to the specific role of Operations Team Leader. Think about what excellent customer service looks like in a school setting and how you’ve achieved that in the past.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. We appreciate straightforward answers that get straight to the heart of your experience and skills. Avoid fluff and focus on what makes you a great fit for the role.
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 with Twelve15.
How to prepare for a job interview at Surrey County Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the Twelve15 service and its commitment to customer service and operational excellence. Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities of the Operations Team Leader role, especially around food quality and financial performance.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Be ready to discuss your experience in managing teams, particularly in a catering or food service environment. Prepare specific examples that highlight your ability to lead, develop, and performance-manage team members while promoting a strong 'one team' culture.
✨Customer Service is Key
Think about what excellent customer service looks like in a school catering context. Be prepared to share your strategies for ensuring consistent service delivery across multiple sites, as this will demonstrate your alignment with the values of Twelve15.
✨Financial Savvy Matters
Since managing budgets and financial targets is crucial for this role, come equipped with examples of how you've successfully managed finances in previous positions. Highlight any achievements where you exceeded financial goals or improved operational efficiency.
