Job Introduction
As the Senior Operations Manager, you will hold a pivotal regional leadership role with a dual focus: directly managing a portfolio of school contracts as an Operations Manager while providing strategic leadership and direction to a team of regional Operations Managers.
You will act as the operational backbone for the region, balancing hands-on contract management with high-level team leadership. This position requires creative flair, strong commercial acumen, and the strategic ability to mentor your team, build robust client relationships, and drive overall performance across our Primary and Secondary school accounts.
Role Responsibility
Lead the Leads: Directly manage, mentor, and develop a team of Operations Managers, driving high performance, accountability, and professional growth across the region.
Team Support: Provide guidance to your team on complex operational issues, HR matters (including performance management and grievances), and client dynamics.
Portfolio Oversight: Manage a designated group of school contracts, ensuring all services are flawlessly delivered and exceed client, customer, and company expectations.
Culinary & Trend Standards: Ensure all food offerings meet the highest quality standards, reflecting modern high-street food trends and dining preferences.
Safety & Compliance: Enforce stringent compliance with all Health & Safety, Food Hygiene, and Safeguarding regulations across all sites.
Financial Control: Continually review contract performance and profitability across the region. Implement robust cost controls while protecting service quality.
Sales & Retention: Work closely with the business development team to retain existing contracts and support the mobilisation of exciting new business wins.
Stakeholder Relationships: Build and maintain exceptional relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, including school governors, headteachers, and local authorities.
The Ideal Candidate
We are looking for somebody who shares our passion for maintaining the highest standards of food and service for our customers, along with the following:
Proven track record of managing, developing, and inspiring a team of managers, ideally within multi-site catering or contract food service.
Strong financial skills with a history of managing multi-site P&Ls, controlling costs, and driving profitability.
Outstanding client relationship management and communication skills, with the ability to influence at all levels.
Experience navigating complex HR scenarios, team development, and performance management.
Sound IT skills and confidence using modern operational software and management tools.
A full, clean driving licence. Willingness to undergo an enhanced DBS check.
We expect all staff to share our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children/young people, and an enhanced DBS disclosure will be sought by the company. Please also note that it may be necessary for this role to be removed before the closing date due to the volume of applications we receive.
About the Company
We’re a specialised school catering company with a deep passion for high-quality food, dedicated to fostering a community spirit and driving a mission to instil pride back into school kitchens across the UK.
Our success is powered by an exceptional and highly valued team. We boast a diverse range of experts, skills, and abilities, all united by our common goal of creating a significant impact and stirring innovation within education catering.
We are committed to maintaining uncompromisingly high standards—both in the culinary excellence and in the professional management and safety of our kitchens. This is supported by our dedicated team and reinforced through regular support and targeted training, ensuring our on-site teams possess the precise skills needed to deliver the performance we expect.
We actively seek individuals with creative initiative and growth ambition. We offer exciting opportunities designed to attract strategic thinkers and bold movers ready to advance their careers with us. If this vision resonates with you, we encourage you to connect with our team.