JOB DESCRIPTION
REPORTS TO: Senior Catering Manager
RESPONSIBLE FOR: The Regional Operations Manager (Catering) will be responsible for overseeing and managing the operational and financial performance of several School Meals Kitchens and Dining Centres within your portfolio. This position has overall responsibility for the day-to-day running of all schools in their area, e.g. up to 65 schools. They have a staff base of approximately 238 staff.
JOB PURPOSE
* This is an extremely exciting opportunity not to be missed for a Catering Operations Manager with previous multi-site experience to join a catering service with ambitious plans for the future.
* As a Regional Catering Operations Manager, you will directly lead, manage, and support the Senior and Unit Catering Supervisors within your portfolio of school meals kitchens and dining centres. You will ensure resources are available to deliver the school meals service at the agreed standards. The management of hospitality and EA staff canteens will form part of your management responsibilities.
* Reporting to your Senior Catering Manager, you will be responsible for overseeing and managing the operational and financial performance of several school meals kitchens and dining centres. You will be able to shape and nurture your team by inspiring and coaching your team members through a structured learning and development programme.
* You will need - extensive experience in managing multi-site catering operations, staff management and performance, and the ability to perform under pressure and identify what is important and what is urgent. You will use your initiative to resolve problems before they become issues, promote and embrace change, and lead others through a journey of transformation of the Catering Service.
* As a people-focused manager, you will give your teams direction, guidance, and support to ensure a quality, consistent and high standard is delivered to our customer base every day.
* This job description will be subject to review in light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Main Activity Areas
The post holder will be expected to seek to continuously improve the quality and value of the Catering Service provided by the EA in the following key areas:
Staff Management and Service Delivery
* Responsible for leading, motivating and developing a team of frontline managers to achieve our overall business objectives.
* Plan, coordinate, record, and lead your regional meetings with Unit and Senior Unit Catering Supervisors.
* Ensure each site has a sufficient permanent workforce in place to deliver a quality-driven school meals service.
* Effectively manage short- and long-term absences from work, ensuring all processes are followed and completed. To make a continuous contribution in reducing absence through effective management and the use of agreed procedures and policies.
* Recruit sufficient staff promptly when vacancies occur, or additional staff are required within your region using the designated EA recruitment system. This ensures the process and tasks required are completed end to end.
* Participate and manage large recruitment campaigns as directed by the Senior Catering Management team.
* Ensure your allocated mobile team members are fully integrated within your region's people structure and that the placement of the mobile team is effective and managed.
* Coordinate communications within your region at all levels in a timely, comprehensive, and inclusive manner.
* Carry out annual performance and achievement reviews with your direct line managers and supervisors on an annual basis. This will include follow-up of the actions identified and creating personal development plans when appropriate.
* Carry out investigations as deemed necessary.
* Implement disciplinary procedures and participate in grievance procedures as and when required.
* Represent the EA Catering Service or/and partake in any legal cases and Labour Relation Cases.
* Manage and lead in the appointment and termination of relief or temporary staff when deemed necessary.
* Encourage innovation and creativity within your region to bring ideas to life by utilising the support of the Service Improvement Team.
* Implement and monitor your Locality Business Operations Plan by taking ownership of the tasks, meeting set targets and taking corrective action when required.
* Encourage and support that all food guidelines are implemented and monitored within your school meals kitchens, i.e., Nutritional Standards.
* Ensure agreed EA menus, EA menu formats, and portion controls are operational across all schools within your region.
* Liaise with the EA Energy and Sustainability Team on projects and future initiatives.
Service Improvements
* Work with the Service Improvement Team in implementing improvements within the school meals service.
* Embrace, communicate and lead in implementing all agreed service improvements, including marketing and branding.
* Promote theme days and other calendar events designed to increase footfall within the school.
* Assist the catering service in meeting its Key Performance Indicators and Service Level Agreements. Identify areas of improvement and ensure an agreed action plan is put in place and executed.
* Assist in developing the Catering Service by participating in workshops, committees and other platforms as deemed appropriate.
* Report on customer service needs and trends and promote innovative solutions to resolve any issues identified.
* Identify school meals kitchens and dining centres within your region which require substantive improvements to meet standards by ensuring all evidence is completed and submitted to the Senior Catering Manager to include within a SISMA scheme or a maintenance project which will be determined by overall improvement costs.
Learning and Development
* Ensure all new staff receive the agreed induction training and associated information when commencing employment.
* Ensure annual training schedules are reviewed in advance, and all training, including statutory training, takes place at agreed frequencies across your catering portfolio.
* Utilise all agreed on EA Catering training materials, suites and tools for staff training and development needs.
* Arrange annual staff training schedules and venues as required.
* Identify any gaps within the Catering Service and action.
* Determine training and development activities within your region.
* Participate in the annual L&D programme review within the catering service.
* Attend mandatory training and enforce team attendance when requested.
Health, Safety and Wellbeing
* Responsible for the management of risk through identification and managing such risks within the working environment.
* Support the Senior Catering Managers to meet their responsibility for full quality and safety compliance across all localities.
* The timely completion of all documentation and data concerning accidents and near misses and ensuring follow-up actions are done promptly.
* Encourage full team participation of all staff within the EA Health and Wellbeing initiatives.
* Ensure all EHO reports are recorded for data purposes and any actions highlighted by the EHO are actioned, closed and recorded promptly following the inspection.
Business Support (Resourcing / People Services)
Management Systems
* Ensure the implementation of all policies, processes, procedures and governance strategies are reviewed and developed in line with legal and strategic requirements, and they are embedded and effectively operated throughout your region.
* Assist, comply, and action EA Catering internal Quality Assurance Audits undertaken within your school meals portfolio.
* Carry out independent audits of your SMKs to ensure that all procedures and processes are in place and working effectively.
* Assist, comply, and action EA Catering internal Quality Assurance Audits undertaken within your school meals portfolio.
* Work with, participate in and coordinate any future systems agreed upon for EA Catering.
* Participate in the process of planning new school meals kitchens and dining centres, providing guidance to the design teams, ordering equipment, and putting a plan in place for opening all new facilities.
* Participate and lead in the closure of school meals kitchens and dining centres and redeployment of staff.
Procurement
* Actively participate in the procurement of goods process, liaising with Contract Managers when frameworks are to be tendered. This will include sitting on evaluation panels, chairing panels, and communicating regularly with the panel and procurement service during each tender process and implementation.
* Ensure each school has adequate light equipment to operate smoothly, e.g., crockery and cutlery.
* Monitor usage and raise orders when required for light equipment and consumables.
Financial Management
* Have in-depth knowledge of the operating budget for each school meals kitchen and dining centre you manage within your region.
* Prepare financial reports as directed by your Senior Catering Manager.
* Ensure all financial returns at each month-end have been completed, are accurate and are submitted to EA Catering Administration on a timely basis.
* Ensure performance against agreed targets is achieved, monitored, reported, and any variance investigated.
* Ensure all prices – tariff price lists are reviewed and aligned countrywide.
* When opportunities arise, a review of the operating model and costs is to take place before any actions are taken.
Client Relationships
* Develop and maintain strong, open, transparent, and respectful relationships with Principals, school leaders and other stakeholders.
* Maintain a regular presence and visibility across schools within your region to establish a good inter-working relationship, understand changing requirements over time, and respond proactively with solutions to meet the school's needs with the support and guidance of your Senior Catering Manager.
* Ensure all issues are documented and addressed timely and professionally to ensure relationships are retained and built upon.
Building Relationships and Working with Others
* Build and maintain effective, professional, and respectful stakeholder relationships.
* Develop and maintain clear lines of communication and effective working partnerships with relevant internal and external stakeholders.
* Develop relations with our school catering teams across Northern Ireland through consultation, support, guidance, and development as and when required.
Pay, Policy and Conditions
Policy Development
* Contribute to the identification of suitable topics for policy development.
* Contribute to reviewing, revising and developing existing and new policies and procedures.
* Ensure that procedures and policies are reviewed/developed in line with legal and strategic requirements and are applied consistently throughout.
* Contribute to the Authority's corporate strategy and plans on matters relating to our Catering Service.
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES
* Hold budgetary approval at an appropriate level and ensure resources are managed within the agreed budget for the Catering Service.
* Ensure that the Authority's policy on Data Protection (in particular, processing sensitive personal information) is properly complied with.
* Ensure that the Authority's Equal Opportunities Policy, relevant Codes of Employment and Practice and other relevant legislation are adhered to. In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), the post-holder is expected to promote good relations, equality of opportunity and pay due regard for equality legislation at all times.
* Participate as required in the selection and appointment of staff following the policy and procedures laid down by the Authority.
* Participate within Procurement Panels as a member or Chair in all exercises relating to the Catering Service.
* Undertake other related duties within the grade and competence of the post-holder as required. Participate as required in other activities to build the reputation and promotion of the EA Catering Service. This will include both external and internal events and roadshows.
* The post holder may be required to work outside normal office hours on occasion.
This job description will be subject to review in light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.
In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), the post-holder is expected to promote good relations, equality of opportunity and pay due regard for equality legislation at all times.
To view the summary of terms and conditions for this post, click here.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
NOTES TO JOB APPLICANTS
1. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how, and to what extent you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria, where relevant.
2. You must demonstrate how you meet the criteria by the closing date for applications, unless the criteria state otherwise.
3. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is outlined in the table below.
4. Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.
5. Please note that the Selection Panel reserves the right to shortlist only those applicants that it believes most strongly meet the criteria for the role.
6. In the event of an excessive number of applications, the Selection Panel also reserves the right to apply any desirable criteria as outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting, in which case these will be applied in the order listed. It is important therefore that you also clearly demonstrate on your application form on how you meet any desirable criteria.
Section 1 - Essential Criteria
The following are essential criteria which will initially be measured at the shortlisting stage and which may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.
1. Bachelor's Degree (UK Qualification and Credit Framework Level 6) or an equivalent or higher qualification in Hospitality or a Catering related subject AND one year’s demonstrable experience in a management role within the catering industry.
2. HND in a Hospitality or Catering related subject AND two years’ demonstrable experience in a management role within the catering industry OR ILM Level 5 in Leadership & Management or related subject AND two years’ demonstrable experience in a management role within the catering industry OR Professional Qualification Final Membership Exam Part B Professional Diploma, (Institute of Hospitality HCIMA Professional Qualification) AND two years’ demonstrable experience in a management role within the catering industry.
3. Have four years’ demonstrable experience in a management role within the catering industry.
Knowledge: Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of food safety legislation, financial acumen, and operational aspects within the catering industry.
Other: The successful candidate will be required to have access to a suitable vehicle or an alternative form of transport to meet mobility requirements, and be able to work flexibly, including across different locations.
Section 2 - Essential Criteria
The following are additional essential criteria measured during the interview/selection stage. Skills/Abilities include leadership, planning, communication, teamwork, attention to detail, multitasking, and alignment with EA values. Evidence will be sought in line with EA’s Game Changing People Model. Interview and, where relevant, values assessment will be used.
Values: Evidence of alignment with EA values; the candidate should demonstrate commitment to equality and excellence in service delivery.
DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND
The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 defines working directly with children or young people or in specified places as ‘regulated activity’. Enhanced Disclosure may be required for appointed posts. The applicant will meet disclosure costs at pre-employment stage. Further information at NI Direct or the Department of Justice.
APPLICANT GUIDANCE NOTES
To view guidance notes, click here. To learn about benefits of joining the Education Authority, click here.
EEO STATEMENT
The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer.
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