Operations Support Executive - Barista Bar
Attractive Salary, Car & Benefits
36.5 Hour week (Hybrid) (Travel required)
Newtownabbey/ Field Based
Who are we?
At Henderson Group, we are proud to be Northern Ireland’s leading foodservice provider. Our group encompasses Henderson Wholesale, Henderson Retail, Henderson Foodservice and Henderson Group Property. We employ over 5,500 staff and have been placed 5th in Ulster Business Top 100 Companies 2024.
We achieved Platinum accreditation against the Investors in People standard framework in 2020 in recognition of people management excellence and our commitment to investment in people.
We're a family-owned team that cares about our people and the community in which we live. Our leaders care about employees and our employees succeed together and celebrate the success of others. We are interested in your aspirations, interests and skills and we strive to support and inspire you to do well.
A look into the role
Barista Bar is a brand owned by the Henderson Group with this role operating within Henderson Foodservice. Barista Bar is the No1 coffee-to-go brand in Northern Ireland and the third largest in the UK, with rapid expansion underway across Great Britain.
Since 2015, we’ve been delighting retail partners and their customers with exceptional coffee and hot beverages, proudly serving an impressive 13 million cups every year.
The Purpose of the role:
The Barista Bar Operations Support Executive will play an important role in supporting the day-to-day operations of Barista Bar across Northern Ireland, Great Britain and beyond as part of future development and extension plans.
Reporting to the Barista Bar Operations Support Manager you will be responsible for both new and existing customers, all while upholding brand standards, and fostering customer loyalty.
Working as Operations Support Executive you will:
* Support the installation and rollout of new Barista Bar stands and coffee machines across Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Great Britain and beyond, including delivering training to both new and existing retail partners.
* Represent Barista Bar at trade shows and industry events, supporting brand visibility and expansion initiatives.
* Conduct weekly audits across stores in NI and GB (as required) to ensure compliance with brand standards, operational excellence, and a consistently high-quality customer experience.
* Follow up on audit findings and non-conformances, analysing KPIs, performance trends, cup sales, and loyalty data to drive compliance, improve performance, and increase customer engagement.
* Identifying opportunities to increase revenue through innovative service offerings and coffee-to-go solutions, contributing to sales and profitability.
* Respond to customer queries and support requests through the online support platform as required.
* Build and maintain strong working relationships with internal teams and external stakeholders.
* Support product costing and margin analysis to ensure commercial viability.
* Test new products and develop clear, engaging training materials and training cards to support successful launches.
* Provide customer account management support as required, maintaining strong relationships and service levels.
* Support the Operations Support Manager, Assistant Brand Manager, Brand Manager, and the wider Barista Bar team with ad-hoc projects and day-to-day activities.
* Act as a consistent brand ambassador, upholding Barista Bar values and supporting the continued growth and development of the brand.
* To carry out any other reasonable duties or tasks as required to support the role.
Skills for Success
Joining us as Operations Support Executive the minimum criteria you’ll need is:
* A minimum of 5 GCSEs at Grade C or above (or equivalent).
* Experience in one or more of the following areas: the coffee industry, the coffee-to-go market, or account management within fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG).
* A full, valid UK/EU driving licence.
The Attributes you’ll need include:
* Highly organised, with strong attention to detail.
* Able to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
* Confident communicator, comfortable engaging with stakeholders at all levels.
* Strong reporting skills, with the ability to regularly track and report on sales performance.
It is Desirable if you have:
* A third-level qualification (or equivalent) in Business, IT, Marketing, or a related discipline.
* Experience working within an FMCG or retail environment.
* Previous experience working in a retail, shop, or café setting.
* Hands-on experience coordinating installations and supporting the operation of bean-to-cup coffee machines.
* A proven track record of driving sales through new product development (NPD).
* Experience supporting, coordinating, and setting up trade shows or exhibitions.
* Experience conducting unannounced audits within a retail environment.
* Knowledge of WMF 5000 or any Coffee to go machines.
* Familiarity with Audit Comply and Qlik Sense systems.
* Previous Account management experience within Fast moving consumer goods.
Are we right for you?
As part of this role, it will be important that you feel aligned with the values that we live and work by.
Ambition – We always strive to be better. We seek new challenges and look for ways to do things better.
Customer First – We provide exceptional service. We put customers at the heart of everything and support our communities.
Teamwork – We succeed together. We help colleagues to succeed, and we share our knowledge and skills.
Integrity – We are fair, honest and ethical. We treat everyone with dignity and respect. We are inclusive and champion diversity
The Reward
The impact you can make with Henderson Group goes far beyond your day to day. You will be part of a business supporting defibrillator installations and school sports days. In the last year Henderson group staff and retail stores raised over £1 million for charity partners.
You will have the balance necessary to enjoy your job and your life. We will help you to feel proud of what you do and achieve. And we will be here to celebrate your success.
Our business has been recognised externally for delivering excellence in employment. We value employee development and heavily invest in our people.
Benefits include market competitive salary, company car, contributory pension scheme, healthcare, life assurance, employee assistance programme, social club, Reward Gateway Employee Recognition & Discount Scheme throughout UK/Ireland, staff discount (grocery/fuel) at SPAR/EUROSPAR Henderson Group company-owned stores and many more.
This is a full-time position working 36.5 hours per week. Working hours will be 8:45am-4:45pm Monday to Thursday and 8:45am-3:45pm Friday. Hybrid and flexible working arrangement available. Travel will be required within NI, ROI, GB and beyond. Additionally, work outside of regular hours may be required.
If you'd like to speak with us before making your application, our Talent Acquisition Specialist - Joanne McClelland would be happy to have a confidential chat with you about the role on offer - email joanne.mcclelland@henderson-group.com to get in touch.
Completed applications must be submitted online by midnight on Monday 16th February 2026.
We are an equal opportunities employer.