Senior Operations Manager
Location: Field-based Bishops Stortford, Hoddesdon & Essex Area 07 (Head Office: Mundells, Welwyn Garden City)
Salary Range: £43,591 - £49,014 per Annum (DOE)
Car allowance: £2,000 per Annum
Hours: Full-time, 37 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Reports to: Regional Operations Manager
Lead High‑Quality Operational Delivery Across a Multi‑Site Catering Portfolio
Are you an experienced multi‑site operations leader who thrives on delivering exceptional food, service and safety standards? HCL is seeking a Senior Operations Manager to oversee a portfolio of primary and secondary school contracts in leading Operations Managers and ensuring schools receive high‑quality, nutritious and engaging food experiences.
This role also covers the following areas:
* Bishops Stortford, Hoddesdon & Essex
What You’ll Lead
* Operational performance across a large multi‑site portfolio, ensuring consistent food, service and safety standards.
* A team of Operations Managers and mobile workforce, providing coaching, development and performance oversight.
* Strategic relationships with clients, acting as a senior escalation point for service reviews and queries.
* Commercial performance, including food and labour cost control and contract retention.
* Mobilisation of new contracts, ensuring full operational readiness and compliance.
* Digital adoption across sites, ensuring accurate reporting and effective use of company systems.
What You’ll Bring
* Experience leading multi‑site operations in education or contract catering.
* Strong commercial acumen including pricing, contract variations and budgeting.
* Ability to build senior client relationships and deliver solutions that balance value and sustainability.
* Proven people leadership with experience developing managers and chefs.
* Knowledge of Food Safety, Health & Safety, safeguarding and compliance requirements.
* A proactive, organised and resilient approach in a fast‑paced environment.
* Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel widely across the region.
Why Join HCL?
* Competitive salary
* Generous holiday entitlement
* Good pension scheme
* Life assurance & Employee Assistance Programme
* A values‑driven organisation committed to quality, innovation and community
* Strong focus on personal development and leadership growth
Apply Now
If you’re a forward‑thinking operational leader who enjoys driving performance, inspiring teams and delivering outstanding customer outcomes, we’d love to hear from you.