Catering Manager Cambridge College
Salary: £40,000 £42,000 per annum Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours/week
Are you an experienced hospitality leader with a passion for food, events, and people management? Our client, who is one of the colleges in Cambridge, is seeking a dynamic and commercially minded Catering Manager to lead and develop its catering, kitchen, and conference teams.
This is a unique opportunity to join the senior leadership team of a prestigious institution and shape the future of its hospitality and events offering in a values-driven, collaborative environment.
Key Responsibilities:
Lead the day-to-day operations of the catering, kitchen, and conference & events departments.
Develop and implement high-quality, profitable food and beverage offerings, working closely with the Head Chef and Sales & Marketing team.
Ensure excellent client experiences for internal college events, external conferences, and high-profile functions .
Oversee financial performance including budgeting, cost control, stock management, and profitability .
Line manage, develop, and inspire a skilled team implementing training, conducting reviews, and fostering a positive workplace culture.
Maintain high standards of health & safety, food hygiene, and operational compliance.
Act as a strategic leader, contributing to the colleges business plan, representing the department at senior management meetings, and building long-term supplier relationships.
Essential Experience & Skills:
At least 3+ years managerial experience in a fast-paced catering, hospitality, or events environment.
Proven success in financial and team management, with the ability to deliver quality while maintaining cost-efficiency.
Strong understanding of food trends, service excellence, and guest experience.
Confident in supervising teams, leading from the front, and handling operational challenges.
Ability to work flexibly, including some evening and weekend commitments.
A respectful and understanding approach to working within a faith-based educational environment .
Preferred:
A degree in Hospitality or Business Management .
Experience in the tertiary education, charity, or conference sectors .
Familiarity with booking systems (e.g. Kinetics ) and advanced Microsoft Office skills.
Whats On Offer:
£40,000 £42,000 per annum (based on experience)
28 days holiday + Bank Holidays
Free lunch and parking on working days (subject to availability)
Access to the Employee Assistance Programme & Life Insurance
Excellent sick pay after probation
A meaningful role in a close-knit, respectful, and historic college community
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
TPBN1_UKCT