About The Role
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Regional Operations Manager to lead, develop and inspire multi-site catering teams within the independent education sector. You will be responsible for delivering safe, compliant and high-quality food services while driving commercial performance, client satisfaction and continuous improvement across your portfolio.
This is a highly visible role requiring strong leadership, operational expertise and commercial acumen, working closely with schools, clients and central support teams to deliver outstanding outcomes.
Key ResponsibilitiesHealth, Safety & Food Standards
* Ensure full compliance with HSE, food safety and company policies
* Lead safety walks, hazard spotting and food safety audits, ensuring actions are followed up effectively
* Oversee hazard analysis, allergen controls and food safety procedures across all sites
* Ensure new unit and temporary catering facility assessments are completed prior to opening
* Identify and escalate food safety risks beyond local control
Operational Excellence
* Regularly visit sites to review standards, customer journey and productivity
* Ensure compliance with training records, logbooks and operational standards
* Drive adherence to standards and mobilisation of new and retained contracts
Nutritional & Culinary Standards
* Coach and support teams to deliver School Food Strategies and compliant menus
* Ensure menus align with FIR guidelines and allergen legislation
* Lead audits, training and service consistency across all units
* Engage with students, parents and teachers to maximise participation and uptake
People & Team Leadership
* Build, engage and retain high-performing teams across all sites
* Ensure 100% compliance with DBS, training and workforce systems
* Lead recruitment, workforce planning and performance management
* Support colleague wellbeing, development and career progression
Financial & Commercial Performance
* Manage budgets, forecasts and financial cycles effectively
* Optimise labour, overheads and spend in line with benchmarks
* Identify growth opportunities, additional services and investment proposals
* Conduct independent audits of cashless and safe sales
Client & Stakeholder Management
* Develop strong client relationships through structured meetings and engagement plans
* Deliver client retention strategies and support tender processes
* Work with senior stakeholders to proactively manage contract renewals
* Capture success stories, case studies and references for future bids
Marketing, Innovation & Customer Experience
* Deliver pricing strategies and identify commercial opportunities
* Collaborate with schools to deliver engaging theme days and educational food initiatives
* Champion central marketing initiatives and innovation to stay ahead of consumer trends
What we’re looking for
Essential
* Proven experience managing multi-site operations within catering, hospitality, retail or facilities services
* Strong stakeholder management and negotiation skills
* Commercially astute with a demonstrable track record of delivering results
Desirable
* Degree qualified in business, hospitality or a related discipline
Why join us?
* Opportunity to make a real impact within education catering
* A values-led organisation with strong support and development pathways
* Competitive salary and benefits package
* A role that combines leadership, strategy and hands-on operational excellence
Benefits
We ensure you're rewarded for all your hard work, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:
* Contributory pension scheme
* Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes
* Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits
* Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more
* Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and many more
* Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster
* Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands
* Un-wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes
* You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families
About Us
As part of Compass you'll help to feed people, fuel progress and forge connections in around 6,000 venues. Join us to grow your career with the industry leader, and get competitive pay, great perks and unrivalled opportunities for learning and development, at one of the UK's biggest businesses.
Job Reference: com/1612/214100/52781285/SU #Independent
Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive - because diversity is our strength!