Business Manager
Location: Derry, Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Contract Type: Full-Time | Permanent
Salary: £35,000 per annum plus Sodexo Benefits
About the Role
We are currently seeking an experienced and driven Business Manager to lead our catering operations within a well-established contract. This is an exciting opportunity for an innovative and passionate professional who is committed to delivering exceptional food quality and outstanding front‑of‑house service.
You will play a key leadership role, ensuring all services are delivered in line with agreed service level agreements (SLAs), KPIs, and contractual standards while driving continuous improvement across operations.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead, manage, and develop a high‑performing catering team
* Ensure consistent delivery of high‑quality food and service standards
* Maintain compliance across all sites (Finance, Health & Safety, Food Safety, HR)
* Deliver training programmes and ensure all staff are fully trained and up to date
* Monitor performance against KPIs and implement improvements where needed
* Conduct regular site audits and ensure audit readiness at all times
* Manage recruitment processes, including right‑to‑work compliance
* Build strong relationships with clients and stakeholders
* Oversee budgets, cost control, and financial performance
What We’re Looking For
Essential
* Proven experience in a similar catering or service management role
* Strong leadership and team management skills
* Excellent communication and influencing abilities
* Solid knowledge of food safety, health & safety, and compliance standards
* Ability to analyse problems and implement effective solutions
* Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and data tools (e.g. Power BI)
Desirable Qualifications
* Hospitality qualification (or equivalent)
* IOSH or similar health & safety certification
* Experience managing client relationships
* Training qualifications (e.g. Train the Trainer, IFM Accreditation)
What You’ll Deliver
* High levels of client satisfaction and service excellence
* Strong financial performance through effective cost and labour management
* A positive safety culture across all sites
* Increased employee engagement and team development
Why Sodexo?
Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it’s a chance to be part of something greater.
Belong in a company and team that values you for you.
Act with purpose and have an impact through your everyday actions.
Thrive in your own way.
We also offer a range of perks, rewards and benefits for our colleagues and their families:
* Unlimited access to an online platform offering wellbeing support
* An extensive Employee Assistance Programme to help with everyday issues or life’s larger problems, including legal and financial advice, support with work or personal issues impacting wellbeing
* Access to a 24hr virtual GP Service
* Sodexo Discounts Scheme, offering great deals 24/7 across popular high street retailers (also open to friends and family)
* Save for your future by becoming a member of the Pension Plan
* Opportunities to enable colleagues to grow and succeed throughout their career at Sodexo, including a variety of learning and development tools
* Bike to Work Scheme to help colleagues to do their bit for the environment while keeping fit
* Sodexo UK and Ireland’s enhanced benefits and leave policies
A little more about Sodexo
At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better every day for everyone to build a better life for all. As the global leader in services that improve the quality of life, we operate in 55 countries, serving over 100 million consumers each day through our unique combination of On‑Site Food and FM Services, Benefits & Rewards Services and Personal & Home Services.
We are committed to being an inclusive employer. We are a faith friendly employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people with a diverse variety of experiences, backgrounds and identities. We encourage our employees to get involved with our Employee Networks such as Pride, Sodexo Parents & Carers, Sodexo Disability, Ability network, SoTogether, Generations and Origins.
We’re a Disability Confident Leader employer. We’re committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations. We run a Disability Confident interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria for the job.
Sodexo reserves the right to close this advert early if we are in receipt of a high number of applications.
#J-18808-Ljbffr