Account Director – Moorgate, London
Lexington is an award‑winning contract caterer that focuses on providing great food and service to customers. To do this we need fabulous people and we work hard to create an environment where our team members feel engaged, inspired, valued and enjoy what they do.
What you’ll be doing…
We are currently looking for an experienced Catering and hospitality account director who will lead and develop the catering and hospitality account to deliver outstanding food, service and client experiences, whilst maximising operational efficiency, commercial performance and long‑term contract retention. The role provides strategic and operational leadership across all areas of the account, including hospitality and events, fine dining, vending, café and the staff restaurant.
Key responsibilities
Client relationship and account management:
- Act as the primary point of contact for the client, building strong, trusted relationships at all levels.
- Ensure delivery of all contractual obligations, service level agreements and key performance indicators (KPIs).
Operational leadership:
- Lead and oversee day‑to‑day operations across the account, ensuring consistently high standards in food, service and site presentation.
- Drive operational excellence across hospitality (including fine dining and events), cafés, staff restaurants and retail where applicable.
Financial and commercial management:
- Own the commercial performance of the account, typically with a turnover in the region of £7m.
- Prepare, agree and manage annual budgets, forecasts and growth strategies with directors and clients.
People leadership and culture:
- Lead, motivate and inspire managers and teams across the account (for example, circa 110 colleagues across multiple departments).
- Conduct regular Talent Toolbox reviews and target setting, ensuring performance issues are addressed promptly and constructively.
Compliance, safety and quality:
- Ensure full compliance with all statutory and company policies, including health and safety, food safety, allergen management, COSHH and employment legislation.
- Champion and monitor health and safety, food hygiene, environmental management systems (EMS) and human resources (HR) procedures across site.
Innovation, improvement and change:
- Drive innovation in food, service style, technology and guest experience across the account and wider business.
- Encourage teams to identify improvements and bring forward solutions, not just problems.
Experience and knowledge
Essential:
- Proven experience in a senior operations or account director role within contract catering, hospitality or a related service sector.
- Experience leading multi‑site or large single‑site operations with significant financial turnover (for example, £8m–£12m).
- Strong understanding of the business and industry (B&I) food‑service sector, with exposure to hospitality, fine dining, cafés and staff restaurants.
- Demonstrable track record of client relationship management and contract retention.
- Strong commercial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, P&L ownership and performance analysis.
- Experience managing complex HR processes (for example TUPE, restructures, changes to terms and conditions, redundancies).
- Proven experience in recruitment, development and performance management of managers and large teams.
Desirable
- Experience in commercial hotels or restaurants.
- Experience of major mobilisations or flagship site management.
- Formal catering or hospitality qualification, or equivalent experience.
- Strong understanding of experiential service to a high level.
Brilliant Work Deserves Brilliant Perks!
- Free, tasty meals – Enjoy tasty, nutritious food on us while you work!
- Flexible working – including part‑time roles, because life doesn’t run on a 9‑5 schedule.
- Plenty of Time to Unwind – 28 days of holiday, and after two years, enjoy even more with 31 days.
- Leave for life’s important moments – whether family, personal or unexpected.
- Give back time – paid volunteering days for the causes you care about.
- Room to grow – career development and learning opportunities for all stages of your career.
- Wellbeing first – mental health support and wellbeing perks.
- Financial security – pension schemes and life assurance.
- Exclusive discounts – save on entertainment, leisure, and even travel!
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