Job Title
Director of Catering (Strategy & Operations)
Working At
Brighton College & Brighton College Prep Handcross
Contract & Salary
Permanent Role – Salary up to £72,000. Working hours 40 hours per week, 5 days over 7. Annual Leave 25 days plus bank holidays.
Location
Based at Brighton College, supporting Brighton College, Brighton College Prep Handcross and any other associated Brighton College Schools as required.
Role Context
Lodestone House operates the catering and hospitality services at Brighton College, one of the UK’s most prestigious independent schools. The newly created senior leadership role oversees all catering and hospitality operations and works in partnership with the Head of Catering Operations.
Overall Purpose
To provide strategic, operational and commercial leadership across the Brighton College and Brighton College Prep Handcross catering and hospitality operation, ensuring delivery of a seamless best‑in‑class service that reflects the college’s ambition, reputation and uncompromising standards.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership & Direction – Set and drive the strategic direction for catering and hospitality across Brighton College. Translate the College’s vision and values into a clear catering and hospitality strategy. Act as a senior strategic advisor to College leadership. Ensure alignment between College expectations and Lodestone House / Compass Group frameworks.
- Operational Excellence – Oversee all catering and hospitality operations across Brighton College and Brighton College Prep Handcross. Introduce clarity, structure and rhythm into operational planning. Ensure consistently high standards of food quality, service and customer experience.
- Project Leadership & Change Management – Lead major catering and hospitality projects including service redesign, process implementation and offer evolution. Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, with minimal operational disruption and within the agreed budget. Establish clear project ownership, governance and delivery plans. Manage risk, dependencies and stakeholder expectations throughout delivery. Translate strategic intent into practical, deliverable outcomes.
- Financial Accountability & Commercial Performance – Full accountability for contract financial performance. Lead monthly financial reporting, forecasting and variance analysis with the support of the Catering Financial Manager. Prepare and present financial and operational proposals to College and internal leadership teams.
- Data, Insight & Reporting – Use data to drive decision‑making and performance improvement. Translate complex financial and operational data into meaningful insight. Ensure clear, accurate and trusted reporting.
- People Leadership & Organisation – Ensure the operation is correctly structured with the right capability in the right roles. Coach and support senior leaders including the Head of Catering Operations, Deputy Head of
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