Catering Manager

To be responsible for effectively leading and managing the commercial catering operations across all campuses of the college. Providing a high quality and cost effective offer to all students, staff and external visitors of the college.

Application Deadline: 5 June 2026

Department: Corporate Services

Location: Middleton

Compensation: £54,399 / year

Description

To be responsible for effectively leading and managing the commercial catering operations across all campuses of the college. Providing a high quality and cost effective offer to all students, staff and external visitors of the college.

Key Responsibilities

• Management of the daily catering operations through priority planning and resource balancing. Ensuring continuity of operations management in the absence of key staff.
• Accountability for all income, expenditure and stock control within the business area in accordance with the college financial policies and procedures.
• Accountable for food safety and health and safety standards within the bistros in line with current and future H&S and food safety legislation.
• Undertake and review risk assessments and ensure all working practices are compliant with legislation such as COSHH, Safer Food Better Business, and report on servicing and malfunction of electrical equipment/Building maintenance issues and keep documentary evidence.
• Responsibility and accountability for the financial delivery and performance of the catering area in line with annual budgets and the responsibility for setting these budgets on an annual basis.
• Undertaking menu and event planning and costing in line with the needs of the business.
• Analyse all operational performance, identify areas of improvement and deliver action plans to meet the business objectives.
• Responsibility for driving all aspects of service excellence across the business area including quality, compliance and service standards. Role model the college values and ensure they are reinforced at every opportunity, providing leadership and clear direction on all aspects of the business area.
• Assess nominated staff on levels of competence within their areas of responsibility, taking responsibility for their development and performance management.
• Promote all aspects of professional development and initiate all staff training as required.
• Build, develop and effectively manage the team using the college’s performance management system to ensure high performance and business efficiency.
• Ensure excellent customer service is provided and delivered in all aspects of the department’s commercial areas.
• Undertake hands‑on operational duties as required to be proactive in response to peaks in customer demand.
• Facilitate hospitality requirements and events and engage with extra college activities as required.
• Promote greener working practices within the catering function in line with sustainability policy and objectives of the college.
• Be a proactive member of cross‑college sub‑groups in line with the vision and values.

Qualifications

• Essential Criteria: Relevant Level 4 qualification in Hospitality and Catering; GCSE Math; L2 Food safety.
• Desirable Criteria: Health & Safety Qualification; Teaching or coaching qualification.

Experience

• Proven experience of managing a high volume fast‑paced commercial hospitality establishment improving quality & standards.
• Supporting high quality learning experiences to students on work experience.
• Experience of setting budgets, profit margins and costing of menus.

Specialist Knowledge

• Exceptional customer service skills and a very keen eye for detail and high standards.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen.
• Strategic planning and implementation skills.
• High levels of energy and motivation.
• Previous experience of managing new openings, re‑launches or new builds.
• Excellent people, management, organisation and communication skills.
• The ability to drive sales and increase profitability.
• The ability to lead, coach, motivate and inspire people and a ‘can do’ attitude and positive outgoing personality.

IT Skills

• Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Applications and willingness to undertake training relevant to the role.

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