Catering Manager

Catering Manager 8a

Band 8a | Full Time | Permanent
Salary: £58,698 - £65,095 per annum (Inclusive of High-Cost Area Supplement)
Location: London
Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Lead Excellence in Hospital Catering Services

We are looking for an experienced, innovative, and highly motivated Catering Manager to lead the delivery of high-quality catering services across our busy NHS Trust.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a forward-thinking Estates and Facilities team, where you will be responsible for the strategic and operational management of catering services that support patients, staff, and visitors across multiple hospital sites.

As Catering Manager, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the provision of safe, nutritious, and cost-effective food services that meet the highest standards of quality, patient experience, food safety, and regulatory compliance.

About the Role

Reporting to the Head of Facilities, you will:

• Provide strategic leadership and operational management for all catering services across the Trust.
• Lead and develop a large multidisciplinary catering workforce, promoting a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure delivery of high-quality patient catering services that support patient recovery and satisfaction.
• Manage retail catering outlets, staff restaurants, coffee shops, and hospitality services where applicable.
• Develop and implement catering strategies aligned with Trust objectives, sustainability goals, and NHS initiatives.
• Manage significant catering budgets and identify opportunities for efficiency, innovation, and value for money.
• Ensure compliance with Food Safety legislation, NHS standards, CQC requirements, and Health & Safety regulations.
• Work collaboratively with Dietetics, Clinical Teams, Infection Prevention, Procurement, and Facilities colleagues.
• Lead on contract management, supplier performance, and catering procurement activities.
• Drive service improvement programmes and digital innovation within catering operations.
• Produce performance reports and present findings to senior management and governance forums.

About You

We are seeking an experienced catering professional who combines strong operational leadership with strategic vision.

Essential Criteria

• Degree-level qualification or equivalent experience in Catering Management, Hospitality Management, Facilities Management, or a related field.
• Significant senior management experience within a large-scale catering environment.
• Demonstrable experience managing complex catering operations and large teams.
• Strong financial management skills, including budget setting, forecasting, and cost control.
• Comprehensive knowledge of food safety legislation, HACCP principles, and relevant regulatory requirements.
• Proven ability to lead service transformation and quality improvement initiatives.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, communication, and influencing skills.
• Experience in workforce planning, performance management, and staff development.

Desirable Criteria

• NHS or healthcare sector catering experience.
• Membership of a relevant professional body.
• Food Safety Level 4 qualification.
• Experience managing outsourced catering contracts.
• Knowledge of sustainability and net-zero initiatives within catering services.