Operations Manager in Oxford, Oxfordshire

Multi-site Operations Manager – School Catering

Great food, happy teams and strong relationships are at the heart of what we do. We’re looking for an Operations Manager who shares that passion and wants to make a positive difference to school catering.

If you enjoy bringing out the best in people, building lasting client relationships and helping school kitchens succeed, we’d love to hear from you.

What you’ll do

You’ll oversee a portfolio of school kitchens, working closely with Chef Managers to deliver fresh, high-quality food and a service that schools can rely on. Along the way, you’ll:

• Inspire, support and develop your teams, helping them take pride in their work

• Build trusted relationships with schools, suppliers and colleagues

• Celebrate successes and identify opportunities to improve performance across your sites

• Keep food quality, hygiene and compliance standards consistently high

• Manage budgets and financial performance across commercial and fixed-price contracts

• Help Chef Managers with recruitment, people matters and everyday operational challenges

• Use clear reports and insights to share progress and guide improvements

What you’ll bring

You’ll be a hands-on, approachable leader who stays organised, responds positively to challenges and enjoys a varied working day. We’re looking for:

• Experience as an Area Manager or Operations Manager in contract or retail catering, managing at least eight sites

• A track record of leading multi-site teams and helping people grow

• The confidence to communicate with everyone, from kitchen colleagues to senior stakeholders

• Strong organisational skills and the ability to focus on what matters most

• Experience managing budgets and supporting the commercial performance of catering services

• Confidence using Microsoft Office, including spreadsheets and presentations

• A love of fresh, contemporary food and a commitment to excellent service

Above all, you’ll care about the people you work with and the food your teams serve. If that sounds like you, we’d welcome the chance to get to know you.