Regional Operations Manager

Regional Operations Manager – Education

Contract: Education
Location: Wakefield, WF6 1NR (or Yorkshire region)
Hours of Work: 40 hours per week
Contract Type: Permanent

Our client, a leading provider of facilities services in the UK, is seeking a Regional Operations Manager to lead education catering contracts and oversee day-to-day operational delivery across a multi-site portfolio.

Job Overview

This role is responsible for the operational leadership of education catering contracts, ensuring consistent service delivery, compliance and commercial performance across a geographically diverse group of sites. The position requires strong expertise in retail catering, pricing, food standards and operational excellence within an education environment.

The role will initially manage approximately 26 schools with a combined contract value of around £8m, with further growth anticipated subject to tender outcomes. The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting contract development, driving performance and building strong relationships with education stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the day-to-day catering operations across multiple education sites
• Ensure compliance with varying food standards across contracts
• Oversee three separate catering contracts (subject to tender outcomes)
• Lead, support and develop four Area Managers and the Food Portfolio Specialist
• Ensure weekly catering meetings are held to review sales and performance
• Build and maintain strong client relationships with school stakeholders
• Drive mobilisation activity and ensure full operational readiness
• Maintain full P&L accountability and support business growth initiatives

Person Specification

• Strong background in catering operations and contract management
• Proven retail catering and pricing knowledge
• Experience within education catering preferred; strong transferable multi-site experience also considered
• Demonstrable experience of managing and developing client relationships
• Confident, professional and presentable stakeholder engagement style
• Strong people management capability
• High level of commercial awareness with sound P&L understanding
• Full UK driving licence with willingness to travel to sites