Head Of Operations

Head of Operations - £75,000 per annum

We are seeking an ambitious, highly organised and commercially minded Head of Operations to lead a diverse portfolio of four sites across London and the south.

This is an exciting opportunity for an operational leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment, combining multi-site operational management with significant project delivery. You will oversee four sites of varying sizes, supporting General Managers to deliver outstanding service, strong financial performance and excellent client relationships. 

What you'll be doing as Head of Operations: 

• Take overall responsibility for the operational performance of four contract catering sites across London and Sussex.
• Lead and coordinate major projects, including wider EMEA initiatives, ensuring projects are delivered effectively and to agreed objectives.
• Directly manage and support four General Managers, driving accountability, developing talent and building a high-performing operational team.
• Build strong, trusted relationships with clients, ensuring expectations are understood, challenges are addressed proactively and service delivery remains consistently high.
• Drive standards across food quality, service, compliance, health and safety, and the overall employee dining experience.
• Work collaboratively with finance and site teams to monitor performance, manage budgets and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and profitability.
• Partner with the wider SLT to deliver joined-up operational and strategic objectives.
• Identify opportunities to streamline processes, improve ways of working and deliver measurable improvements across the portfolio.

We are looking for a confident and proactive leader who can balance strategic thinking with hands-on delivery. You will be exceptionally organised, comfortable managing multiple priorities and able to turn plans into action at pace.

As Head of Operations you'll bring:

• Experience within Business & Industry (B&I) contract catering, staff dining or a similar foodservice environment.
• Strong operational leadership skills, with the ability to motivate, develop and challenge teams.
• Excellent project management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Outstanding client-facing skills and the confidence to build relationships at all levels.
• A commercially aware mindset, with an understanding of financial performance, service standards and operational efficiency.
• The ability to influence, communicate and collaborate effectively across multiple functions and locations.
• Experience managing multiple sites would be highly desirable. However, we are also open to an ambitious General Manager ready to take the next step in their career, particularly someone with strong organisational skills, excellent client management capabilities and a proven ability to deliver results.

If you are someone who builds strong client partnerships, empowers General Managers and consistently gets things done, apply today! 

We ensure you're rewarded for all your hard work, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:

• Contributory pension scheme
• Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes
• Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits
• Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more
• Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and many more
• Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster
• Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands
• Un-wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes
• You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families

About Us

Restaurant Associates provides brilliant hospitality through our food, drink and services. We work with our partners and collaborate with our clients to achieve great things together. Every day, our teams of passionate hospitality professionals strive for excellence in delivering employee dining and hospitality to some of the UK's leading workplace as well as inspiring exceptional experiences in iconic cultural and heritage destinations.

Job Reference: com/0910/42659001/52838571/SU #RA Group

Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive - because diversity is our strength!