Catering and Hospitality Manager
18 days ago
Wycombe Marsh
Main purpose of the job: As Catering and Hospitality Manager, you support the Head of Catering and Hospitality in the delivery of our food and beverage services across three sites, managing an operation with approximately £1m annual turnover and a team of around 30 colleagues. This is a hands-on role focused on: Delivering an outstanding student experience Maintaining a broad, exciting and inclusive offer Supporting student-led events and SU activity Driving strong commercial performance Ensuring consistently high operational standards There will be opportunity to progress based on the projected growth of the business and you will play a key role in balancing commercial sustainability with our core purpose: reinvesting in services and opportunities that benefit students. Responsible to: Head of Catering and Hospitality Main Duties and Responsibilities: Managing student focused operations Deliver welcoming, inclusive and high quality catering and hospitality services across three sites. Create vibrant, safe spaces that enhance student life and community. Ensure a varied, relevant and value driven food and beverage offer that reflects student feedback and trends. Maintain excellent presentation, cleanliness and service standards at all times. Provide flexible, professional hospitality support for SU events, societies, officer initiatives and commercial bookings. Driving commercial performance Assist the Head of Catering and Hospitality in managing a £1m annual turnover, ensuring delivery against agreed income and margin targets. Monitor and report on gross profit, labour cost control and overhead management. Maintain robust stock control and waste reduction measures. Use sales data and insight to shape pricing, promotions and product development. Identify opportunities to grow income while maintaining affordability for students. Building and inspiring teams Manage, develop and motivate a team of approximately 30 staff across multiple sites. Foster a positive, inclusive and supportive team culture aligned with SU values. Oversee recruitment, induction, rotas, performance management and development. Ensure staffing reflects trading patterns and event needs. Support colleagues to grow skills and confidence within a fast-paced environment. Championing customer experience and inclusion Place student experience at the heart of decision-making. Actively seek and respond to student feedback to continuously improve services. Work collaboratively with elected officers, student groups and SU colleagues. Support the Head of Catering and Hospitality in ensuring the offer is inclusive, accessible and reflective of our diverse student community. Standards, compliance and accountability Maintain full compliance with food safety, allergen, licensing and health and safety legislation. Embed clear operational controls and consistent procedures across all sites. Conduct regular checks to ensure standards are maintained. Provide accurate, transparent financial reporting as required. General Standards Deputise for the Head of Catering and Hospitality as required. Contribute to the aims of the Union supporting other staff and departments, working on cross departmental projects and from time to time helping where required to ensure the Students Union fulfils its mission. Have a flexible approach to work and undertake any other duties commensurate with the level of appointment deemed relevant by the Head of Catering and Hospitality. Attend meetings, conferences and training events as required. Aspire to the highest standards of customer care at all times. Respect the democratic structure of the Students Union at all times. Abide by the Unions constitution, and University and Union policies and procedures at all times. Take a full and active part in the Unions environmental initiatives with particular regard to taking personal responsibility for recycling and energy conservation. Be sensitive when handling confidential information and ensure adherence to Data Protection Policies. Undertake performance appraisal in line with the Union procedure. Portray the Students' Union in a positive, proactive, and professional manner. Person Specification The successful applicant will be able to demonstrate the following: Education, Qualifications and Experience Level 3 Food Safety (or willingness to obtain) Personal Licence Holder (or willingness to obtain) Relevant management qualification or equivalent experience Knowledge and Experience Experience managing catering or hospitality operations. Experience overseeing multi-site or complex environments. Proven responsibility for budgets and financial performance. Experience managing and developing teams of 20+ staff. Experience of kitchen operations and food preparation. Experience supporting events, hospitality or licensed operations. Knowledge of food safety, allergen management and health and safety legislation Skills Excellent communication and inter-personal skills. Highly organised with a keen attention to detail and a commitment to continuous improvement. Strong commercial awareness with the ability to manage tight financial controls. Exceptional customer service leadership Confidence analysing performance data and taking action. Strong organisational and operational planning capability. Other Passionate about improving the student experience. Commitment to equal opportunities and inclusive practice. Approachable and people focused. Commercially minded and performance driven. Ability to work in a student-led, democratic environment. Customer focused approach with a proactive attitude. High standards of integrity and ethics. Resilient and comfortable working in a fast paced environment. Flexible in approach to shift work, including evenings and weekends where required. TPBN1_UKCT