Operations Manager - Cambridge & St Albans

Job Title: Operations Manager

Location: Cambridge and St Albans Area

Full-Time | £50,000 - £55,000 per year + Bonus + Car Allowance

The Opportunity

Our Client is a market-leading contract caterer specialising in school food, combining deep knowledge of the education sector with high-street food trends to create fantastic food experiences for children. Due to successful and rapid growth, our Client is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead catering operations across a portfolio of Primary and Secondary school contracts in the Cambridge and St Albans area.

Key Responsibilities

• Contract Management: Ensure all contracted services are adhered to, delivered, and enhanced to meet and exceed client and customer expectations.

• Financial Oversight: Continually review contract performance and profitability, strictly controlling costs without compromising service quality.

• Culinary Standards: Ensure food is of the highest standard and aligned with current high-street trends.

• Team Leadership: Manage, support, and foster the development, progress, and performance of line-reporting managers, maintaining high engagement levels.

• Business Growth & Compliance: Support the sales function in retaining existing business and obtaining new business. Ensure compliance with all Health & Safety and Hygiene procedures and standards.

What Our Client Is Looking For

• Experience: Previous experience in education and managing multiple sites is required. Currently working in the contract catering/education sector in a similar multi-site role.

• Leadership: Ability to support, coach, and develop teams while instilling a passion for meeting high standards and excellent service.

• Communication: Excellent communication skills, enabling you to lead client meetings, manage expectations, and overcome challenges.

• Operational Approach: Service-focused and process-led, ensuring standards, procedures, and systems are maintained and followed.

• Skills: Excellent computer skills, the ability to work under your own initiative, and a desire to learn and achieve.

Why Apply?

• Career Growth: As one of the UK's fastest-growing independent businesses, there is an endless opportunity to develop your career.

• Development: Fantastic learning and development programmes with the ability to gain qualifications and dedicated support.

• Total Rewards: Competitive salary and car allowance/car, plus a brand new benefits programme including:

  • Private healthcare.

  • Enhanced parental leave.

  • The opportunity to spend your birthday as a non-working day.

Note: Our client expects all staff to share their commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children/young people, and an enhanced DBS disclosure will be sought by the company.

Pineapple Recruitment is acting as a recruitment agency on behalf of our client for this position.

Contact us about this vacancy

Recruiter: Dennis Bambury

Phone number: 07483 451198

Email: dennis.bambury@pineapple-recruitment.co.uk