Regional Operations Manager

Regional Operations Manager

Salary: £60,000 – £65,000 + Car Allowance + Paid Mileage + Bonus

Location: M3/M4 Corridor (Basingstoke, Ascot, Wembley, Bournemouth)

Contract: Monday- Friday, 40 Hours per week

Reporting to: Regional Operations Director

The Opportunity

Our client is a market-leading and rapidly growing contract catering specialist within the education sector. Known for bridging the gap between high-street food trends and school dining, they create exciting, creative, and nutritious food experiences for children across the UK.

Due to continued expansion, they are seeking a driven Regional Operations Manager to lead their South East portfolio. This is a high-level leadership role designed for an expert operator who can manage multiple Operations Managers, maintain exceptional client relationships, and drive commercial performance across a diverse region.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Oversee and guide a team of Operations Managers to ensure full compliance with contractual specifications. You will be responsible for ensuring services consistently meet or exceed client and company standards.

• Financial Management: Collaborate with senior leadership to set financial and commercial targets. You will analyse regional performance against budgets and implement actionable solutions for any variances.

• Operational Compliance: Track and manage regional adherence to the company’s Business Management Systems, ensuring all QHSE (Quality, Health, Safety, and Environment) standards are rigorously maintained.

• Team Development: Lead, coach, and assess direct-report managers using formal appraisal processes to drive professional growth and high-performance results.

• Business Growth: Actively contribute to the sales and retention process, assisting with bid preparations and high-stakes presentations to secure and maintain contracts.

• Client Excellence: Act as a senior point of contact for clients, managing expectations and building trusted, long-term partnerships.

The Ideal Profile

• Industry Background: Currently operating in a multi-site leadership role within the hospitality or contract catering sector (Education catering experience is desirable).

• Proven Leadership: A skilled coach who can instil a passion for high standards in their team and foster a collaborative, results-driven environment.

• Commercial Acumen: Deep experience in P&L management, budgetary control, and identifying opportunities for service enhancements to protect margins.

• Communication: Outstanding interpersonal skills with the ability to lead high-level client meetings and manage complex challenges with a solution-focused mindset.

• Organisational Skills: Proactive, IT-literate, and comfortable working independently across a large geographical area.

What’s On Offer

• Financials: Competitive salary up to £65k + Car Allowance + Paid Mileage + Performance Bonus.

• Security: Company Pension, Private Healthcare, and Life Insurance.

• Work-Life Balance: 5 weeks annual leave plus a day off for your birthday.

• Career Trajectory: Join one of the UK’s fastest-growing independent businesses with "no ceiling" on career progression and access to fantastic learning and development programmes.

Note: As this role involves working within the education sector, an Enhanced DBS disclosure will be required.

Pineapple Recruitment is acting as a Recruitment Agency on behalf of our client for this vacancy.