Operations ManagerLocation: Northumbria University
Business: Chartwells – part of Compass Group UK & Ireland
About the roleWe have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Operations Manager to join our senior management team at Northumbria University, working in partnership with our client to deliver outstanding food, hospitality and event catering experiences for students, staff and visitors.
This is a key strategic role, responsible for operational excellence, commercial performance, customer experience and people leadership across a busy, multi-outlet university campus. If you’re passionate about food, love delivering great events and thrive in a fast-paced environment, we’d love to hear from you.
Key responsibilitiesOperational & Compliance Leadership
Ensure full compliance with food safety, health & safety, brand, legal and contractual standards, maintaining excellent audit results
Implement and monitor operational standards consistently across all units
Proactively identify and mitigate operational risks
Ensure accurate reporting and adherence to company and university policies
People Leadership
Lead, support and develop operational teams through clear communication, coaching and visible leadership
Create a positive, inclusive and high-performing team culture
Manage recruitment, retention, succession planning and absence management
Develop management capability through regular 1:1s, performance reviews and development plans
Senior Management Team Contribution
Act as a key member of the Senior Management Team, contributing to strategy and decision-making
Collaborate with peers to deliver shared objectives
Support change initiatives and represent operations confidently with university stakeholders
Commercial Performance
Drive sales growth, cost control and labour optimisation
Analyse financial performance and implement action plans to improve margins
Support commercial strategies, promotions and events aligned to the university calendar
Ensure effective stock management, pricing and purchasing controls
Customer Experience
Champion a customer-first culture across all outlets
Use feedback and insight to continuously improve service and offer
Work closely with university stakeholders to ensure services meet evolving needs
Lead by example in delivering warm, professional service
About youYou’ll be a confident, visible leader with a genuine passion for food, people and service excellence. Comfortable engaging with students and senior stakeholders alike, you’ll bring energy, creativity and commercial focus to everything you do.
Essential experience:
Proven experience in contract catering, ideally within a multi-unit environment
Strong knowledge of food safety, health & safety and legislative compliance
Demonstrable commercial capability, including budget management and margin improvement
Excellent people management and leadership skills
Experience contributing as part of a senior management team
Clear, confident communication and stakeholder management skills
Desirable:
Experience in a higher education setting
Multi-site contract catering experience
Relevant qualification in H&S, management or commercial disciplines
Why join Chartwells?As part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, you’ll be joining a market-leading organisation that values its people, invests in development and is passionate about delivering great food and memorable experiences.
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:
Free meals
Free on-site gym
Free onsite swimming pool access
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, (url removed) 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
As part of Compass you'll help to feed people, fuel progress and forge connections in around 6,000 venues. Join us to grow your career with the industry leader, and get competitive pay, great perks and unrivalled opportunities for learning and development, at one of the UK's biggest businesses.
Job Reference: com/1812/(phone number removed)/(phone number removed)/SU #Universities & Colleges
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
