Catering Manager

Job Introduction

Are you a financially astute catering manager with proven track record in contract catering? Do you have great team leadership skills? We want to hear from you!

Due to an internal move we are looking for a Catering Manager to lead a 26 people team on our prestigious corporate client site in Dundalk. The position will be best suited for an individual with great team management skills from a high level corporate environment.

Role Responsibility

• Maximise profitable sales by the introduction and maintenance of food offers across the site.  Actively seek and identify opportunities for business growth within the contract and external market.
• Control costs such as labour, expenses, food in line with budget. Review rota’s regularly to ensure efficiency is in place across the catering operation. Deliver budgeted profit and turnover for account/s as agreed with line manager
• Conduct regular reviews of current operating costs, (margins and labour) to ensure that Sodexo is achieving optimum profit.
• Comply with all company health and safety procedures, site rules and statutory regulations including Health and Safety, Food Hygiene, Safe working Practices, COSHH, Fire.
• To report and take positive action regarding customer comments or complaints, to establish and maintain the standards and integrity of the service offer and contracted SLA’s/KPI’s at all times., thus ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction.
• To ensure that the companies accountancy, documentation and administration procedures are carried out as per Eprophit trading and ROL requirements and that necessary returns are completed in an accurate and timely manner.
• Manage the entire catering team, performing regular performance reviews with direct reports and taking positive action where needed with training and development.
• Ensure the effective delivery of all hospitality requirements, evaluate the offering on a continuous basis and introduce new offers and products in line with market trends.
• To develop and grow strong relationships with individuals at all levels within the company and client organisation.
• Responsible for recruitment and management of unit personnel, including personal development, reward and recognition, appraisals, Health & Safety, and communication of shared goals.
• To ensure the premises are kept to agreed level of cleanliness, and maintain safe working practices
• To control expenditure undertaken as part of the contract including payment of wages, overtime, managing absence, bonus and other employee related costs

The Ideal Candidate

• Track record of success in a similar senior role
• Proven experience of developing positive client relationships and excellent client relationship management

• Broad commercial experience and business acumen and knowledge of external industry developments
• Experienced in leading company initiatives and change management process
• Experience in identifying and implementing new business initiatives
• Experience in leading and managing a high performing team
• Strong communication and negotiation skills
• Passionate about fresh quality food
• Experience in hospitality/functions to the highest standards
• Experience in managing difficult situations either team or client led
• Good organisational skills, and time management essential due to size of operation on site
• Experience working in a standards/compliance environment
• Self-motivated with the proven ability to work well under pressure
• The ability to set and achieve standards and operate to performance criteria (KPI’s)
• The ability to implement new initiatives to benefit the client and wider business circle

About the Company

In the UK and Ireland, Sodexo employs some 35,000 employees to deliver integrated facilities management services to clients at over 2,000 locations in the corporate, healthcare, education, leisure, defence and justice sectors. With an annual turnover of over £1bn, we provide everything from catering, cleaning and reception to security, laboratory and grounds maintenance services, enabling our clients to focus on their core business.

We are building on our support to the Armed Forces community through the development of specific pathways within our recruitment process to  support ex-forces personnel and reservists, those applying for jobs with us who meet the ideal candidate criteria for the role advertised are guaranteed to progress to the selection process