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Role Profile:Catering Operations Manager
Salary Grade: From £36,000 (dependant on experience)
Contract Type: Permanent
Contracted Hours: Full Time (37.5 hours) to work a 5/7 shift pattern. Includes some evening, weekend, and Bank Holiday working to support our core operation and delivery of events
Department: Commercial
Report to:Head of Commercial
Closing Date: Friday 11th April 2025
Interviews: W/C 14th April 2025
Compton Verney: connecting people with art, nature, and creativity
Compton Verney is Britains leading art space and parkland. Were home to six world-class art collections, a programme of exciting exhibitions, a sculpture park and a café with acres of gardens and meadows to explore and enjoy. And all of this in a Robert Adam house, set in a Capability Brown landscape. Were a space where all sorts of things can happen.
Were a charity that connects people with art, nature and creativity. And we do this in our own special way collaborative, sustainable, bold, inclusive and fun. With so much going on here, and with such a warm welcome, we offer our visitors a day-full of joy.
Our ambition is to move beyond sustainability to regeneration. Through art, we aim to help the world to renew, restore and grow culturally, emotionally, and environmentally. We want to become a model place of regeneration through art. Our current strategy prioritises expanding our market, enriching our offer, and strengthening our own organisation.
The RoleThe Catering Operations Manager oversees the in-house retail and events catering operation at Compton Verney, ensuring outstanding levels of customer service, high quality food, and world class standards. Our popular café is a part of Compton Verneys core offer and provides fresh, seasonal, and locally sourced food 6 days a week, 10am 4,30pm. The catering team also support our thriving hires and events business by providing working breakfasts, buffets, lunches, and banqueting to a wide range of clients.
Reporting directly to the Head of Commercial, you will be responsible for developing our overall food strategy and aligning it with the organisations goals and business plan. You will administer and evaluate all catering practices, leading the team to ensure the service is safe, financially sustainable, and environmentally friendly.
The successful candidate will have strong catering management experience and leadership skills, an entrepreneurial attitude, excellent customer service skills and experience of working within a busy commercial environment. They will also have a strong value base that promotes training and development and have the capability to manage time and resources effectively.
ResponsibilitiesPeople ManagementLead and manage the performance of the Catering team, fostering a positive and collaborative work environment
Ensure the team are fully briefed and prepared for any additional activity taking place
Ensure that ad-hoc and daily staffing rotas are planned well in advance to meet the visitor demand
Plan and deliver training required of the team
Set clear expectations with the team so that deadlines are met, and time is managed effectively
Work to the Compton Verney values and behaviours
Demonstrate clear effective communication skills that support the team to achieve results and generate feedback
OperationsAdhere to financial policies and procedures
Plan and deliver against profit and loss accounts, and monitor performance to make improvements
Ensure that the team are aware of, and motivated by, sales targets
Ensure the kitchen team are monitoring waste and margins across the food offer
Source and meet with suppliers to ensure the best prices are negotiated
Meet with internal and external stakeholders
Ensure high standards across the catering offers are maintained
Ensure all health and safety compliance checks are completed
Spend time in all areas of the business e.g. kitchen/FOH/events
Design and costs menus and the catering offer, alongside the kitchen team
PlanningMeet with clients and internal teams to plan and discuss upcoming events and their requirements; provide them with costed quotations in a timely fashion
Attend weekly operations meetings and feed back to the team
Attend fortnightly managers meetings, as part of the organisations management team
Attend networking events as an advocate of Compton Verney
May be required to deputise for the Head of Commercial in their absence
At times, the post holder may be required to undertake other duties as required.Person SpecificationEssential
Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate and understanding of food safety regulations
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Experience in working in a fast-paced kitchen
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Must have chef experience and knowledge of current food and drink trends
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Strong customer service focus
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Excellent written and verbal communication skills and good, active listener
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Proven leadership skills and ability to motivate and manage all levels of staff.
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Driven and pro-active individual
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Competent in use of IT with experience in database management, financial systems and record keeping, with a willingness to upskill in specific software
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Ability to work regular weekends and evenings
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We value diversity in background, experience and learning style and welcome a broad range of people to help build the future of Compton Verney.
We are working on a long-term commitment to ensuring equity of opportunity at Compton Verney alongside being an Equal Opportunity Employer. We want to ensure all our employees thrive in every part of our organisation and believe that inclusion is everyone's responsibility.
What we offerAt Compton Verney we connect people with Art, Nature and Creativity.We are the leading visual arts destination in the heart of the country.We trigger positive change for artists, audiences and communities by encouraging play, inspiring debate and bringing people and ideas together Were working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong and a warm, welcoming and respectful culture for staff, volunteers and visitors so its important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference.
We offer:
Pension scheme of up to 6% basic salary
Staff Membership and Discount
Charity workers discounts i.e. gym memberships, shopping discount codes, insurance discounts
Holiday allowance up to 28 days relating to length of service
Flexible working whenever possible
Access to a wellbeing portal, App and Employee assistance programme (EAP)
Free parking
Eyecare Vouchers
Life Assurance
Signed up to More than a Moment Pledge
Training and Development opportunities
How to apply
Please complete a covering letter expressing why you are suitable for the role, referencing the job description and person specification to us via:
https://recruitment.evalu-8.com/public/recruitment_post?id=QWFRRWoyZmdJUnBPODlrUUZIRWhZQT09&org_id=T0VZYUsyNDhaak41cnM4UjYxa3prdz09
If you have any questions about the role, hours, or need any additional support with your application, please contact us
Our Mission, Vision, Purpose and Values
Mission
We connect people with art, nature and creativity.
Vision
Compton Verney is the leading visual arts destination in the heart of the country. We trigger positive change for artists, audiences and communities by encouraging play, inspiring debate and bringing people and ideas together.
Purpose
Compton Verney is an extraordinary, eclectic, creative experience. A place for the curious that inspires, delights, challenges and rejuvenates.
Values
We are COLLABORATIVE working with artists, audiences and communities; exploring the historic and the contemporary, the indoor and outdoor.
We harness opportunities to be environmentally responsible and SUSTAINABLE.
We are BOLD, purposeful and confident and think, make and learn
We are INCLUSIVE, creating a warm, welcoming and respectful culture
We are FUN and want everyone to have a great experience of Compton Verney.
Compton Verney is working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong and a warm, welcoming and respectful culture for staff, volunteers and visitors so its important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference.
