Catering Manager

Are you ready to shape the future of culinary excellence at one of the UK’s premier independent schools? We are on the lookout for a dynamic and skilled Catering Manager to lead our catering operations across both the Junior and Senior Schools at Edinburgh Academy. This pivotal role involves ensuring the delivery of high-quality meals that meet both our rigorous standards and client satisfaction, while also managing a dedicated team of 20, including two Head Chefs.

As the Catering Manager, you will report to the Contract Manager for day-to-day operations and the Senior Account Manager for strategic guidance. Your mission will be to seamlessly blend culinary innovation with operational efficiency, ensuring every meal served not only delights but also adheres to the highest standards of food safety and allergen management.

Situated in the historic and vibrant city of Edinburgh, this role provides the unique opportunity to influence the nutritional experiences of young minds in a bustling academic environment. If you are passionate about service excellence, thrive in fast-paced settings, and are a leader who can inspire a team to achieve great results, we invite you to join us at Edinburgh Academy, where your vision will help set the standard for culinary excellence in educational catering.

Sodexo and our clients are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults within a regulated activity. This role will require applicants to undergo screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and/ or Disclosure Scotland.  

What you’ll do:

• Continually monitor all food standards, to ensure that they are to the required client and Sodexo expectations and as per contract
• Monitor all food hygiene and health and safety standards, to ensure they are maintained to the required client and Sodexo expectation as outlined by Safeguard.
• To ensure that all food is prepared with due care and attention, particularly in regard to customers’ special dietary requirements: for example, nut, dairy or wheat allergies.
•  To ensure that regular and effective promotions and special days/street days occur twice termly

  For a full list of responsibilities please view the attached job description

What you bring:

Essential Criteria

• Strong level of literacy and numeracy
• Experienced business manager who has operated in a multi-site environment
• Experience of managing an overall budget with diverse functional components (i.e. catering, cleaning, retail, and hospitality.)
• Highly effective communication and interpersonal skills
• Clear and effective leadership style
• Ability to analyse problems analytically, develop opportunities and implement innovative solutions and approaches
• Strong ability to increase individual effectiveness through leadership, motivation, communication, coaching and training
• Excellent time management and organisational skills
• Computer literate
• Able to demonstrate positive attitude to self-development; willingness to learn in role and identify own training needs as appropriate
• High level of self-motivation
• Strong ability to build professional partnerships and communicate at all levels, particularly at senior client levels
• Ability to set high standards, achievable through striving for continuous improvement
• Ability to act on own initiative and also to work effectively as part of a team
• Flexible approach to role
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Desirable Criteria

• Contract catering experience
• Relevant higher level qualification in functional specialities (i.e. catering, facilities management)
• Experience of managing a large team
• Able to successfully implement changes
• Knowledge of Safer Recruitment and working in Educational establishments
• Hold a personal driving license 

 What we offer: 

Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it’s a chance to be part of something greater. You’ll belong in a company and team that values you for you; you’ll act with purpose and have an impact through your everyday actions; and you’ll be able to thrive in your own way. In addition, we offer:

• Flexible and dynamic work environment
• Competitive compensation
• Access to ongoing training and development programs
• Countless opportunities to grow within the company