Principal Catering Manager

Your tasks

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Principal Catering Manager to provide strategic and operational leadership for a large and diverse School Meals Service across Rotherham. This senior management role is pivotal in ensuring the delivery of high-quality, compliant, and financially sustainable catering services across a substantial portfolio of schools.

Day-to-day of the role

• Lead and manage multi-site catering operations across the borough.
• Provide direct line management and leadership to Catering Managers.
• Ensure compliance with food safety legislation, allergen management procedures, health and safety requirements, and safeguarding responsibilities.
• Manage budgets, financial forecasting, income generation opportunities, and cost controls.
• Monitor performance against service standards, KPIs, and contractual requirements.
• Support workforce planning, recruitment, employee development, and succession planning.
• Lead on service improvement initiatives and operational change programmes.
• Manage complex operational issues, customer concerns, and service complaints.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with headteachers, academy trusts, partners, and other stakeholders.
• Support business growth, service modernisation, and future service development.

Requirements

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Substantial experience in school catering services, local authority catering operations, contract catering, large-scale food service operations, and multi-site operational management.
• Leadership of large and geographically dispersed teams.
• Significant operational management experience.
• Strong financial and budget management skills.
• Experience of managing service performance and compliance.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Experience of leading change and continuous improvement programmes.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Essential Qualifications:
• Level 3 Food Safety / Food Hygiene qualification.
• Health and Safety qualification (e.g., IOSH Managing Safely or equivalent).
• Management or Leadership qualification (or equivalent experience).
• Allergen Awareness training.

What we offer

• Opportunity to lead a high-profile school catering service.
• Significant stakeholder engagement and responsibility for service performance.
• Influence on future service delivery and improvement programmes.
• Mileage reimbursement at 55 pence per mile for approved business travel.

How to apply

To apply for this Principal Catering Manager position, please submit your CV by clicking Apply Now.

Other

Principal Catering Manager

• Rate: £31.98 per hour via Umbrella
• Location: Rotherham (Borough-wide, multi-site role)
• Contract: Temporary / Interim Assignment
• Hours: 37 hours per week