Principal Catering Manager

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.

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.

Benefits:

• 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.