Catering Manager

The Riverside Group; Greater London; On-site; GBP 39,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading social housing organization is seeking an experienced Catering Manager in Greater London. The role involves managing catering operations across various sites, ensuring compliance with food hygiene standards, and overseeing quality control. Applicants should have a solid background in relationship management and relevant certifications. This position offers a competitive salary and the opportunity to work in a dynamic environment, supporting a vital service within the community.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Investment in learning and personal development

Wide range of benefits

Qualifications

• Must have experience of managing small catering operations.
• Requires proven experience in relationship management in catering.
• Knowledge of food hygiene and health and safety standards is essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead contact for catering contractor and ensure requirements are met.
• Assist in planning and developing catering offers across services.
• Oversee food quality and control levels of products and services.

Skills

Experience in managing catering operations

Relationship management

Effective communication skills

Organizational skills

Food hygiene standards knowledge

Microsoft Office skills

Education

Food Hygiene Certificate Level 2

Food Hygiene Certificate Level 3

Job description

Job Title: Catering Manager Contract Type: Permanent Salary: £39,989.78 + £4,000 London Allowance (£41,240.06 achieved after 18 months successful performance in the role) Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week Working Pattern: Monday to Friday (may include weekends) Location: Lambeth

About you

• Experience of managing and overseeing small catering operations across various sites.
• Proven experience of relationship management within a catering operational environment.
• Proven track record of effective stakeholder management, both internally and external to the organisation.
• Up-to-date knowledge of food hygiene and health and safety standards in relation to delivering and maintaining catering operations.
• Proven delivering of training and coaching on food hygiene standards.
• Excellent communication skills and being a team player with influencing skills.
• Excellent organisation, time management and effective Microsoft skills: Word, Excel & Teams.
• Food Hygiene Certificate Level 2.
• Willingness to travel to multiple sites.

Why Riverside?

(One Housing is a part of Riverside) At Riverside, we’re a housing association with a difference – enhancing the everyday for all our customers. For 90 years, we’ve been revitalising neighbourhoods and supporting communities by providing the homes they need to live full, fulfilling and rewarding lives. We have a portfolio of over 75,000 affordable residential and retirement homes across the UK. Our work ranges from homelessness services to social care, employment support to retirement living, and we need the best people on board to help us.

Working with us, you’ll enjoy

• Flexible working options available.
• Investment in your learning, personal development and technology.
• A wide range of benefits.

Key Responsibilities

• Contract Liaison – Lead contact for the catering contractor to ensure contractual requirements are met across all sites. Hold and attend regular meetings and feedback on any contractual issue.
• Planning and Development – Assist in planning and developing the catering offer across all services with the Care Services Manager.
• Quality Control – Oversee food and beverage “reheat and preparation” service to ensure the highest quality. Analyse and control quality levels of products and services.
• Menu Development – Work with customers and catering contractor on updating menus and beverage offering.
• Kitchen Equipment – Ensure the catering colleagues in each site are aware of the safe use and maintenance of all kitchen equipment. Oversee upkeep of equipment, dealing with any repairs, liaison around maintenance agreements and purchasing replacements of all items.
• Catering Delivery – Ensure consistent and quality driven catering services by:
  • Ordering meals & beverages – Responsible for the weekly pre-ordering of meals and beverages as per our customer requirements (including any specific dietary requirements) with the relevant catering contractor.
  • Catering Supplies – Order all catering supplies as required and work with suppliers to ensure standards are maintained and ensure best value for money.
  • Wastage – Ensure colleagues are aware of wastage and implement checks and protocols to manage this.
  • Stock – Maintain inventory and stock control, ordering and replenishing supplies at all times.
  • Financial Controls – Oversee budgetary responsibilities and ensure costs are controlled at all times, whilst ensuring that the catering operation is financially viable.
• Operational Delivery – Build effective relationships with on-site Managers and support them in ensuring the catering colleagues are delivering the catering service “with pride” and as per our operational, food hygiene and health & safety standards by:
  • Developing induction and training plans and carrying out on-the-job training for catering colleagues.
  • Carrying out monthly visits to each location and carrying out checks to ensure service delivery is at the required standard and as per statutory standards.
  • Ensure colleagues are competent in “re-heating and presentation” protocols, presenting the meals as per the menu standards and contractual requirements.
  • Support in the catering delivery to ensure dining areas are clean, presentable and inviting to customers that delivers an excellent customer experience.
  • Support and assist onsite Managers with recruitment, colleague engagement as and where required.
  • Create a supportive and positive work environment with the on-site Managers and catering colleagues and be the “SME” relating to catering activities, dealing with any catering issues to ensure there is a smooth catering service.
  • Line managing catering staff at sites with limited operational teams – currently including Bankhouse – ensuring they are effectively supported and performance managed and consistently deliver a high quality service. At other sites, catering staff will be managed by the respective operational site managers where capacity permits.
• Customer Involvement – Involve customers in menu planning and seeking regular feedback. Dealing with any complaints or suggestions and resolving them with the appropriate party.
• Food Safety – Review, monitor and audit all relevant food safety documentation, working with catering colleagues to ensure this is completed to the appropriate standard and filed appropriately.
• Health and Safety – Ensure statutory standards are met in Kitchen and dining areas, including correct use of chemicals/equipment and maintaining cleanliness. Carry out regular audits and monitor to ensure compliance.
• Risk Management – Work in partnership with onsite Managers in relation to any identified risks to ensure compliance. Ensure colleagues and onsite Managers are aware of reporting requirements relating to any incidents relating to customers. Lead and support on these where necessary.
• Partners and Stakeholders – Work and maintain contact with local Environmental Health and other stakeholders. Keep abreast of any “up‑and‑coming” changes or best practice.

Other Information

• The role is a 5-day a week role, but you may be required to work flexibly if required to meet the requirements of the role. This is a located role, and it is expected the role will be primarily based on site and visiting all services on a regular basis.
• Undertake regular training and take responsibility for continuous development to enable you to deliver your role safely.
• Use the Lone Worker system as and when necessary.
• Ensure customers are safe at all times – carrying out all of your duties within Riverside’s Policy and Procedure framework e.g. food hygiene, health & safety, safeguarding, dignity at work, GDPR, cash handling, etc.
• Deliver your role in line with Riverside company values – “Our Riverside Way.”
• Participate in team meetings, attend regular supervisions and reflective practice sessions.
• From time to time you may be required to undertake additional duties and responsibilities in consultation with your Line Manager.

Essential

• Experience of managing and overseeing small catering operations across various sites.
• Proven experience of relationship management within a catering operational environment.
• Proven track record of effective stakeholder management, both internally and external to the organisation.
• Have up-to-date knowledge of food hygiene and health and safety standards in relation to delivering and maintaining catering operations.
• Proven delivering of training and coaching on food hygiene standards.
• Proven track record of monitoring and auditing catering statutory standards (in relation to food hygiene and health & safety matters relating to catering operations).
• Excellent communication skills and being a team player with influencing skills.
• Have excellent organisation, time management and effective “Microsoft skills: Word, Excel & Teams.”
• Food Hygiene Certificate Level 2.
• Willingness to travel to multiple sites.

Desirable

• Food Hygiene Certificate Level 3.
• Previous experience of working within a CQC setting or Care & Support Environment.
• UK driving license.

About Us

Riverside is one of the UK’s leading not-for-profit social housing and regeneration organisations, owning or managing around 75,000 homes from Irvine to Kent. We are a leading provider of supported housing services, particularly for those affected by homelessness, and our track record of transforming lives and revitalising neighbourhoods dates back over 90 years. We have plans to build over 15,000 affordable homes over the next decade.