Operations Manager, University, 12 Month Maternity Cover Fixed Term Contract, £48,000, London
We are seeking an experienced and proactive Operations Manager to oversee the delivery of high-quality hospitality and front of house services. This is an exciting opportunity for a confident leader to drive service excellence, manage key contracts, and ensure seamless operations across catering and reception teams. Working for a leading University in London and based at their main campus you will report to the Head of Hospitality Services and manage a team of 10 plus in front of house. This is a 12 month Maternity Cover contract and a great opportunity to become a key part of a dynamic and customer focused team. This is a Monday to Friday role, 9:00am-5:00pm but, as this is a seven day per week operation, there will occasionally be a need for you to work a Saturday if there is specific event taking place.
Responsibilities will include:
- Leading the day-to-day management of the Front of House team, ensuring exceptional service delivery for staff, students, and visitors
- Overseeing the catering contract, monitoring service quality and financial performance to ensure standards are met and budgets are effectively managed
- Developing, implementing, and reviewing standard operating procedures to support efficient and professional hospitality services
- Providing leadership for the Front of House team, including rota oversight and ensuring optimal staffing
- Collaborating closely with colleagues across Events, Hospitality, and Estates teams to support internal and external events to the highest standards
- Maintaining compliance with all Health & Safety requirements, including food hygiene standards
- Periodically auditing catering services and using feedback to drive continuous improvement
- Supporting recruitment, training, and development of team members, fostering a culture of excellence and customer focus
- There will be some cross campus travel in this role within London
About You - You will have a friendly and approachable manner with a good working knowledge of MS Office. A “coaching and developing” approach when dealing with colleagues and students, plus the ability to work in a collegiate way would be an advantage.
Experience needed:
- Proven experience managing catering and/or front of house operations in a busy, customer-facing environment
- Degree in Events, Hospitality or a relevant discipline
- Experience of delivering events and hospitality services to a high standard
- Experience of managing and developing a large team in a front of house or venue capacity
- Knowledge and experience of security functions across a large complex estate
- Knowledge of event or venue security
- Strong 3rd party contract management and budget monitoring skills
- Excellent leadership and line management experience, with the ability to motivate and develop teams and achieve financial targets
- Knowledge of Health & Safety and food hygiene regulations – IOSH trained
- Knowledge of licensing legislation
- Flexible and collaborative approach, with the ability to work across multiple teams and manage services over a 7-day operation
- Strong communication and organisational skills, with a focus on delivering outstanding customer service
- Duty management experience
This is an excellent role for someone who enjoys working in a dynamic environment and is passionate about creating a positive experience for all stakeholders.