Operations Director
| Posting date: | 29 August 2025 |
|---|---|
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 28 September 2025 |
| Location: | Earley, England, RG6 1PT |
| Company: | Holroyd Howe |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 1371786781 |
Summary
Operations Director
Home Counties
Highly Competitive Salary
Benefits:
- 33 Days holiday including bank holidays
- Car or Car allowance
- 3 volunteering days
- 3 days grandparent leave
- 24 week’s enhanced maternity leave
- Bespoke training and development opportunities
- Pension and life insurance and Private medical
- Discounts available via Perk Box, high street shops, holidays & cinema
- Wellbeing hub
- Access to employee assistance programme
- Free meals whilst at work
- Career development opportunities
- HIT Apprenticeships for all experience levels
Holroyd Howe is one of the UK’s leading contract caterers, providing fresh innovative food services solely to independent schools and colleges. We are a team of experienced professionals who tailor our catering service provision specifically to suit children of all ages in order to meet the bespoke requirements of each school.
To provide our teams with the right skills to succeed in their jobs, we invest in their training and development. Our exceptional teams of seasoned specialists customise our catering services to fit children of all ages and satisfy the unique needs of our clients.
As the culinary landscape evolves, so too does our commitment to food innovation and nutrition at Holroyd Howe.
We currently have an exciting opportunity for a talented Operations Director to develop and lead a team of Operation Managers to provide exceptional service to our clients.
This is a fantastic opportunity for an inspirational and enthusiastic Operations Director to make a name for themselves within the Food Service industry.
In return we offer support and development to grow within our business alongside a competitive salary.
Job Description
- As an Operations Director, you will play a crucial role in retaining and growing partnerships with schools, as well as optimising our business processes, improving efficiency, and driving overall operational excellence. You will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies, policies, and procedures to ensure smooth operations and achieve organisational goals. Creating value for clients and the company is key to our success.
- Develop and implement strategies to optimise operational efficiency, quality, and profitability across all catering contracts.
- Provide leadership and guidance to operational managers, fostering a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
- Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and operational metrics to evaluate performance and identify areas for improvement.
- Maintain a strong business relationship with each school and with the clients (Heads and Bursars)
- Collaborate with the sales team to support business development efforts, including client presentations, contract negotiations, and renewals.
- Address client feedback and concerns promptly, striving to resolve issues and enhance overall satisfaction.
- Ensure compliance with all relevant food safety regulations, health and safety standards, and company policies and procedures.
- Implement rigorous quality assurance measures to uphold food quality, presentation standards, and service excellence.
- Conduct regular audits and inspections to assess compliance and identify areas for corrective action.
- Work closely with the finance department to develop budgets, forecasts, and financial targets for catering operations.
- Monitor financial performance against targets, analysing variances and implementing cost control measures where necessary.
- Identify opportunities for revenue growth and cost savings, driving initiatives to improve profitability.
- Lead initiatives to enhance operational processes, systems, and technologies, driving innovation and efficiency gains.
- Foster a culture of continuous learning and development within the operations team, providing training and mentoring to support career growth.
- Stay abreast of industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies, incorporating relevant advancements into operational strategies.
Qualifications
- Thrive on getting the best out of people and maximising commercial opportunities.
- Ability to provide coaching, mentoring, and training opportunities to develop leadership capabilities and support career progression, and succession planning amongst your team.
- Excellent negotiating skills
- Financially and commercially astute
- Previous experience in an Operations Director role ideally in Food Service
- Strong understanding of report writing and financial management.
- Excellent management and communication skills
- Excellent delegation and influencing skills.
- Able to demonstrate your analytical approach to problem-solving.
- Ability to devise and implement strategies to benefit both the company and the client.
- Ability to display a real passion for food and customer service.
Additional Information
Holroyd Howe Values
People First
We’re a company of individuals, united in doing our best for our clients.
Great Food Always
Using only the best ingredients, our food is fresh, authentic and tailored to each school, age group, and specific needs and preferences.
Food Education
We educate pupils through food, encouraging them to understand and develop their own personal tastes and make informed food choices.
Respect in everything we do
Our respectful codes of conduct inform how we behave towards our clients and customers, suppliers and business partners, and each other.
Fresh Thinking
New ideas for food, service and ways of working help us maintain our position as creative leaders in school catering.
“Holroyd Howe is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all employees to share this commitment. All roles within Holroyd Howe are regarded as regulated activity, it is an offence to apply for a role in regulated activity if you are barred from working with children, therefore we will require an Enhanced DBS which includes a Barred List check for all successful applicants. We will also require shortlisted applicants to provide appropriate information regarding any criminal offences and shortlisted applicants will be subject to an online search of public available information on suitability to work with children. “
This appointment is offered on the return of satisfactory professional references.