Catering Manager

About the Company:

OCS UK & Ireland is a leading facilities management company with 50,000+ colleagues and a turnover in excess of £2bn. We deliver innovative, award-winning services within facilities management, hard services, cleaning, security and catering.

Our mission is to make people and places the best they can be for our colleagues, customers and the communities we serve. Our commitment to doing business the right way is rooted in our TRUE values - Trust, Respect, Unity, and Empowerment.

About the Role:

Days of Working: This position will be based at John Howard Centre, E9, working Monday to Friday office hours with some flexibility. Weekend availability is required.

As a Catering Manager at OCS, you will lead the delivery of high-quality catering services across mental health sites in East London, Luton, and Bedfordshire, supported by a London based Chef Manager. You will ensure compliance with NHS standards and client expectations.

You will support sites in achieving NHS Exemplar status and preparing for PLACE inspections, while driving the development of sustainable, low carbon, vegetarian, and plant based menus aligned with NHS net zero goals.

The role involves leading a team to deliver a fully integrated service, monitoring quality and financial performance, and continuously improving catering provision. You will work closely with the Contract Manager, Trust teams, and dietitians to ensure services are patient focused, efficient, and compliant.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee the day to day management and delivery of catering services across multiple sites.
• Lead catering operations within mental health environments, ensuring services are responsive, inclusive, and patient focused.
• Recruit, train, develop, and motivate teams, ensuring high standards in:
  • Health & Safety
  • Food hygiene and compliance
  • Safe use of equipment
• Ensure full compliance with all relevant legislation and policies, including:
  • Health & Safety at Work Act
  • Food safety standards
  • NHS and company specific requirements
• Maintain accurate and up to date records in line with legal and company guidelines.
• Manage employee relations matters, including disciplinary and grievance procedures, in a fair, consistent, and professional manner.
• Take ownership of cost control, budgeting, and financial performance of catering operations.
• Support and lead initiatives to achieve and maintain NHS Exemplar status.
• Ensure readiness for and successful outcomes in PLACE inspections, focusing on cleanliness, food quality, and patient experience.
• Drive menu development and innovation, with a focus on:
  • Nutritionally balanced meals
  • Low carbon and sustainable menus
  • Vegetarian and plant based options
• Work collaboratively with internal stakeholders, including sustainability and clinical teams, to improve service delivery and outcomes.
• Proactively identify and resolve operational challenges in a fast paced, and sometimes reactive, environment.

Qualified Candidate:

• Right to Work in the UK and willingness to undergo a DBS check.
• Proven experience in catering management within healthcare or NHS settings (highly desirable).
• Strong understanding of:
  • NHS catering standards and patient focused services
  • PLACE inspections and audit processes
  • Sustainability and low carbon food strategies
• Experience managing multi site operations, ideally within mental health or healthcare environments.
• Strong financial acumen, with a firm grasp of cost control and budgeting.
• Analytical and solution focused approach to problem solving and decision making.
• Ability to prioritise and manage workload effectively in a dynamic, front line environment.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Passion for delivering high quality, inclusive, and sustainable catering services.

We are an equal opportunities employer and rely on a diverse workforce with a broad range of knowledge, skills, and backgrounds to deliver our goals. We offer an inclusive and welcoming environment and actively encourage applications from all individuals regardless of race, gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or age.