Our client, a premium culinary, pastry, and events company, is looking to hire an Operations Manager who will own the day-to-day running of the company, ensuring that every production cycle, client delivery, vendor relationship, and internal process performs to the highest standard.
You will work directly with the Managing Director and lead a cross-functional team spanning kitchen production, customer service, logistics, and administration.
We are looking for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, leads from the front, and is as comfortable on the production floor as they are in a planning meeting. The right candidate is highly organised, proactive, and commercially minded, bringing operational rigour without sacrificing warmth, and understanding that in a premium brand, the details always matter.
Responsibilities
Operations & Production
- Oversee end-to-end daily operations across production, fulfilment, and events delivery
- Maintain and oversee production schedules and forecasts, accounting for order volumes, seasonal demand, and new product launches
- Enforce quality control standards across all products and service touchpoints
- Collaborate with the culinary and product development team to maintain consistency during periods of menu or range growth
- Lead pre-event briefings and post-event reviews, ensuring continuous improvement
Financial Controls & Reporting
- Supervise petty cash, purchase orders, and operational expenditure against approved budgets
- Work with the finance function to ensure accurate daily records, reconciliations, and stock counts
- Monitor vendor invoices, approve routine payments, and flag discrepancies promptly
- Support month-end reporting by providing operational data and variance explanations
People Management
- Line-manage kitchen, front-of-house, and logistics team members
- Lead onboarding, performance reviews, and day-to-day HR administration in line with company policy
- Manage rota planning and shift scheduling to ensure adequate staffing at all times
- Build a high-performance, accountable team culture aligned with the company\'s brand values
Systems & Process
- Own and continuously improve the company\'s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) across all operational areas
- Ensure full compliance with food safety, hygiene, and health & safety regulations at all times, keeping the business audit-ready
- Identify operational inefficiencies and drive structured improvement initiatives
Vendor & Supplier Management
- Manage relationships with key suppliers, negotiate terms, and oversee procurement processes
- Ensure timely sourcing of ingredients, packaging, and operational supplies
- Maintain supplier records and ensure all agreements are properly documented
Client Experience
- Act as the operational point of contact for key client accounts and events
- Ensure all client communications and delivery commitments are met without exception
- Escalate and resolve client issues swiftly and professionally
KPI Reporting & Performance
- Track key operational metrics including production output, yield, wastage, labour efficiency, and downtime
- Provide regular performance reporting to the Managing Director with clear analysis and recommendations
- Use data to drive improvements in efficiency, cost control, and team productivity.
Must have skills
- Highly proactive, identifying problems before they escalate and taking ownership of solutions
- Calm and decisive under pressure, especially in event and production environments
- Practical and hands-on, willing to be present on the floor as much as the boardroom
- Discreet and trustworthy, with the maturity to handle confidential business information
- A genuine commitment to quality and pride in the company brand
- Excellent written and verbal communication, professional, clear, and composed under pressure
- Exceptional organisational skills with strong attention to detail and problem-solving ability
- Resilient and calm under pressure, with a consistent drive to improve team performance and output
Qualifications
- More than 5 years of operations management experience, ideally in hospitality, food & beverage, events, or a premium consumer brand
- Demonstrated ability to manage teams, processes, and budgets simultaneously
- Strong financial literacy, able to read reports, manage costs, and understand P&L implications
- Comfortable using production planning tools, spreadsheets, and operational reporting systems
- Experience using digital operations and inventory management tools
- High integrity and a track record of accountability in previous roles
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