Area Operations Manager

About Us

‘HES’ – Havering Education Services is the London Borough of Havering’s commercial brand of support services to education establishments. Our brand is a federation of distinct and integrated service units spread across the Council’s directorates. Our portfolio of services includes but is not limited to the following:

• Consultancy on leadership and governance
• School improvement and curriculum
• Finance and Management Information Systems support and consultancy
• HR and Payroll Services
• Catering Services
• Pupil and Staff Wellbeing Services
• Brokering and procurement of externally sourced services

HES Catering Service is a key business unit within our traded services portfolio, providing daily school meals in 60 schools in the borough. Besides operating commercially to generate income, the Service plays a pivotal role in supporting key outcomes relating to health and wellbeing for children and young people in the borough.

‘HES’ is one of the most dynamic local authority education trading entity in the UK and is undergoing significant transformational change to further expand its customer base, grow revenue streams and enhance customer focus, service and delivery. Our vision is to become the provider of choice for services and training in London and South East England and to achieve strong financial outcomes.

About Havering

• Havering is London's most easterly Borough, Havering is rich in heritage, with the highest proportion of older people in London as well as a fast-growing younger population.

• Romford is a major sub-regional centre with a large retail and nightlife economy. It is one of the oldest market towns in South East England. Other significant centres in Havering include Hornchurch, Upminster and Rainham.
• As well as many towns and villages Havering has a wealth of open space, from the riverside marshes and wildlife habitats in Rainham, to over a hundred parks and open spaces.
• Havering is well connected into the Capital by rail and by the District Line and abuts the M25. From 2018, Havering will be served by 3 Crossrail stations at Romford, Gidea Park and Harold Wood.
• Transport links, vibrant shopping centres, open green spaces and good schools makes us a very attractive place to live, with a growing population.

About the Job

As part of our renewed commercial strategy for the Catering Service, we are entering an exciting period of expansion and require the skills of a commercially focused, experienced and creative Area Catering Operations Manager to manage 18 primary school contracts which employees approximately 70 colleagues.

This role is a great platform for a specialist to join a new management team tasked with growing the business and optimising customer satisfaction across our customer base.

About you

We are looking for a highly motivated individual who is an established Area Catering Operations Manager to join the catering management team and help lead and shape our service offer for schools.

You should be able to lead and motivate a large team to deliver results and improve practice. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to establish strong rapport with colleagues and clients is a key prerequisite for this position.

You will be passionate about food as well as experienced in delivering a high quality catering service to our schools.

Along with a relevant degree or equivalent qualification, including Advanced Food Hygiene Certificate at least Level Three Food Safety Experience and understanding of the education services sector, will be advantageous for the successful candidate, but all candidates.

Must be experienced in managing multi-site contracts and MATS (Multi Academy Trusts).

For an informal discussion about this post, please contact Dennis McKenzie, Catering Services Manager via email to arrange a time dennis.mckenzie@havering.gov.uk

To apply

On applying, you will need to supply an up-to-date copy of your CV in addition to a supporting statement (please see website for the questions).

To apply, please visit our website.

Closing date: 15 October 2021. We anticipate that interest in this job will be high and we therefore reserve the right to close the vacancy early.

Shortlisted candidates will be notified during the week commencing 25 October 2021.

Interviews are provisionally scheduled to take place on Thursday 4th November 2021.

The London Borough of Havering is a Disability Confident employer. Candidates who declare that they have a disability in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 and meet the essential criteria as specified in the Job Profile will be guaranteed an interview.

Priority consideration on all advertised roles will be given to London Borough of Havering Redeployees.

The London Borough of Havering is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable groups and expects staff and volunteers to share this commitment. 

Please be aware that a Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS) check will be required for any position with access to these groups under the provision of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

In addition, the Authority reserves the right  to request employees undertake a basic disclosure check (Disclosure Scotland) where required for the role this includes  anyone who has access to (or information obtained directly from) a government database, or has a GCSX account. These posts will be required to have a Basic Disclosure Scotland check as per the requirements of BPSS (Baseline Personnel Security Standards).

About Us

With its excellent transport links into central London, extensive town centre regeneration and the highest concentration of green space anywhere in London, Havering has a unique offer as a place to live, work and visit. By making the most of its position and opportunities, Havering is becoming a hub for start-ups and expanding businesses, as well as construction, logistics, engineering and manufacturing industries.