Overview

Food & Retail Operations Manager

Location: Nether Alderley, SK10 4TG
Contract: Full-time, Permanent position
Salary: Up to £47,000 per annum plus 5% bonus

Responsibilities

• Support Sodexo in delivering exceptional food, retail, and hospitality services across the client site. Focus on managing and controlling operations to meet agreed performance, quality, and financial targets while fostering long-term, profitable relationships with clients and guests.
• Lead and motivate a high-performing team, ensuring operational excellence aligned with Sodexo’s mission and values.
• Deliver exceptional Food, Retail & Hospitality services in line with contract SLAs and innovation goals.
• Manage and control all financial aspects of the catering unit, ensuring adherence to budgets and accurate financial documentation.
• Oversee food quality and hygiene throughout the entire food cycle – from preparation to delivery.
• Conduct self-audits and actively manage health, safety, environment, and quality compliance across Catering, Retail & Soft services.
• Enforce compliance with all statutory, company, and site-specific health & safety and food safety requirements.
• Lead, motivate, and develop the team to perform to high standards in line with Sodexo’s quality of life vision.
• Complete team member End Point Assessments (EPAs) and manage people-related challenges according to HR policies.
• Identify and pursue business growth opportunities within the contract and external markets.
• Ensure prompt and efficient catering service delivery aligned with contract KPIs.
• Maintain and report all financial and administrative documentation accurately and on time according to Sodexo Way compliance standards.
• Control costs, including labour, expenses, and cash purchases, ensuring trading within budget.
• Maintain accurate stock, cash, local credit, and debt levels as per targets.
• Ensure food preparation, production, and presentation meet Sodexo’s standards and procedures.
• Guarantee the security and safety of equipment, cash, and premises.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives in partnership with the Operational Excellence department.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Proven experience managing and leading a motivated food function in a high-volume environment.
• Strong knowledge of external catering trends, innovations, and industry developments.
• Demonstrable financial expertise including budgeting and cost control.
• Experience driving and adhering to company initiatives and compliance standards.
• Passionate, innovative, and customer-focused with strong personal drive.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Experienced working within a standards/compliance-focused environment.
• Relevant craft qualifications and recognized health and safety certifications (e.g., IOSH).

Why Sodexo?

Why Sodexo? Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it’s a chance to be part of something greater. Belong in a company and team that values you for you. Act with purpose and have an impact through your everyday actions. Thrive in your own way.

We also offer a range of perks, rewards and benefits for our colleagues and their families:

• Unlimited access to an online platform offering wellbeing support
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme to help with everyday issues or life's larger problems, including legal and financial advice, support with work or personal issues impacting your wellbeing
• Access to a 24hr virtual GP Service
• Sodexo Discounts Scheme, offering great deals 24/7 across popular big-brand retailers
• Save for your future by becoming a member of the Pension Plan
• Opportunities to enable colleagues to grow and succeed throughout their career at Sodexo, including a variety of learning and development tools
• Bike to Work Scheme
• Sodexo UK and Ireland’s enhanced benefits and leave policies

About Sodexo

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone to build a better life for all. As the global leader in services that improve the Quality of Life, we operate in 55 countries, serving over 100 million consumers each day through our On-Site Food and FM Services, Benefits & Rewards Services and Personal & Home Services. We are committed to being an inclusive employer. We are a forces-friendly employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people with diverse experiences, backgrounds and identities. We encourage our employees to get involved with our Employee Networks such as Pride, Sodexo Parents & Carers, Sodexo Disability, Ability network, SoTogether, Generations and Origins. We’re a Disability Confident Leader employer and are committed to changing attitudes towards disability, ensuring disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations. We run a Disability Confident interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria for the job.

Ready to be part of something greater? Belong in a team, thrive in service. Sodexo reserves the right to close this advert early if we are in receipt of a high number of applications.