Full job descriptionPrincipal Catering Manager
*Rate: £31.98 per hour via Umbrella
*Location: Rotherham (Borough-wide, multi-site role)
*Contract: Temporary / Interim Assignment
*Hours: 37 hours per week
We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Principal Catering Manager to provide strategic and operational leadership for a large and diverse School Meals Service across Rotherham. This senior management role is pivotal in ensuring the delivery of high-quality, compliant, and financially sustainable catering services across a substantial portfolio of schools.
Day-to-day of the role:
*Lead and manage multi-site catering operations across the borough.
*Provide direct line management and leadership to Catering Managers.
*Ensure compliance with food safety legislation, allergen management procedures, health and safety requirements, and safeguarding responsibilities.
*Manage budgets, financial forecasting, income generation opportunities, and cost controls.
*Monitor performance against service standards, KPIs, and contractual requirements.
*Support workforce planning, recruitment, employee development, and succession planning.
*Lead on service improvement initiatives and operational change programmes.
*Manage complex operational issues, customer concerns, and service complaints.
*Build and maintain effective working relationships with headteachers, academy trusts, partners, and other stakeholders.
*Support business growth, service modernisation, and future service development.
Required Skills & Qualifications:
*Substantial experience in school catering services, local authority catering operations, contract catering, large-scale food service operations, and multi-site operational management.
*Leadership of large and geographically dispersed teams.
*Significant operational management experience.
*Strong financial and budget management skills.
*Experience of managing service performance and compliance.
*Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
*Experience of leading change and continuous improvement programmes.
*Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
*Essential Qualifications:
*Level 3 Food Safety / Food Hygiene qualification.
*Health and Safety qualification (e.g., IOSH Managing Safely or equivalent).
*Management or Leadership qualification (or equivalent experience).
*Allergen Awareness training.

Benefits:
*Opportunity to lead a high-profile school catering service.
*Significant stakeholder engagement and responsibility for service performance.
*Influence on future service delivery and improvement programmes.
*Mileage reimbursement at 55 pence per mile for approved business travel.
To apply for this Principal Catering Manager position, please submit your CV by clicking Apply Now.