Job Description

Job number

PRO01316

Faculties

Provost's Team

Departments

IC Student Union

Salary or Salary range

46,614 - 56,345 per annum

Location/campus

London campuses

Contract type work pattern

Full time - Open ended

Posting End Date

9 Nov 2025

About the role

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This is a unique opportunity to lead and shape the catering operations at Imperial College Union, an active and student-led organisation at the heart of one of the world's leading universities. As Catering Operations Manager, you'll be responsible for delivering an exceptional food experience across our venues, while driving innovation, sustainability, and commercial success.



You'll play a pivotal role in developing a short-term service roadmap for our South Kensington venues, while contributing to a long-term catering strategy across multiple campuses. Whether it's designing seasonal menus, leading kitchen operations, or collaborating with internal teams to deliver memorable events, your work will directly impact the student experience and our wider community.



This role blends strategic thinking with hands-on leadership. You'll act as Head Chef during service, set the standard for food quality and consistency, and mentor a passionate team. If you're a creative, driven professional with a flair for food and a commitment to excellence, we'd love to hear from you.

What you would be doing

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As Catering Operations Manager, you will be instrumental in delivering a high-quality food service that meets the needs of students, staff, and external clients. You will lead a dedicated team, manage day-to-day kitchen operations, and collaborate across departments to ensure our catering offering is innovative, efficient, and aligned with Union goals.



Key responsibilities include:

Operational Management

Lead the catering team and manage kitchen operations, acting as Head Chef during service Design and update menus, including seasonal and hospitality offerings, aligned with customer expectations and budget targets Ensure compliance with Health & Safety and Food Safety regulations across all catering activities Collaborate with the Venues and Events teams to deliver integrated food and beverage services

Staff Management

Manage staff rotas, training, inductions, and foster a culture of professionalism and teamwork Supervise kitchen staff

Financial Management

Oversee purchasing and stock control to ensure value for money and operational efficiency Manage catering budgets and report on KPIs

Business Development

Support the development of a long-term catering strategy and promote sustainable practices Improve systems and processes to reflect best practice

Customer Service

Engage with students, staff, and clients to gather feedback and continuously improve the service Represent the catering function in meetings and contribute to wider Union goals and initiatives

Please see for full outline of duties.

What we are looking for

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We're looking for a confident and capable leader with a strong background in catering and hospitality, who thrives in a fast-paced, student-focused environment. You'll be passionate about food, committed to high standards, and ready to take ownership of a key area of our commercial services.


Level 4 Managing Food Safety in Catering Appropriate Health & Safety qualification Proven experience as Head Chef or Sous Chef in a high-volume catering or hospitality environment Ability to balance hands-on cooking with management and administrative responsibilities Experience in developing and delivering food concepts and menus Significant experience managing catering operations in a fast-paced setting Experience of creating menus, placing orders, and monitoring stock levels Strong knowledge of current catering trends and customer expectations Working knowledge of health and safety regulations, COSHH, and best practice Strong alignment with the values of a democratic, student-led organisation Ability to build productive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders Strong leadership and team engagement skills Proficiency in IT and using technology to improve business practices Ability to manage competing priorities in a high-pressure environment Analytical skills to interpret stocktake reports and performance data

Please see Person Specification in for full outline of duties

What we can offer you

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Please note this role is with the Students' Union. We're a registered charity in our right, with our own governance, systems, processes, and objectives. However, we work extremely closely with Imperial College London, so you'll also be joining a wider community of staff working within higher education. If you've never worked in a students' union, or are unsure why it's different, we encourage you to get in contact. It's a brilliant place to work.



As an employee of Imperial College, you will be part of lively community and work in a friendly and relaxed environment. Our aim is to provide to all our employees an encouraging and relaxed working environment with an emphasis on personal development and work-life balance. Based on that we offer:


flexible working hours generous pension scheme 25 days holiday (plus 6/7 extra days per year for College Christmas and Easter closures) bicycle loan scheme season ticket loan health benefits excellent professional development opportunities and many more.

More information can be found on the Imperial College Benefits page:



Benefits | Administration and support services | Imperial College London

Further information

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To apply for the role please complete the online application form.



We are running a characteristic

anonymised application process

for this recruitment as part of the College's commitment to equal opportunities and eliminating discrimination. Applicants will be assigned an application reference number and applicants' names

will not be visible

to recruiting managers until the interview stage. You will

not

be required to attach a CV. Please also refrain from including your name in your supporting statement.



Should you require any further details on the role please contact the People team on icu.people@imperial.ac.uk



Closing date:

9

November 2025

Interviews expected to take place week commencing 17 November 2025

We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith, or disability. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and other racial minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. If there are any reasonable adjustments needed through the process, we will accommodate as much as possible.


As part of our commitment to sustainability, every role within Imperial College Union contributes to our environmental and social goals. This includes actively participating in initiatives to reduce waste, conserve energy, and promote eco-friendly practices within every department.

Available documents

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Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.
Download: Catering Operations Manager .Docx

Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities mentioned above.

We reserve the right to close the advert prior to the closing date stated should we receive a high volume of applications. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.



If you encounter any technical issues while applying online, please don't hesitate to email us at support.jobs@imperial.ac.uk. We're here to help.

About Imperial

Welcome to Imperial, a global top ten university where scientific imagination leads to world-changing impact.



Join us and be part of something bigger. From global health to climate change, AI to business leadership, here at Imperial we navigate some of the world's toughest challenges. Whatever your role, your contribution will have a lasting impact.



As a member of our vibrant community of 22,000 students and 8,000 staff, you'll collaborate with passionate minds across nine London campuses and a global network.



This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you'll join us at Imperial College London.

Our Culture

We work towards equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination, and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. You can read more about our commitment on our webpages.



Our values are at the root of everything we do and everyone in our community is expected to demonstrate respect, collaboration, excellence, integrity, and innovation.