General Manager

Chartwells Independent

We ensure you’re rewarded for all your hard work, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:

• Free meals on Duty
• Contributory pension scheme
• Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes
• Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits
• Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, and many more
• Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and many more
• Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster
• Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands
• Un-wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes
• You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families

Role Purpose

To lead, inspire and develop a team of Managers to deliver exceptional service across a multi-site portfolio. You will manage client and contractual relationships in a commercially astute manner, ensuring full compliance with company policies, contractual obligations and statutory requirements.

You will be accountable for reviewing business performance, delivering key financial targets and demonstrating clear commercial value to your team, line manager and senior leadership-fully aligned with the Compass vision, values and business strategy.

Key ResponsibilitiesLeadership & People Development

• Build, lead and develop a high-performing management team across multiple sites
• Recruit, retain and develop great people, creating clear development pathways and a strong succession pipeline
• Drive a collaborative culture, sharing best practice and aligning activity across the sub-sector
• Manage performance in line with company procedures, including appraisals, labour management, grievances and disciplinary processes
• Challenge labour structures and ratios, ensuring teams are appropriately resourced and development plans are in place at all levels

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Promote a strong safety culture, ensuring full compliance with company and client Health & Safety procedures
• Provide a safe environment for all customers, colleagues and visitors across all contracts
• Ensure contracts operate in line with legal, company and client standards at all times

Commercial & Financial Performance

• Deliver profit targets for the sub-sector through effective leadership and financial control
• Review unit and contract performance, identifying improvement opportunities and driving corrective actions
• Demonstrate strong commercial awareness through budget management, forecasting and cost control
• Support Compass Foodbuy initiatives, ensuring supplier compliance and maximising purchasing income opportunities

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Develop and maintain strong, strategic relationships with clients and key internal and external stakeholders
• Review, implement and act upon client satisfaction surveys and feedback
• Ensure contract compliance while consistently exceeding client expectations

Customer Experience & Service Excellence

• Work with sector marketing teams to analyse market and customer insights, ensuring offers meet customer needs
• Ensure menus are fit for purpose, fully costed and delivered in line with specifications
• Drive consistency and innovation in food and service standards across all accounts
• Capture and act on customer feedback using all available channels to support continuous improvement, footfall growth and sales

Strategy & Continuous Improvement

• Support the development and delivery of sub-sector strategy, embedding strategic objectives within the team
• Align closely with central support functions to enhance service delivery and implement group initiatives
• Ensure centrally driven service and brand initiatives are fully supported and embedded at site level

Who You Are

• Proven experience leading and developing successful multi-site teams
• Commercially astute, highly organised and disciplined, with strong financial acumen
• Experienced in budget management, delivering financial targets and working to tight deadlines
• Strong industry knowledge and operational expertise
• Flexible in mindset and approach, able to adapt to changing priorities and environments

About Us

As part of Compass you’ll help to feed people, fuel progress and forge connections in around 6,000 venues. Join us to grow your career with the industry leader, and get competitive pay, great perks and unrivalled opportunities for learning and development, at one of the UK’s biggest businesses.

Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive – because diversity is our strength!