Director Of Catering - Brighton
Director of Catering (Strategy & Operations)
Brighton College & Brighton College Prep Handcross
Job Title: Director of Catering (Strategy & Operations) - Brighton College Group
Responsible To: Director of Operations / Regional Manager- Lodestone House
Location: Based at Brighton College, supporting Brighton College, Brighton College Prep Handcross and any other associated Brighton College Schools as required.
Work Level: Senior Leadership / Strategic Account Level
Working Hours: 40 hours, 5 days over 7
Salary: Up to 72,000
Annual Leave Entitlement: 25 days + Bank Holidays
Contract: Permanent
Role Context
Lodestone House operates the catering and hospitality services at Brighton College, one of the UK's most prestigious independent schools and named School of the Decade. Brighton College continues to expand its operations both within the UK and internationally and represents a complex, high-profile and fast‑paced catering and hospitality environment.
This newly created senior leadership role oversees all catering and hospitality operations and works in close partnership with the Head of Catering Operations (Brighton College). The role exists to provide strategic direction, operational structure, commercial grip and senior leadership across the Brighton College and Brighton College Prep Handcross catering and hospitality operation, with the potential for further growth in the future.
Brighton College & Brighton College Handcross
Brighton College is one of the UK's most prestigious and forward‑thinking independent schools and has been recognised nationally as School of the Decade. Founded in 1845, the College has built an outstanding reputation for academic excellence, pastoral care, innovation and an unapologetically ambitious approach to education.
The College educates pupils from ages 3 to 18 and operates as a large, dynamic community, combining day and boarding provision. It has consistently ranked at the top of national league tables and is widely regarded as a benchmark for best practice across the independent education sector.
Brighton College Prep Handcross educates pupils from nursery through to 13+, with a strong emphasis on academic foundations, pastoral care and preparing pupils for progression into senior independent education, including Brighton College.
Catering and hospitality are viewed as core to the pupil and staff experience, not simply a support function. Food quality, service standards, nutrition, sustainability and operational reliability are all critical to the College's daily life and reputation.
The catering operation supports
- A large day and boarding pupil population across multiple age groups in central Brighton and a Prep boarding school, based in Handcross
- High‑volume daily breakfast, lunch and supper services with over 3,000 meals served per day across the group including customers with complex allergen and intolerance needs
Extensive hospitality provision includes
- Formal dinners and receptions
- Sporting and cultural events
- Parent, alumni and donor events
- Conferences, summer schools and commercial lettings
- A busy calendar of evening and weekend activity
The operation is characterised by
- High service expectations
- A strong focus on food quality, nutrition and sustainability
- Significant logistical complexity
- A requirement for absolute reliability alongside innovation and evolution
Overall Purpose of the Role
To provide strategic, operational and commercial leadership across the Brighton College (which includes Brighton College and Brighton College Prep Handcross) catering and hospitality operation, ensuring delivery of a seamless, best‑in‑class service that reflects the College's ambition, reputation and uncompromising standards.
The role will set the strategic direction of catering and hospitality, lead and manage complex catering projects, introduce and refine structure and process, support and enable the Head of Catering Operations to deliver day‑to‑day excellence, and be fully accountable for financial performance, and senior stakeholder reporting.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership & Direction.
- Set and drive the strategic direction for catering and hospitality across Brighton College.
- Translate Brighton College's vision and values into a clear catering and hospitality strategy.
- Act as a senior strategic advisor to Brighton College leadership.
- Ensure alignment between Brighton College expectations and Lodestone House / Compass Group frameworks.
Operational Excellence
- Oversee all catering and hospitality operations across Brighton College and Brighton College Prep Handcross.
- Introduce clarity, structure and rhythm into operational planning.
- Ensure consistently high standards of food quality, service and customer experience.
- Project Leadership & Change Management.
- Lead major catering and hospitality projects including service redesign, process implementation and offer evolution.
- Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, with minimal operational disruption and within the agreed budget.
- Establish clear project ownership, governance and delivery plans.
- Manage risk, dependencies and stakeholder expectations throughout delivery.
- Translate strategic intent into practical, deliverable outcomes.
- Financial Accountability & Commercial Performance.
- Full accountability for contract financial performance.
- Lead monthly financial reporting, forecasting and variance analysis with the support of the Catering Financial Manager.
- Prepare and present financial and operational proposals to Brighton College and internal leadership teams.
Data, Insight & Reporting
- Use data to drive decision‑making and performance improvement.
- Translate complex financial and operational data into meaningful insight.
- Ensure clear, accurate and trusted reporting.
People Leadership & Organisation
- Ensure the operation is correctly structured with the right capability in the right roles.
- Coach and support senior leaders including the Head of Catering Operations, Deputy Head of Catering.
- Build a culture of accountability, pride and continuous improvement.
- Client & Stakeholder Management.
- Build trusted relationships with Brighton College senior leadership.
- Act as a senior ambassador for Lodestone House and Compass Group Health, Safety & Compliance.
- Ensure full compliance with all food safety, health & safety and people policies.
Working Pattern
This is a demanding senior leadership role within an extremely busy operation. While predominantly Monday to Friday, evening and weekend working will be required to support key operational and hospitality activity.
Why Join Lodestone House
This role offers a unique opportunity to operate at the highest level within independent education catering. We believe in recognising and rewarding your contribution. Our comprehensive benefits package includes (but is not limited to):
- Working for the UK's leading foodservice organisation with global reach.
- The ability to shape and influence strategy within a flagship independent school account.
- Contributory pension scheme.
- Career development through our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes.
- Digital GP access and healthcare support for you and your immediate family.
- Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and more.
- Grocery discounts with major retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury's and Morrisons.
- Up to 44% off cinema tickets.
- Cashback rewards on a wide range of brands.
- Free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes.
- Share your discounts with family and friends.
- 25 Days Annual Leave + Bank Holidays.
Person Specification
Essential
- Senior leadership experience within catering, hospitality or foodservice.
- Proven financial and commercial accountability.
- Strong stakeholder management and presentation skills.
- Experience leading complex, high-profile operations.
- Highly organised, solution-focused and resilient.
Desirable
- Independent education experience.
- Project or change management experience.
- Degree qualified or equivalent.
- Chef or operational food background.
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