General Manager

Passionate about food? Want to develop your career with the world’s leading food service management company? Look no further — we, the leading foodservice and hospitality provider across the Island of Ireland, are looking for a General Manager to join our talented team on a Monday–Friday, permanent basis (40 hours per week).

As a General Manager, you will take full responsibility for all food service operations, ensuring operational excellence and the consistent delivery of the Client Food Program. You will inspire and develop your team to provide outstanding food and hospitality experiences while maintaining compliance with Compass processes, health & safety requirements, and commercial targets. Building strong strategic client relationships will be key to ensuring contract retention and success. 

Key Responsibilities:

Operational Leadership

• Take full responsibility for the overall management of the contract and all food service operations.
• Engage regularly with the Operations Manager and Client, providing updates on site changes, projects, and action plans.
• Ensure the contract operates in full compliance with company policies, food safety, health & safety, and hygiene regulations.
• Oversee operational planning and resource management to deliver a first‑class food and beverage service.
• Design, manage, and own the overall customer experience, ensuring hospitality is friendly, engaging, and aligned with the Client Food Program.

People Management & Development

• Lead, recruit, train, coach, and develop your team to deliver exceptional service.
• Empower colleagues and suppliers to provide a great service.
• Conduct team reviews, coaching sessions, performance management, and disciplinary procedures professionally and on time.
• Identify and develop internal and external talent to support succession planning.
• Champion daily team briefings that are user‑focused.
• Foster a culture of fun, teamwork, fresh thinking, and continuous improvement.

Food & Culinary Excellence

• Demonstrate a passion for high‑quality food, preparation, and taste.
• Collaborate with the Head Chef to develop new ideas, follow food trends, and maintain a competitive offer.
• Promote all aspects of the Client Food Program through food choices, displays, space design, and daily interactions.

Client & Customer Satisfaction

• Develop strong relationships with influential stakeholders to meet and exceed expectations.
• Support the client’s EA team in achieving hospitality goals.
• Communicate with clients honestly, accurately, and in a timely manner.
• Act as a Compass advocate at all times, delivering outstanding customer engagement.

Financial & Commercial Accountability

• Monitor and manage all financial responsibilities including forecasting, budgeting, and cost control.
• Ensure budgets are understood and adhered to, delivering financial targets aligned with net income and cost expectations.
• Work with your Operations Manager to review staff performance, identify training needs, and meet client service standards.
• Minimise agency and overtime spend and ensure agency staff meet Client Food Program standards.
• Meet all deadlines for reports, including quarterly and year‑end requirements.

Health & Safety

• Observe and comply with all safety and security procedures, reporting any issues promptly.
• Take responsibility for your own safety and that of others.
• Ensure correct use of equipment and PPE, reporting any faults immediately.

About You:

• Bachelor's degree preferred, or equivalent experience. 
• Proven experience in food service operations, contract catering, hospitality, or unit supervision. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 
• Strong working knowledge of the Microsoft suite. 
• A passion for great food and exceptional hospitality. 
• Good culinary knowledge and understanding of basic kitchen practices. 
• Commercially minded with the ability to measure impact and results. 
• Strong decision‑making and judgement skills. 
• Ability to build effective relationships and collaborate at all organisational levels. 
• Knowledge of industry trends and ability to utilise Client tools. 
• Confident communicator capable of negotiation and reasoning. 
• Strong organisational, project management, and multitasking skills.

Compass Group reserves the right to enhance the criteria, if necessary, for the purposes of shortlisting

At Compass Ireland, our people are our business. When you join the Compass Group you will be joining a supportive network of incredible individuals, each united by their passion for going the extra mile for the organisations we partner with. We are building a team who care about providing a great customer experience and want to grow and develop as we do. We are dedicated to investing in every colleague joining us and pride ourselves on being an equal opportunity employer; we celebrate diversity and are committed to building an inclusive environment for all our colleagues. We consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.

Please review our Privacy Notice for details on how we maintain, protect and why your personal data is collected when you apply for a job with Compass Group. We will not retain any CV's or job applications for longer than necessary.

Job Reference: com/2403/99321001/52798947/ROI #Republic of Ireland

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!