Port Lead | General Manager | Workplace Experience 

£50,000 per annum plus bonus

Monday to Friday

Central London

Build and run a distinctive new London workplace designed for a remote-first reality. This isn’t a traditional office or a restaurant. It’s a flexible, multi-floor space where employees, visiting teams from across the UK and Europe, business partners, merchants and guests come to work, connect and host gatherings.

You’ll lead pre-opening mobilisation and then own the daily hospitality experience once live shaping the operation, developing the team and partnering closely with Facilities to deliver a seamless, high-quality environment.

What you’ll do 

• Own daily hospitality operations across multiple floors, ensuring the space is welcoming, well presented and ready for changing needs.
• Lead, coach and grow an inclusive, high-performing team; set clear standards, recognise contributions and help team members build the skills and confidence to progress beyond their current roles.
• Listen to the team, invite their ideas and make them part of solving problems and improving the operation.
• Partner closely with the Facilities Manager to coordinate the overall workplace experience and promptly escalate building, cleaning, maintenance or safety issues.
• Oversee breakfast, lunch, pantry, snack, beverage, coffee and tea services; manage external commissary and catering partners while upholding allergen and food-safety requirements.
• Forecast attendance and consumption to right-size orders, maintain stock levels and reduce waste without compromising the employee or guest experience.
• Translate team gatherings and events into clear room, food and beverage, guest-arrival and timing plans. Adapt calmly when schedules or requirements change and support occasional early-morning or evening events.
• Manage supplier performance against agreed service levels, following through on issues until they are resolved and supporting clear root-cause and corrective actions.
• Maintain required operational and compliance records and support budget, invoice and performance reporting.
• Co-create standard operating procedures, service standards, escalation paths and daily routines. Support supplier onboarding, equipment setup, inventory planning, service testing, recruitment and training.
• Bring your experience, ideas and professional judgment to the client partnership, helping shape the operation rather than simply executing instructions.

What success looks like 

• Strong and improving employee and guest satisfaction.
• Reliable, on-time delivery of meetings, gatherings and events.
• Excellent food-safety and allergen-compliance outcomes.
• Accurate ordering and measurable waste reduction.
• Timely supplier issue resolution supported by clear corrective actions.
• Strong team engagement, development and retention.

What you’ll bring 

• Ideally, you'll have experience in contract catering within a tech or innovation-led environment.
• We're looking for someone with character, personality, and presence. Someone who can build genuine relationships, inspire teams, and create memorable experiences.
• Experience leading workplace hospitality, premium corporate services, hotels or lifestyle hospitality in a high-quality service environment.
• A track record of coaching with empathy and accountability. You build trust, invite ideas and make the team part of the solution.
• Hands-on food and beverage operations experience with external commissary or catering partners, including temperature control, allergens and practical food safety.
• Experience supporting meetings, multi-day team gatherings and events with changing requirements in a remote-first context.
• Strong operational and commercial awareness, including supplier management, budgets, reporting and continuous improvement.
• The judgment and confidence to work independently, make decisions and act as a trusted partner to senior stakeholders.
• Clear, confident communication and excellent organisation and relationship-building skills.
• Opening or mobilisation experience would be an advantage.
• Food Safety Level 3 or above, HACCP and allergen-control knowledge, IOSH Managing Safely, and First Aid or Fire Marshal training are desirable. A willingness to obtain relevant qualifications will also be considered.

Working pattern and timeline 

This role is primarily Monday to Friday. Flexibility will occasionally be required for early

deliveries, team gatherings, evening events or other activities outside standard hours.

The location is expected to open in 2027. You’ll support pre-opening planning, operational readiness and culture-building ahead of launch, then lead the on-site operation once live.

How we work 

We default to trust, lead with empathy and act with purpose. We value high standards delivered with warmth, and we improve through feedback, experience and data. Above all, we create an environment where employees, guests and the service team feel welcome, valued and connected.

We’re an equal-opportunity employer. If you need adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.

The right to work in the UK is required.

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.

Job Reference: com/1011/43969001/52845448/SU #Rocket

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!