Wedding & Events Operations Manager

Job content

Company description

Caviar & Chips - Award-Winning Catering

Caviar & Chips was established in 2017 by co-founders Jonathan Carter-Morris and Marc Hornby aiming to build a bespoke hospitality company that is a great place to work.

Our purpose is to create unforgettable moments and memories and we’re guided by four principle values of; being client-led, working collaboratively, being positive and creative.

Four years on we’re one of the fastest growing start-ups in hospitality. Our group comprises a 16th century pub, an 18th century boutique wedding venue, a unique residency on a private estate and being preferred supplier at over 20 venues in the UK.

Caviar & Chips works with over 80 venues around the UK with a focus on wedding catering. We’ve won Best Wedding Caterer in the West Midlands two years running and are looking forward to hosting hundreds of weddings over the next couple of years.

Everything we do is led by our clients and we aim to create a great place to work for our teams. We cater for weddings and events across the country and find ourselves in stunning locations from woodlands, yurts and tipis, to stately homes, country houses and unique spaces. Throughout the last 12 months we have worked tirelessly to look after our team retaining and supporting everyone through COVID and we are now looking to grow our team to deliver yet more brilliant events.

Our journey has just begun and we’re ambitious to do so much more. We’re looking for exceptional people to join our team and help us be even better. If we sound like the kind of place where you can bring your skills and experience and grow with us then we would love to hear from you.

Job description

The Role

We’re growing quickly and are about to begin our busiest year, so we have created a brand new position of Operations Manager. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer you will play a pivotal part in the success of the business. You’ll share our values, and demonstrate them through your behaviours and decision making, as well as being an ambassador for the business. You’ll be responsible and accountable for the day to day operational running of Caviar & Chips, managing and leading the team and ensuring excellent service to clients and guests. You will look for opportunities to continuously improve how we deliver our service and guest experience in a profitable way. You’ll be planning ahead and foreseeing challenges so that we’re always ready. The role is flexible and dynamic, based in the West Midlands you’ll be working across a range of locations as required.

Responsibilities

Client and partners

• Communicate with clients in a proactive way to reassure and give confidence in their experience while keeping your colleagues informed and well briefed
• Support our clients from initial enquiry all the way through to feedback post-event ensuring they have an exceptional experience at every stage
• Deliver prospective client menu tastings as outlined in our menu tasting process to secure new business
• Flex operational delivery to meet client needs whilst remaining profitable
• Ensure that the client’s brief is delivered in a way that exceeds expectations
• Use innovative ways to exceed client expectations and seek ways to delight our guests
• Lead the host team through service, liaising with chefs during service to ensure every plate leaves the kitchen picture perfect in a timely manner
• Ensure any queries or concerns are solved swiftly with clients feeling fully satisfied
• Build lasting and strong relationships with venue partners and other event suppliers.

Team:

• Live and breathe company values and model leadership behaviour to create a positive working environment
• Work collaboratively with all teams and functions within Caviar & Chips, with partners and fellow suppliers
• Proactively manage the host team, with responsibility for recruitment, supporting, training and people development to deliver a positive, efficient and high quality service
• Succession planning - always be interviewing for the best team possible, and developing team to promotion. There should always be a strong support within your team to cover your role in times of holiday, business and non business related absence
• Create a high performance culture through regular one to ones and coaching, ensuring team understand their goals, organisational culture and company values
• Understand your team’s strengths and weaknesses and have a vested interest in their wellbeing. Work with the Head Chef and Head of People to ensure every member of your team is able to bring their best self to work and reach their true potential
• Deliver training sessions for new team members and special events for both kitchen and host teams
• Support the Head Chef in regular full team meetings and building cross departmental relationships
• Celebrate successes, share wins and achievements and look for ways to showcase the work that we do with comms and marketing

Business

• Lead and manage day to day operations
• Logistics management including ensuring all goods and equipment is counted for, packed and transported to multiple events
• Manage and improve financial performance of the catering operation in line with annual budget
• Seek to maximise revenue opportunities through analysing sales figures and effective forecasting, and ways to maximise profit
• Ensure all events are complaint in Health & Safety Procedures
• Be accountable for COSHH, Food Safety, H&S, Legal Regulations, Environmental Policies and Duty of Care to Customer & Colleagues
• Maintain, order and control drink stocks and consumables within budget, using effective controls systems
• Control labour in line with budget, scheduling teams against business and event needs
• Produce weekly and monthly reports key to the running and reviewing of the business and provide insight and recommendations for opportunities and challenges
• There are no normal working hours, managers work hours as necessary to fulfil their duties and ensure their guests come first. Hours of work will include daytimes, evenings, weekends and public holidays.

Personal Attributes

• Live and breathe company values to create a positive working environment
• Thoughtful and inspiring leader with a hands on work ethic
• Creative in finding ways to delight and excite your guests
• Always be positive and solutions focused
• Passionate about food and drink, not just what we proudly serve, but across the industry and be knowledgeable about upcoming trends
• Have an eye for detail and thrive in a fast paced environment
• Passionate about the role, ambitious and have a curiosity and willingness to learn
• Excellent communication skills
• Natural ability to host, build relationships, work collaboratively with others and help people feel at ease
• Champion change and be creative in ways to drive the business forward
• Able to work calmly and efficiently under pressure
• Confidence to deal with challenging situations
• Possess a valid UK Driving License and personal transport

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: From £30,000.00 per year

Additional pay:

• Quarterly bonus

Benefits:

• Company events
• Company pension
• Discounted or free food
• Employee discount
• Free or subsidised travel
• Profit sharing
• Referral programme
• Wellness programmes

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• Weekend availability

Experience:

• Hospitality: 3 years (preferred)

Licence/Certification:

• Driving Licence (required)