Regional Director

About Holroyd Howe

Holroyd Howe is a leading UK contract catering company specialising in fresh, innovative food services tailored exclusively for independent schools and colleges. Our expert team customises our offerings to suit children of all ages, addressing the unique needs of each educational institution. We invest significantly in training and development, ensuring our teams have the skills needed to deliver exceptional services. We are committed to culinary innovation and nutrition as the landscape evolves.

Role Summary

We are seeking an inspiring and enthusiastic Regional Director to lead and develop a team comprising Operations Directors, Account Directors, and Operations Managers. This key leadership role focuses on nurturing client partnerships, enhancing operational efficiency, and driving superior service quality across client contracts.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategies to maximise operational efficiency, quality, and profitability across school contracts.
• Lead and mentor operational managers, Account Directors, and Regional Chefs to foster accountability, teamwork, and ongoing improvement.
• Track and analyse key performance indicators and metrics to pinpoint areas needing enhancement.
• Maintain strong business relationships with schools and primary contacts including Heads and Bursars.
• Collaborate with sales and retention teams to bolster business growth through client engagement, contract negotiations, and renewals.
• Swiftly address client feedback to boost satisfaction levels.
• Ensure strict compliance with food safety regulations, health and safety standards, and company policies.
• Implement and oversee quality assurance procedures to maintain food quality, presentation, and service excellence.
• Conduct routine audits and inspections to uphold standards and initiate corrective actions.
• Embed the 'Happy House' culture and ways of working throughout the team.
• Partner with finance to draft budgets, forecasts, and financial objectives, monitoring performance and applying cost controls.
• Identify revenue growth and cost-saving opportunities, leading initiatives for profitability improvement.
• Drive operational innovation by enhancing processes, systems, and technologies.
• Promote a culture of continuous learning, offering training and mentoring to support career progression.
• Maximise team potential and commercial opportunities through effective leadership.
• Provide coaching and succession planning to build leadership within your team.
• Stay current with industry trends, best practices, and new technologies, integrating these into company strategies.
• Contribute as a vital member of the Senior Leadership Team, promoting a unified and collaborative business environment.

Candidate Profile

• Proven ability to inspire and extract the best performance from your teams while maximising commercial results.
• Skilled in coaching, mentoring, and facilitating leadership development as well as succession planning.
• Excellent negotiation skills combined with a strong commercial and financial acumen.
• Previous experience as a Regional Director or Operations Director, preferably within Food Service.
• Competent in financial management and report writing.
• Exceptional management, communication, delegation, and influencing skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Experience devising and implementing strategies that benefit both clients and the company.
• Genuine passion for food and delivering outstanding customer service.

Additional Details and Benefits

• Annual leave of 33 days including bank holidays.
• Company car or car allowance.
• Three volunteering days per year.
• Three days grandparent leave.
• Enhanced maternity leave of 24 weeks.
• Tailored training and continuous development opportunities.
• Pension scheme, life insurance, and private medical coverage.
• Discounts through PerkBox including high street retailers, holidays, and cinema.
• Employee wellbeing hub and access to employee assistance programmes.
• Complimentary meals provided during work hours.
• Career progression prospects and HIT Apprenticeships across all experience levels.

Company Values

• People First: Dedicated to doing the best for clients and each other.
• Great Food Always: Providing fresh, authentic food tailored to each school and individual needs.
• Food Education: Encouraging pupils to understand and make informed food choices.
• Respect: Upholding respectful conduct with clients, suppliers, partners, and colleagues.
• Fresh Thinking: Innovating food, service, and operational approaches to stay industry leaders.

Compliance and Safeguarding

Holroyd Howe is an equal opportunity employer committed to safeguarding and promoting child welfare. All employees work in regulated activity and must undergo an Enhanced DBS check including Barred List checks. Applicants will also be subject to criminal record disclosures and online suitability screening. Appointment requires satisfactory professional references.