Operations Manager

Edinburgh Zoo, Edinburgh | Heritage Portfolio

£45,000 per annum plus Sodexo Benefits | 40 hours per week |

Lead exceptional hospitality at one of Scotland’s most iconic visitor attractions.

We’re looking for an experienced and commercially focused Operations Manager to lead our front-of-house retail catering and events operations at Edinburgh Zoo.

Reporting to the Head of Operations, you’ll take ownership of operational performance, leading and developing management teams to deliver exceptional food, service and visitor experiences while achieving ambitious commercial targets. You’ll also deputise for the Head of Operations across contract performance when required.

This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic hospitality leader who enjoys being close to the operation while also thinking strategically about people, performance, profitability and the customer experience.

What you’ll do

• Lead the day-to-day front-of-house retail and events operation, maintaining exceptional standards of service, presentation and customer experience.
• Inspire, coach and develop your management teams, creating an engaged, high-performing culture with a strong focus on talent development, retention and succession planning.
• Drive commercial and financial performance, analysing monthly results, managing forecasts and identifying opportunities to improve profitability and exceed targets.
• Build strong, collaborative relationships with Heritage Portfolio and RZSS client contacts and key stakeholders across the operation.
• Work closely with culinary, finance and HR teams to deliver operational and business priorities.
• Establish and maintain robust service standards, procedures and ways of working.
• Use customer feedback and operational insight to continually improve the visitor experience.
• Champion a zero-harm, safety-first culture, maintaining high standards across food safety, allergens, HACCP, COSHH, health and safety and wider compliance.
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement, challenging existing ways of working and looking for new opportunities to enhance performance.
• Support social impact initiatives alongside the client.
• Deputise for the Head of Operations and support the wider Heritage Portfolio and RZSS operation when required.

What we’re looking for

You’ll be an accomplished operational leader with:

• Strong leadership and people-management experience within hospitality, catering, events, leisure or a similar customer-focused environment.
• Excellent commercial awareness and experience of driving operational and financial performance.
• Strong industry knowledge across retail catering through to high-end events.
• A genuine passion for food, hospitality and delivering memorable customer experiences.
• Excellent client and stakeholder-management skills.
• A strong understanding of operational compliance, food safety and health and safety.
• The ability to develop people and build successful, engaged teams.
• A proactive, innovative and solutions-focused approach with excellent attention to detail.

What We Offer

Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it's an opportunity to be part of something greater. You'll belong to a company that values you for who you are, encourages you to act with purpose, and supports you in achieving your full potential.

In addition, we offer a wide range of resources, rewards and benefits for colleagues and their families, including:

• Unlimited access to an online wellbeing platform, offering mental health and wellbeing support.
• Employee Assistance Programme providing confidential support, including legal and financial advice.
• Access to a health and wellbeing app, including a 24-hour virtual GP service.
• The Sodexo Discounts Scheme, offering savings and cashback opportunities for you, your friends and family.
• Money Insights and financial wellbeing support through Salary Finance.
• Membership of the Sodexo Retirement Plan.
• Death in Service benefit.
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities to support career progression.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Paid volunteering opportunities to support causes that matter to you.
• A flexible and dynamic working environment.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Full training and protective uniform provided.

Make your mark

This is an opportunity to take a key leadership role within a truly unique venue, combining high-volume visitor catering, events, commercial performance and people leadership.

If you’re ready to lead from the front, develop great teams and help deliver exceptional hospitality experiences at Edinburgh Zoo, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply today and bring your leadership, ideas and passion for hospitality to Heritage Portfolio.

Please note: Sodexo reserves the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications.

About Sodexo

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better every day for everyone to build a better life for all. As the global leader in services that improve Quality of Life, we operate in 55 countries, serving over 100 million consumers every day through our unique combination of food, facilities management, benefits and personal services.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and a Forces Friendly organisation. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences and identities and support a range of Employee Networks including Pride, Sodexo Parents & Carers, Disability and Ability, So Together, Generations and Origins.

As a Disability Confident Leader, we're committed to changing attitudes towards disability and creating an environment where everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their potential.