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Job summary

Main area
Catering Management
Grade
Band 5
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
205-7864959-A
Employer
University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Royal Stoke & County Hospitals
Town
Stoke on Trent
Salary
£31,049 - £37,796 Per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
04/05/2026 23:59

Employer heading

NHS

Catering Service Support Manager

Band 5

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Catering Team at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust as a Catering Services Support Manager within the Estates, Facilities and PFI Services Division. This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced catering professional with a passion for fresh food, quality service and team leadership to take the next step in their career within the NHS.
 
We are looking for someone with a strong background in fresh food production, high-volume catering and bulk batch cooking, ideally with experience working in complex catering environments such as healthcare, education, contract catering or hospitality. The successful candidate will be confident leading from the front, supporting teams across our sites to deliver safe, high-quality catering services to our patients, visitors and staff.
 
This role will suit someone who is a genuine food enthusiast, a “foodie” who enjoys new ideas, innovation and developing services, while also maintaining a strong understanding of food cost control, operational efficiency and team development. As part of a forward-thinking catering team, you will play an important role in helping to shape and improve our services. 
 
Working within the NHS also offers an excellent work-life balance, alongside access to a wide range of benefits including the NHS Pension Scheme, generous annual leave, and opportunities for training, development and career progression.

Main duties of the job

The Catering Services Support Manager will support the operational management and delivery of catering services across the Trust, ensuring services are safe, efficient and delivered to the highest possible standards.
This is a hands-on leadership role, requiring a visible presence within kitchens and catering operations.
 
Key responsibilities include:
  • Supporting the day-to-day operational management of catering services across Trust sites.
  • Providing strong leadership and support to catering teams, helping to maintain high standards of food quality and service delivery.
  • Leading from the front within kitchen and food service environments and supporting operational service where required.
  • Ensuring compliance with food safety legislation, HACCP procedures, infection control and health and safety standards.
  • Supporting monitoring of service performance, audits and quality assurance processes.
  • Assisting with workforce management including staff supervision, training, development and performance management.
  • Monitoring food usage, stock control and supporting good financial management including food cost awareness.
  • Contributing to service development, innovation and continuous improvement across catering operations.
The post holder will help ensure that catering services remain responsive, efficient and aligned with the Trust’s commitment to delivering excellent patient and staff experiences.

Working for our organisation

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust is one of the largest and most modern in the country. Based across two sites, Royal Stoke in Stoke-on-Trent and County Hospital in Stafford, we are proud to serve around three million people and we're highly regarded for our facilities, teaching and research. We are the specialist centre for major trauma for the North Midlands and North Wales.

All of our employees make a valuable contribution regardless of role here at UHNM and we are proud of our wide range of development packages aimed at ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their true potential. 

UHNM create and encourage a culture of inclusion, providing equal opportunities for career development that are fair and transparent. We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer and foster a culture in which all staff feel valued and respected. In return we ask all of our employees to make a commitment to the values, co-created by or staff, patients and carers, and that unite us as a Trust.

At University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust we know that investing in, supporting and developing our staff has a direct impact on the quality of care that we deliver. Our employees are as important as our patients and the population that we serve.

 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Detailed job description and main responsibilities:

Please see the attached Job description and Person specification within the Job application for further information.

For further details please contact: - [email protected] to arrange a call 

Person specification

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Previous experience working within a multiple professional kitchens or food production environment.
  • Strong understanding of fresh food preparation and catering service operations.
  • Experience managing catering teams within a high-volume food service settings
Desirable criteria
  • NVQ Level 3 Professional Cookery or equivalent.
  • Advanced Food Safety Level 3 or 4

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Proficient in the use of Microsoft office: Word, Excel, access and Power-point
  • Experience of cook-freeze or regeneration catering systems
  • Experience within healthcare or large scale contract catering
Desirable criteria
  • Educated to degree level.
  • Management Qualification

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Positive about disabled peopleAge positiveArmed Forces Covenant Gold Award

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Joe Ronan
Job title
UHNM- Catering Services Manager
Email address
[email protected]
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