Head of Food Operations
Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge
Full-time | Senior Leadership Role
About the Role
We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Head of Food Services to lead and elevate food operations within our soft FM contract at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
This is a high-impact leadership role where you will drive excellence in service delivery, innovation, compliance, and customer experience across a large-scale healthcare environment. As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will play a pivotal role in shaping strategy, delivering commercial performance, and creating a high-performing, engaged team culture.
About the Contract
Our Addenbrooke’s Hospital contract is a flagship healthcare operation, delivering a wide range of services including cleaning, portering, patient feeding, and retail.
Serving a major teaching hospital with a large and diverse patient population, this is a complex, fast-paced and rewarding environment where high standards and innovation are essential.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Leadership
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Develop and deliver the food service strategy in line with business and client objectives
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Drive innovation across food delivery, sustainability, and customer experience
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Lead continuous improvement initiatives across all food services
Operational Excellence
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Oversee day-to-day food operations, ensuring high standards in quality, hygiene, and safety
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Monitor KPIs and SLAs, driving performance and minimising deductions
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Ensure compliance with HACCP, Food Safety Act, and all relevant legislation
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Maintain brand standards and contractual obligations
Leadership & People
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Lead, coach, and develop a team of managers to create a high-performance culture
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Drive engagement, wellbeing, and inclusion across the workforce
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Ensure effective performance management and succession planning
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Promote a customer-first mindset across patient, visitor, and retail services
Client & Stakeholder Engagement
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Act as the senior point of contact for all food services
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Build strong, collaborative relationships with the client
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Deliver an exceptional customer experience aligned to client values
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Lead service improvement initiatives to enhance satisfaction and retention
Financial & Commercial
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Manage budgets, forecasts, and cost controls to ensure profitability
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Identify growth opportunities and operational efficiencies
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Understand and manage contract risks and commercial obligations
Health & Safety
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Champion a zero-harm culture and safe systems of work
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Ensure all teams are trained, equipped, and supported to work safely
Sustainability & Innovation
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Lead sustainable practices including waste reduction and responsible sourcing
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Stay ahead of industry trends and introduce innovative solutions
About You
We’re looking for a confident and inspiring leader who thrives in a fast-paced healthcare environment.
Key Experience & Skills
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Minimum 3+ years in operational management, including 1+ year in food service leadership
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Proven experience managing large, diverse teams and developing managers
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Strong commercial and financial acumen with P&L responsibility
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Deep understanding of food safety, compliance, and service standards
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Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
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Passion for food, innovation, and delivering exceptional customer experiences
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Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and deliver results
Leadership Attributes
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Curious – Innovative, solution-focused, and forward-thinking
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Confident – Sets clear standards, develops others, and delivers results
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Courageous – Leads with integrity, challenges constructively, and drives positive change
Why Join Us?
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Be part of a flagship healthcare contract with real impact
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Lead a large and diverse team in a meaningful environment
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Shape the future of food services in a major NHS hospital
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Opportunities for career growth and development
