We are currently recruiting for an experienced and passionate Catering Contract Manager, to join our Commercial Events team on a permanent full time basis.
The successful candidate will oversee and develop the relationship with our in-house catering contractor. This is a fantastic opportunity to shape and influence the catering experience for millions of visitors while ensuring the successful delivery of our contract, key performance indicators (KPIs), and service level agreements (SLAs).
Following a substantial refurbishment of our catering spaces, this role will be instrumental in ensuring these new spaces reach their full potential. You'll work across the organisation with key internal and external stakeholders to enhance our food and beverage offering, ensuring it aligns with Southbank Centre’s vision and values.
Key Responsibilities:
* Manage and develop the relationship with our in-house caterer, driving performance and collaboration.
* Ensure a best-in-class catering experience, relevant to Southbank Centre’s diverse audience.
* Monitor and analyse performance, introduce new initiatives, and track industry trends.
* Act as the main point of contact between the caterer and internal teams (Property, Marketing, Finance, Health & Safety).
* Ensure high service standards are maintained in line with the SLA.
* Work closely with marketing teams to maximise footfall and revenue.
* Support sustainability initiatives, ensuring the catering offer aligns with Southbank Centre’s 2030 action plan.
* Lead on key projects, including refurbishments, seasonal activations, and operational improvements.
* Oversee financial management related to the catering contract, ensuring accuracy in reporting and invoicing.
* Represent the commercial interests of Southbank Centre at stakeholder meetings.
What We’re Looking For:
* Commercially savvy, with a strong understanding of how hospitality and leisure activities contribute to financial success.
* Exceptional relationship management skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
* A hands-on approach to operations management, including knowledge of health & safety regulations, licensing laws, and facilities operations.
* Strong analytical and reporting skills to drive performance improvements.
* Highly organised and proactive, with the ability to juggle multiple projects and deadlines.
* A team player who is self-motivated and able to take the initiative.
* A commitment to diversity and inclusion, ensuring Southbank Centre’s catering offer is welcoming and accessible to all.
Please download the attached Job Description for a full overview of this role responsibilities.
We welcome applications from people from a Black, Asian or Ethnically Diverse background or those who are D/deaf or disabled. If you wish to discuss reasonable adjustments such as a BSL interpreter for your interview please indicate this on your application form. Interviews will take place at The Southbank Centre. If you would like to speak to someone about any adjustments or concerns you can also email hrteam@southbankcentre.co.uk and we will be in touch with you to make the necessary arrangements.
By attracting people to work for us from a broad range of backgrounds with diverse attitudes, opinions and beliefs we can continue to look at the world with fresh eyes and find new ways of doing things. The Southbank Centre is a warm and welcoming place to work, with great aspirations and ambitions to create great and accessible work for all. We pride ourselves in building a supportive environment to enable the development of our staff.
If you feel you have just some of the required skills and experience but meet the person specification, we would still encourage you to apply; we are very open to continuing the training and development of individuals who are self motivated to acquire new skills and knowledge relevant to the role.
Southbank Centre
The Southbank Centre is Europe’s largest arts centre and one of the UK’s top five visitor attractions, occupying an 11-acre site that sits in the midst of London’s most vibrant cultural quarter on the South Bank of the Thames.
Its impact and reach are significant and it is respected internationally as a convener of great artists and diverse audiences and for being entrepreneurial and innovative in response to a volatile and changing financial landscape. The Southbank Centre is a charity that is determined to demonstrate its ambition to remain innovative, disruptive and experimental in what it does and to be highly relevant to the artists it wants to work with and to the audiences it wants to attract.
The Southbank Centre believes that a commitment to diversity and inclusion helps it be a more relevant and effective organisation.
Our Artistic Mission
The Southbank Centre exists to provide great artistic experiences for everyone. Through art, we invite our visitors to enjoy shared cultural encounters together. To gaze. To listen. To be moved. To discover a new idea or a new perspective. We are proud that for the last 70 years, the performances and exhibitions here have moved millions. We have provided a home for art and for artists. A community centred on art, where everyone, no matter their job, helps make the experience.
At the Southbank Centre we believe in:
Creating welcoming spaces
* Because upholding respect, safety and belonging is at the heart of vibrant teams and communities.
* This means us all taking responsibility for shaping and protecting a kind, compassionate and inclusive environment for others.
Making wonderful experiences together
* Because we all contribute to amazing artistic moments at the Southbank Centre.
* This means us all understanding and valuing the different parts we play in creating enjoyment and success.
Sparking new thinking
* Because different views and thought-provoking conversations inspire innovation, learning and growth.
* This means everyone having a desire to learn and being open to evaluating how they think and work.
Benefits & Perks:
As well as working at one of London's most popular and exciting sites the successful candidate will also benefit from the following:
* A min 5% employer’s pension contribution (rising to 9% depending on your employee contribution), from day 1 of employment
* 28 days annual leave, plus bank holidays (pro-rata for part time employees)
* Hybrid working model (4 days office working, 1 day from home) post probation period
* Enhanced sick pay
* Enhanced family leave benefits
* Up to 30% discounts at onsite retail, food and beverage vendors
* Staff ticket offers for Southbank Centre events
* Free entry to Hayward Gallery
* Free/discounted entry with other reciprocal organisations
* Free staff yoga
* Free access to emotional support from a confidential specialist Employee Assistance Programme available 24/7
* Season ticket loan
* Cycle to work scheme
The deadline for applications is 23:59 on the closing date for the job posting.