Job requirements
Essential
26 listedRequirements the employer expects applicants to meet.
- Skills
Key leadership skills and ability to drive future development of service
- Skills
Experience of successfully leading and implementing change and service improvement projects
- Skills
Extensive specialist knowledge of food production and food service systems including
- Skills
Strong liaison skills with multi-disciplinary departments and contacts
- Skills
Ability to work to tight deadlines under pressure
- Skills
Data analysis skills and ability to compile reports.
- Skills
High level of communications and presentation skills
- Skills
Confidence in managing difficult situations
- Skills
Flexibility and provide innovative service solutions
- Knowledge
Knowledge of NHS catering agenda in respect of facilities and up-to-date knowledge and awareness in key issues in Catering Management
- Knowledge
Understanding of essential aspects of Customer Service in Catering
- Knowledge
Good understanding of legislation governing the provision of Catering services and ability to translate this into practice knowledge and understanding of Hospital Food Standards and the BDA
- Knowledge
Professional Leadership
- Knowledge
Knowledge of Human Resources policies and excellent staff and management skills
- Knowledge
Commercial experience gained in management of outsourced contracts in a healthcare setting
- Knowledge
Extensive experience in catering management and significant senior level management experience
- Knowledge
Direct line management experience in large scale multi-site operations with a large and diverse workforce
- Knowledge
Business case writing skills and ability to draw up action plans and ensure deadlines are met in compliance with overall strategy
- Knowledge
Evidence of achieving financial targets and significant budgetary management
- Knowledge
Evidence of excellent innovation and achievement in management practice
- Knowledge
Ability to carry out effective negotiation with diplomacy
- Qualifications
Educated to degree level or equivalent management experience
- Qualifications
Management/Professional qualification or extensive experience at a senior level in Catering Management
- Qualifications
Evidence of continuous professional development
- Qualifications
Food Safety Level 4
- Qualifications
Further post graduate qualification in catering/facilities management or sufficient experience gained in practice to equate to this level of training
Desirable
3 listedAdditional qualities the employer would prefer.
- Registration
Member of hospital catering association
- Qualifications
Recognised Management Qualification
- Qualifications
Evidence of post graduate food study
Job overview
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) is seeking an ambitious, innovative and values-driven Head of Catering to lead and transform catering services across our organisation.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced catering professional to shape high-quality food services that support patient recovery, staff wellbeing and excellent visitor experience across our hospital and community sites.
Main duties of the job
As Head of Catering, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for all catering services, ensuring delivery of safe, nutritious, cost-effective and sustainable food services that meet the highest standards of quality, compliance and patient satisfaction.
You will lead large multidisciplinary teams, manage significant budgets and contracts, and play a key role in delivering the Trust’s wider estates and facilities ambitions.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To read more information about the advertised role, and the main job duties/responsibilities please open the Job Description and Person Specification located under the supporting documents heading. You can also read more information about working at the Northern Care Alliance within the attached Candidate Information Pack or by visiting our careers website: www.careers.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
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.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Head of Catering with Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust in Salford, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Estates and facilities role. The advertised salary is £57,528 - £64,750 per annum. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 04 Nov 2026.
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