General Manager

GENERAL MANAGER

Houston & Hawkes is looking for an experienced and commercially driven General Manager to lead our prestigious catering and hospitality operation at Regent’s University London.

This is a high-profile leadership opportunity within one of our most diverse London operations, bringing together retail student dining, coffee bars, à la carte restaurant operations, internal hospitality services and a significant seasonal events portfolio.

Reporting to our Key Account Director, you will take overall responsibility for the performance and continued development of the account, leading a team of over 50 employees, including departmental managers. You will be responsible for delivering exceptional guest experiences, building strong client relationships, developing high-performing teams and driving sustainable commercial success.

THE ROLE

• Lead the overall financial, operational and service performance of the Regent’s University London account.
• Drive revenue growth and profitability across student dining, coffee bars, à la carte restaurant operations, internal hospitality and the seasonal conference and events business.
• Manage budgets, forecasting, labour controls, cost efficiencies and financial reporting.
• Lead the planning and delivery of the significant three-month summer events programme, including large-scale conferences, corporate workshops, business retreats and away days, gala dinners, summer parties and receptions.
• Work closely with internal stakeholders and external clients to ensure flawless event delivery, build long-term relationships and drive repeat business.
• Inspire, lead and develop a team of 50+ employees across multiple departments, providing strong leadership and coaching to managers and supervisors.
• Champion employee engagement, wellbeing, training, development and succession planning, creating a culture of accountability, collaboration, inclusivity and high performance.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with key university stakeholders and act as the senior ambassador for Houston & Hawkes on site.
• Continuously identify opportunities to enhance guest experience, increase sales and improve operational performance.
• Ensure the highest standards of quality, presentation, customer service, food safety, health & safety and compliance.

ABOUT YOU

• A confident and commercially astute hospitality leader with significant leadership experience within hospitality, catering, events, contract catering or a related sector.
• Proven experience leading large teams of 50+ employees, including managers and multi-department teams.
• Strong commercial and financial management capability, with experience delivering high-volume events and hospitality operations.
• Exceptional client relationship and stakeholder management skills, alongside a strong background in people development, engagement and performance management.
• An inspirational, visible and approachable leader who is highly organised, resilient and passionate about hospitality and customer experience.

WHY JOIN HOUSTON & HAWKES?

Alongside the opportunity to lead one of our most exciting and diverse London operations, you’ll be joining a business that genuinely invests in its people, celebrates success and creates opportunities to develop.

• Your birthday off every year
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Contributory pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• CODE Hospitality Membership
• Foodie Socials – bringing our teams together to showcase new concepts, seasonal food and drink ideas, coffee innovation and the creativity happening across Houston & Hawkes
• Masterclasses with Sally Abé and opportunities to learn from some of the industry’s leading talent
• Ongoing learning, leadership development and genuine opportunities for career progression
• Our Summer Awards Party - celebrating the people, achievements and successes across Houston & Hawkes
• An unforgettable Christmas Party at one of London’s outstanding venues

ABOUT HOUSTON & HAWKES

Houston & Hawkes is an award-winning independent caterer creating vibrant, creative and exceptional food and hospitality experiences across some of the UK’s most prestigious client sites.

We’re a Certified B Corp, recipient of the King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development 2026 and proud to be ranked No. 14 in The Caterer’s Best Places to Work in Hospitality.

If you are an experienced hospitality leader ready to take ownership of a complex, high-profile operation and lead an exceptional team, we would love to hear from you.

Compensation: To be discussed

#J-18808-Ljbffr

Full job description from WhatJobs. Apply for this role →