General Manager - Luxury Café in Heathrow

£55000 per annum

Contract: Full Time

Working hours: 40

We are looking for an experienced, passionate and commercially driven General Manager to lead a team of approximately 20 within a premium, luxury café environment.

This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic, hands-on hospitality professional who thrives on delivering exceptional service, developing high-performing teams and creating memorable guest experiences.

As General Manager, you will take full ownership of the day-to-day operation, ensuring the highest standards of service, operational excellence and financial performance.

Leading from the front, you will be a visible and approachable leader, inspiring your team to consistently deliver an outstanding experience while fostering a positive, collaborative and service-focused culture.

The role offers a varied mix of people leadership, operational management, commercial responsibility and client relationship management, making it ideal for someone who enjoys both the strategic and hands-on aspects of hospitality.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, inspire and develop a team of approximately 20 across front-of-house and culinary operations.
• Create a positive, motivated and high-performing team culture focused on exceptional service.
• Take an active role in daily service, leading by example and maintaining a strong presence on the floor.
• Oversee recruitment, training, coaching and performance management to support ongoing team development.
• Ensure effective workforce planning, rota management and staffing levels to meet operational requirements.

Operational Excellence

• Take full responsibility for the smooth and efficient running of the café
• Maintain consistently high standards of food presentation, service delivery and guest experience.
• Proactively identify opportunities to enhance operational efficiency, service standards and customer satisfaction.
• Oversee stock management, ordering, deliveries, waste reduction and supplier relationships.
• Ensure full compliance with food safety, allergen management, health and safety regulations and company policies.
• Respond to guest feedback and operational challenges promptly, professionally and effectively.

Commercial & Financial Management

• Take ownership of operational budgets, labour costs, forecasting and financial performance.
• Monitor key performance indicators, identifying opportunities to improve profitability and operational efficiency.
• Drive commercial initiatives to maximise food and beverage revenue while maintaining exceptional quality and service.
• Implement effective cost-control measures without compromising the overall guest experience.

Client & Stakeholder Relationships

• Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with clients, guests and key stakeholders.
• Act as a key point of contact, ensuring expectations are consistently met and exceeded.
• Demonstrate a proactive, solutions-focused approach to client engagement and service improvements.
• Work collaboratively with internal teams and stakeholders to deliver a seamless, premium hospitality experience.

We are looking for a confident, enthusiastic and people-focused General Manager with a genuine passion for hospitality and delivering exceptional service.

Above all, you will be a natural leader who takes pride in their team, leads by example and is committed to delivering an exceptional hospitality experience every day.

We ensure you're rewarded for all your hard work, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:

• Contributory pension scheme
• Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes
• Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits
• Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more
• Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and many more
• Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster
• Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands
• Un-wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes
• You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families

Restaurant Associates provides brilliant hospitality through our food, drink and services. We work with our partners and collaborate with our clients to achieve great things together. Every day, our teams of passionate hospitality professionals strive for excellence in delivering employee dining and hospitality to some of the UK's leading workplace as well as inspiring exceptional experiences in iconic cultural and heritage destinations.

Job Reference: com/2210/42137001/52841425/SU #RA Group

Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive - because diversity is our strength!