About this role
<div><div style="padding:10.0px 0.0px;border:1.0px solid transparent"><div style="font-size:16.0px;word-wrap:break-word"><H2 style="font-size:1.0em;margin:0.0px">Reach for Remarkable</H2> </div><div><p><strong>General Manager – HMP Birmingham</strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Lead a Critical Service Within One of the UK's Largest Prisons</strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Lead with Purpose. Deliver Excellence. Make a Difference.</strong></p> <p>Are you an experienced operational leader with a background in contract catering, facilities management or large-scale service delivery?</p> <p> </p> <p>Aramark UK is seeking an exceptional General Manager to lead our catering operation at HMP Birmingham, one of the UK's largest Category B prisons. This is a highly visible leadership role with overall responsibility for the safe, compliant, and effective delivery of prisoner feeding, staff catering, retail and visitor catering services across a complex custodial environment.</p> <p> </p> <p>Reporting to the Regional Manager, you will act as the senior Aramark representative on site, leading a team of approximately 16 colleagues and working in close partnership with HMPPS, Ministry of Justice stakeholders and prison leadership teams.</p> <p> </p> <p>This is a unique opportunity for a commercially minded leader who is passionate about operational excellence, people development, client engagement and creating meaningful social impact through rehabilitation and vocational training opportunities.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>What's in it for you?</strong></p> <ul> <li>Competitive salary of £45,000 - £50,000 DOE</li> <li>Generous annual leave allowance increasing with service</li> <li>Opportunity to purchase additional annual leave</li> <li>Company pension scheme</li> <li>Life assurance</li> <li>Blue Light Card membership</li> <li>Employee Benefits Platform including: <br> <ul> <li>Retail discounts</li> <li>Health cash plans</li> <li>Employee Assistance Programme</li> <li>Online GP service</li> <li>Cycle to Work scheme</li> <li>Financial wellbeing support</li> </ul> </li> <li>Career development opportunities within Aramark UK's Justice & Immigration sector</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><strong>The Opportunity</strong><br>As General Manager, you will have full accountability for the day-to-day and strategic management of the HMP Birmingham catering contract. You will lead a high-performing team responsible for delivering services to a large prisoner population alongside staff, contractors, and visitors within a challenging and rewarding operational environment.</p> <p> </p> <p>You will be responsible for:</p> <ul> <li>Overall contract performance and service delivery.</li> <li>Financial management, budget control, and P&L accountability.</li> <li>Food safety, health & safety, and statutory compliance.</li> <li>Client relationship management and stakeholder engagement.</li> <li>People management, succession planning, and team development.</li> <li>Delivery of contractual KPIs and service standards.</li> <li>Continuous improvement initiatives and operational efficiencies.</li> <li>Supporting rehabilitation through prisoner training and employment opportunities within the catering operation.</li> </ul></div></div><div style="padding:10.0px 0.0px;border:1.0px solid transparent"><div style="font-size:16.0px;word-wrap:break-word"><H2 style="font-size:1.0em;margin:0.0px">What you will be doing</H2> </div><div><p>Operational Leadership</p> <ul> <li>Leading the overall catering operation across HMP Birmingham.</li> <li>Ensuring all prisoner feeding, staff catering and retail services operate safely, efficiently and in accordance with contractual requirements.</li> <li>Working closely with the Kitchen Manager and Head Chef to manage production planning, stock control, waste reduction, and menu compliance.</li> <li>Driving service improvements and innovation across all catering operations.Maintaining operational resilience and contingency planning within a live custodial environment.</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>Client & Stakeholder Management</p> <ul> <li>Acting as the primary point of contact for HMP Birmingham and Ministry of Justice stakeholders.</li> <li>Building strong partnerships with prison management teams and key decision-makers.</li> <li>Leading quarterly business reviews and client engagement meetings.</li> <li>Managing customer expectations whilst ensuring contractual compliance and service excellence.</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>Financial Accountability</p> <ul> <li>Managing site budgets and financial performance.</li> <li>Monitoring labour costs, food costs, and operational expenditure.</li> <li>Producing forecasts, financial reports, and business plans.</li> <li>Identifying opportunities to improve efficiencies whilst maintaining service quality.</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>People Leadership</p> <ul> <li>Leading, coaching and developing a team of managers, supervisors, and catering colleagues.</li> <li>Creating a positive, inclusive, and high-performance culture.</li> <li>Managing recruitment, succession planning, and employee development.</li> <li>Supporting investigations, grievance processes and performance management when required.</li> <li>Ensuring all colleagues receive appropriate training and development opportunities.</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>Compliance & Governance</p> <p>Ensuring full compliance with: </p> <ul> <li>HACCP and Food Safety legislation</li> <li>Health & Safety legislation</li> <li>HMPPS and Ministry of Justice requirements</li> <li>Aramark policies and procedures</li> <li>Contract specifications and service level agreements</li> <li>Leading audits and compliance reviews.</li> <li>Maintaining exceptional standards of governance and record keeping.</li> </ul></div></div><div style="padding:10.0px 0.0px;border:1.0px solid transparent"><div style="font-size:16.0px;word-wrap:break-word"><H2 style="font-size:1.0em;margin:0.0px">What we are looking for:</H2> </div><div><p>We are looking for an experienced operational leader who can confidently manage a large, complex contract and build trusted relationships at all levels.</p> <p> </p> <p>Essential</p> <ul> <li>Significant experience managing large catering, hospitality, facilities management, or service contracts.</li> <li>Strong financial and commercial acumen with budget management experience.</li> <li>Proven leadership experience managing multi-disciplinary teams.</li> <li>Experience working within a highly regulated environment.</li> <li>Excellent stakeholder management and client relationship skills.</li> <li>Strong organisational, planning, and problem-solving abilities.</li> <li>Ability to analyse performance data and translate insights into action.</li> <li>Resilient, adaptable, and comfortable working within a fast-paced operational environment.</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>Desirable</p> <ul> <li>Experience working within custodial, justice, healthcare, education, defence, or other public sector environments.</li> <li>Level 4 Food Safety qualification.</li> <li>City & Guilds 706/1 & 706/2, NVQ Level 2 Professional Cookery or equivalent catering qualification.</li> <li>Knowledge of contract catering and public sector procurement environments.</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><strong>Additional Requirements</strong><br>Due to the nature of this environment, successful applicants must:</p> <ul> <li>Be eligible to work in the UK.</li> <li>Successfully complete enhanced prison security clearance and Ministry of Justice vetting.</li> <li>Comply with all information security, safeguarding, and operational security requirements.</li> <li>Always maintain the highest standards of professional conduct and integrity.</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><strong>Join Aramark UK</strong><br>At Aramark UK, we believe that everyone deserves a workplace where they feel valued, respected and empowered to achieve their full potential.</p> <p><br>As a <strong>Disability Confident</strong> and <strong>Forces Friendly</strong> employer, we welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive.<br>This is more than just a management role—it's an opportunity to lead a critical public service, influence positive outcomes, develop exceptional teams, and make a genuine difference every day.</p> <p><br><strong>Apply now </strong>and become part of a team that delivers excellence where it matters most.</p> <p><br><strong>Job Reference: 665790.</strong></p></div></div></div>