Catering Manager

Hospitality Manager - Officers' Mess, HMS Collingwood

The information below covers the role requirements, expected candidate experience, and accompanying qualifications.
Location: Fareham
Salary: £35,000 per annum
Hours: 37 hours per week (primarily Monday-Friday with occasional functions)

We have an excellent opportunity for an experienced Hospitality Manager to lead the Officers' Mess at HMS Collingwood . This role would suit someone with a military background looking to transition into a civilian role while staying within a Defence environment.

You'll take full responsibility for delivering high-quality hospitality and catering services within the Mess, ensuring a professional, well-organised, and welcoming environment for Officers and guests.

What you'll be doing Overseeing all hospitality and catering services within the Officers' Mess
Managing day-to-day operations, ensuring smooth and efficient service delivery
Acting as the key point of contact for clients, building strong relationships and responding to feedback
Maintaining high standards across all hospitality functions, including formal dining and events
Promoting the Mess facilities and identifying opportunities to enhance service and revenue
Managing budgets, monitoring costs, and maintaining accurate financial controls
Planning and scheduling staffing in line with operational needs
Ensuring all departments are aligned to deliver seamless events and services

What we're looking for Background in hospitality, catering, events or similar operational roles
Military experience or understanding of Mess life (highly desirable)
Strong leadership and organisational skills
Good financial awareness and experience managing budgets
Confident communicator with strong stakeholder management skills
Comfortable using systems and handling administrative tasks
A proactive, "can-do" attitude with high standards and attention to detail

This is a great opportunity for someone looking to move from military service into a structured civilian role, where your experience, leadership, and understanding of Defence environments will be highly valued. You'll be part of a supportive organisation that invests in its people and offers stability, development, and a strong team culture.

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, 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

About Us

Part of Compass Group UK&I, ESS is the Defence, Government, and Energy services sector of Compass Group UK & Ireland. We support 250+ UK military establishments, high profile police, secure environments and government sites, along with a range of onshore and offshore facilities including platforms, drilling rigs, floatels and offices for the energy sector. We know that a friendly face makes all the difference, so we look for people who are passionate about delivering excellent customer service, at all levels, to join our teams.

Job Reference: com/1405/95723001/51811650/SU #Defence

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. xwzovoh We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive - because diversity is our strength!