Food Services Manager- Leaf Creative

Join a high-performing team and lead exceptional guest experiences

Are you a dynamic hospitality leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment? We are seeking an experienced Food Services Manager to drive operational excellence across both kitchen and service, lead an engaged team, and deliver a consistent, high-quality guest experience across every shift.

This role requires a hands-on, visible leader who can balance food quality, service standards, and day-to-day operational control within a busy, small-to-medium sized site.

About Leaf Creative

Join the UK’s largest garden-centre group, a successful and rapidly expanding business with 53 locations and around 4,700 employees, and further growth planned across both our retail and hospitality divisions. At Blue Diamond, we create inspiring destinations where gardens, home décor, lifestyle, and exceptional hospitality come together to offer guests a unique experience.

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. We invest in development, celebrate individuality, and empower our teams to contribute ideas that help us continually evolve. Joining Blue Diamond means being part of a supportive and growing company where your career can flourish as the business continues to expand.

What you will do

As Food Services Manager, you will:

• Lead, coach, and develop both front-of-house and kitchen teams
• Oversee all aspects of food service operations, ensuring quality, consistency, and efficiency
• Maintain outstanding service standards, food presentation, and overall guest experience
• Take full ownership of daily operations with a proactive, solution-focused approach
• Manage financial performance through effective cost control, labour management, and stock control
• Ensure compliance across all areas including food safety, health & safety, payroll checks, and cash handling
• Monitor and improve operational processes to drive efficiency and reduce waste
• Create a positive, motivated team culture that supports performance, accountability, and retention

You will be a visible, hands-on leader, present on the floor and in the kitchen during peak trading, confident in decision-making, and passionate about delivering both excellent food and service.

What you bring

• Proven leadership experience in a food service, restaurant, or hospitality management role
• Strong understanding of both kitchen operations and front-of-house service
• Ability to motivate, inspire, and develop teams in a fast-paced environment
• Strong commercial awareness with the ability to manage costs and drive performance
• Knowledge of compliance routines including food safety, health & safety, and operational controls
• Calm, confident leadership style with the ability to make decisions under pressure
• Strong people-management skills: recruiting, training, coaching, and performance management
• IT proficiency: comfortable using MS Office, POS systems, email, spreadsheets, and reporting tools
• Excellent communication skills and confidence in guest-service situations
• Strong organisational skills with attention to detail and compliance

What you will love

• The opportunity to lead both kitchen and service operations
• Autonomy to shape your team, standards, and site performance
• Recognition for delivering strong operational and commercial results
• Opportunities for development and progression across a growing business
• A supportive leadership network that values ideas and celebrates success
• Sociable hours – no evening work

If you are energised by leading teams, delivering operational excellence, and creating an environment where both guests and employees thrive, we would love to hear from you.

Apply today and take the next step in your hospitality leadership career.