This post is for internal candidates to The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust and Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust. If you are not currently working within either of these Trusts, your application will not be reviewed and automatically rejected at shortlisting stage. Please be aware of this when submitting your application.

Job overview

The Catering Manager will be responsible for the management and delivery of a high-quality catering service across the Trust, ensuring safe, effective and patient-focused food provision for patients, staff and visitors. The post holder will manage the day-to-day operation of catering services, including patient meals, retail and commercial catering, while ensuring compliance with food safety, health and safety, nutritional standards and Trust policies.

The role includes responsibility for delegated human and financial resource management, service performance, staff leadership, income generation and cost control. Working closely with the Senior Catering Manager, Deputy Head of Facilities and wider Facilities leadership team, the post holder will contribute to the development and implementation of strategic and operational plans that support a safe, efficient, cost-effective and continuously improving catering service.

As the Hospitals Transformation Programme develops, the role will also support associated catering and facilities projects.

Main duties of the job

The role provides day-to-day leadership for the Trust’s catering services, ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality and cost-effective food provision for patients, staff and visitors across both patient feeding and commercial catering services.

The post holder will manage catering teams, delegated budgets and operational performance, ensuring resources are used effectively and services meet Trust standards, food safety legislation, health and safety requirements and nutritional guidance.

Working closely with the Senior Catering Manager, Deputy Head of Facilities and wider Facilities team, the role will support service improvement, workforce planning, income generation, performance reporting and the development of operational plans to ensure catering services remain safe, responsive and efficient.

Working for your organisation

Our Poppy’s Promise Commitment

We believe that compassionate care sits at the heart of everything we do. Every member of our team —  clinical or non-clinical — plays a vital role in ensuring that patients, families, and colleagues are treated with dignity, empathy, and respect at all times.

We expect all staff to demonstrate compassion not only through their words, but through their actions: by listening attentively, communicating clearly and kindly, and recognising  individual needs, feelings, and circumstances of those in our care.

Effective communication is central to safe and high-quality healthcare. We value colleagues who take the time to understand others, explain information in a  meaningful way, and respond to concerns with patience and understanding.

By joining our team, you are committing to uphold these values — ensuring that every patient feels heard, respected, and valued, and that compassion is embedded in every interaction, every day.

Hospital Transformation Programme (HTP)

Our Service will relocate to The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in 2028 as part of HTP. This move will bring specialist services together in a modern, purpose-built facility to improve patient care and team experience.

We are actively recruiting, and successful candidates will be expected to move with the Service in early 2028. The relocation will follow a formal management of change process, including full consultation and support for staff.

View full details of HTP