Head of Catering, Retail and Accommodation

The opportunity

University of the Arts London (UAL) is looking for a Head of Catering, Retail and Accommodation to join us on a permanent basis.

The post-holder will be responsible for identifying and driving commercial activity to ensure income growth and diversification across the department and augmenting the student/customer experience. The post holder, managing a budget of c.£8M, will lead and work collaboratively with colleagues from across the department and at an institutional level to maximise commercial opportunities.

This is a strategic leadership role to deliver a world-class student/customer centric experience. It is a wide-ranging role which includes catering, halls life and marketing/communications.

About you

The successful candidate will possess extensive senior level experience in commercial operations with a proven track record of identifying, delivering and managing strategy, plans and high value projects in a similar commercial environment. Experience in successfully implementing and managing multi-site management information systems, delivering comprehensive reports on commercial performance is essential. This role will suit commercial leaders who thrive in creative environments which enable continual innovation and improvement.

MRG is acting as an employment agency advisor to UAL on this appointment process.

Closing date – Monday 22 April 2024  at 9am.

For further details, including a candidate pack, job description, person specification and information on how to apply, please visit MRG's Jobs page.

What we offer

To recognise the hard work of our staff and their contributions, we provide a wide range of benefits – please check our careers site/Canvas for further information as conditions and exclusions apply:

▪ at least 34 days of annual leave in addition to bank holidays.
▪ generous defined benefit pension schemes (LGPS/TPS}.
▪ flexible working and family-friendly policies for improved work-life balance.
▪ 2 days of paid volunteering leave for a UK registered charity.
▪ discounts including TOTUM, gyms, nursery and private healthcare insurance.
▪ continuous learning and development opportunities including free UAL Short Courses.
▪ season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme, free counselling via EAP and more! 

We are UAL

University of the Arts London (UAL) offers an extensive range of courses in art, design, fashion, communication and performing arts. We are a collegiate University spread across London with six Colleges, four Institutes and five Research Centres. UAL also has two subsidiary companies, delivering specialist activities – UAL Short Courses Ltd, and UAL Arts Temps Ltd.

We’re made up of all types of people, coming together in London, the world’s creative capital. We are designers, artists, performers, thinkers, researchers and makers. Our students, staff and graduates form a global network of creatives, entrepreneurs and leaders. Together, our ideas change the world. Because the world needs creativity.

We are ranked highly across the board. We are ranked first for specialist art and design, second in the world for Art and Design in the 2023 QS World University Rankings (for the fifth year in a row), ranked fifth in sustainability and two of our colleges were rated in the top three fashion schools in the world. 

Our culture

We have become one of the world’s most international Universities, welcoming over 22,000 students and 6,000 staff from 130 countries. And, as a global university, staff and students learn from different cultures and perspectives, which leads to new conversations and innovative work. At our very core, everything we do seeks to challenge the status quo by driving social purpose and standing up for what matters.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds including those who may feel underrepresented in the workforce due to their socioeconomic circumstances such as those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (B.A.M.E.) backgrounds. We aim to be a university where everyone can be themselves and are supported to reach their full potential.

With our commitment to inclusion and diversity, we are proud to be a Race Equality Charter (REC) member to help us reduce barriers that negatively impacts B.A.M.E. staff, a Stonewall Diversity Champion to ensure all LGBTQ+ people are valued at work, a Disability Confident Scheme Committed employer and member of the Business Disability Forum which help us to improve the lives of disabled people in the workplace.