Cleaning, Recycling & Catering Manager

Application Deadline: 26 September 2025

Department: Venue Management

Employment Type: Fixed Term Contract

Location: Glasgow

Description

Reporting directly to the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games Project Lead, the Catering, Recycling & Cleaning Manager will oversee the planning, procurement, and delivery of catering, cleaning, waste management, and recycling services across all competition venues. The role ensures compliance with sustainability objectives, operational standards, and service levels expected at a major international sporting event.

Responsibilities will include developing and delivering venue catering service plans, cleaning strategies, and waste/recycling systems, while ensuring suppliers and contractors align with Glasgow 2026's sustainability and service requirements. This role will play a pivotal part in supporting the Event Delivery Partner (EDP) in achieving its sustainability, health, and participant experience targets.

The successful candidate will bring extensive experience managing large-scale catering and recycling operations, sourcing and contracting suppliers, and leading teams during live event environments. Strong skills in stakeholder collaboration, contract negotiation, and compliance are essential, alongside a commitment to service quality, sustainability, and value for money.

Working arrangements

The role will commence in the Organising Company's Glasgow city centre office, with visits required to competition venues to fully deliver the responsibilities of the role. The location for the role will transition to be based at a competition venue as we approach the Games.

The role will be contracted for 40 hours per week, with requirements to be in the office aligned to the Organising Company's planned working pattern. All travel to your place of work will be at your own cost. During the Games operational period, shift patterns are likely to be required which could include weekends.

Key Responsibilities

Lead planning, procurement, and delivery of catering, cleaning, waste management, and recycling services to international event standards.
Develop venue catering plans for athletes, workforce, VIPs, and spectators, ensuring service is safe, inclusive, and aligned to nutritional and cultural needs.
Oversee catering logistics, including kitchen/server fit-outs, food storage, cold chain management, and stock distribution across venues.
Implement sustainability-led catering practices (e.g. sourcing local suppliers, minimising food waste, reusable/compostable packaging).
Build and deliver venue cleaning plans (Back of House and Front of House), ensuring hygiene standards meet international expectations.
Design and implement waste and recycling management plans, including bin placement ("bin dot plans"), maximising recycling and minimising landfill, with provision for clinical and medical waste.
Manage supplier relationships, ensuring food safety, service levels, sustainability, and compliance with health and environmental regulations.
Lead operational teams during Games-time, ensuring rapid resolution of catering or waste issues, high standards of hygiene, and positive participant and spectator experiences.
Support post-Games decommissioning, catering close-down, waste recovery, and sustainability reporting.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Experience

Significant experience managing catering operations for large-scale, multi-venue sporting or public events.
Proven ability to source, contract, and manage catering, cleaning, and waste suppliers (including local and sustainable providers), balancing quality, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness.
Demonstrable success implementing sustainable catering practices (e.g. reducing food waste, local sourcing, inclusive menu design, dietary compliance).
Strong track record in food safety compliance, cold chain management, and allergen control.
Experience leading catering and recycling/cleaning teams during live events, ensuring service excellence under pressure.
Familiarity with collaborating across venue management, logistics, sustainability, and health & safety teams.

Competencies

Strong catering planning and operational management skills, including menu planning, food distribution, and supplier oversight.
Knowledge of nutrition, food safety, allergen management, and HACCP processes.
A strong understanding of environmental health guidelines.
Experiencing of licensing for large-scale events.
Skilled in supplier negotiation, contract management, and holding partners accountable for catering service levels.
Ability to integrate catering operations with cleaning, waste, and recycling functions for seamless venue delivery.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills for stakeholder briefings and reporting.
High level of financial acumen to manage catering budgets and control costs.

Behaviours

Passionate about delivering high-quality catering experiences that support athlete performance, workforce wellbeing, and visitor satisfaction.
Champions sustainability in catering by reducing food waste, supporting local suppliers, and promoting responsible food service.
Strong attention to detail in ensuring food safety, compliance, and consistency of service.
Calm, resilient, and solutions-focused when managing service peaks or resolving operational challenges.
Inclusive and culturally sensitive, ensuring catering provision reflects the diversity of Games participants and visitors.
Proactive in driving innovation, from menu design to sustainable packaging solutions

Register your interest for future opportunities

In addition to this role, we'll have a number of new roles coming up. Register your interest for future Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games Trivandi opportunities here.

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Cleaning, Recycling & Catering Manager