Trust Catering Manager
| Company: | Teaching Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Hours: | Full-time |
| Location: | Leeds, LS27 0LZ |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Posting date: | 28 Oct 2026 |
| Closing date: | 9 Nov 2026 |
Summary
What skills and experience we're looking for
Are you ready to shape and lead an exceptional catering service across a high performing multi academy trust? The GORSE Academies Trust is seeking an experienced, forward thinking Trust Catering Manager to provide strategic leadership and operational excellence across all our academies. For many of our pupils, the meal they receive at school is the most important meal of the day. This is a unique opportunity to take ownership of a trust wide service where your impact will be seen, felt, and appreciated by thousands of pupils, staff, and visitors every day.
The postholder will have the opportunity to shape and recruit their own central catering support team, enabling a trust-wide model that delivers consistency, quality and continuous improvement.
This role is perfect for someone who:
• Is passionate about delivering high quality, nutritious and appealing food to children and young people.
• Has the leadership presence and confidence to inspire catering teams across multiple settings.
• Is commercially aware, financially astute and driven to secure outstanding value for money.
• Thrives in a varied, fast paced environment where strategic oversight and hands on guidance go hand in hand.
• Wants to play a crucial part in enhancing the daily experience of pupils, staff and visitors across the trust.
The successful candidate will lead catering operations across the trust, developing a cohesive catering strategy and ensuring high‑quality, nutritious and inclusive menus. You’ll maintain consistent standards across all academies, support and manage catering managers, and oversee budgets, procurement and cost control. You will also ensure full compliance with food safety and health and safety regulations, including HACCP, while building strong relationships with trust and academy leaders, staff, suppliers and external partners. Experience in education or the public sector is desirable but not essential.
What we’re looking for:
We are seeking an individual who can demonstrate:
• Experience managing large‑scale or multi‑site catering operations.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate and develop diverse teams.
• Excellent knowledge of food safety legislation, hygiene standards and allergen management.
• Strong organisational, communication and problem‑solving skills.
• Financial management experience, including budgeting and procurement.
• A commitment to promoting healthy eating and a positive food culture.
• A willingness to travel across multiple sites and engage regularly with kitchen teams.
What the school offers its staff
What we offer you: As a trust, we want to ensure that professionals at every stage in their career have the opportunity to enjoy expert support and training. We are pleased to offer a generous benefits package to our team – as we work together to create a rewarding future for all including:
• Membership of a teacher or local government pension scheme, depending on the role.
• A commitment to continued investment in our professionals, supporting every member of staff throughout their career in the trust.
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme which provides confidential professional advice and support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• £2k Cycle to work scheme.
Commitment to safeguarding
We are committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to full employment checks, including an enhanced DBS disclosure and barring service check. We promote diversity and aim to establish a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds.