Job title and organisation: Trust Catering Manager - The GORSE Academies Trust
Salary: £49,282 - £52,413 + £2000 Golden Hello
Hours: 37 - all year round
Contract: Permanent
Location: Trust-wide, multi-site (central team office + academies)
Closing Date and Time: Monday 16 February at 9 AM
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. 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.
In this pivotal role, you will lead catering managers and teams across multiple sites, developing a unified, high‑quality approach to school catering that is nutritious, compliant, financially sustainable and consistently excellent. From driving innovation in menu planning to ensuring all operations meet rigorous food safety standards, you will play an essential part in shaping a positive food culture across the trust.
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 school leaders, staff, suppliers and external partners.
What We’re Looking For
We are seeking an individual who can demonstrate:
* 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 We Offer
As a trust, we are committed to ensuring that that professionals at every stage in their career have access to high-quality support, training and development. As part of our team, you will benefit from:
* Membership of a Local Government Pension Scheme.
* Ongoing investment in your professional development and career progression.
* Access to a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme offering confidential advice and wellbeing support.
* £2,000 Cycle to Work scheme.
About Us
GORSE has a well‑known reputation for changing the deal for children and young adults who come from some of the most impoverished parts of the country. Our central mission is to ensure that we play a significant role in removing the stubborn link between poverty and academic underperformance. Consequently, our students and our professionals are in the vanguard of the national drive which seeks to prove that where teaching is excellent, leadership inspiring and behaviour standards exemplary all children excel regardless of background.
Our 15 trust establishments - which include primary, secondary, and post‑16 settings - work together with our central team, Teaching School Hub and GORSE SCITT to form a connected network of excellence. This tight‑knit collaboration enables our students to prosper through strong partnership, where shared expertise, consistent standards and collective ambition ensure exceptional opportunities for all.
If you are excited about this opportunity, a Job Description/Person Specification and application form can be downloaded from our website at Jobs - The GORSE Academies Trust. You can also request an application pack via email at recruitment@tgat.org.uk or by calling 0113 487 8888.
Please note electronic applications should be submitted where possible. CVs will not be accepted.
Closing date for applications
16 February 2026 at 9am
Interviews will take place
TBC
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.
Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK – either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.
Please note that, as a sponsor licence holder, we only provide sponsorship for teacher vacancies.
The above post is not a Leeds City Council vacancy and has been advertised on behalf of the relevant organisation. To apply please follow their application instructions.
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