Trust Catering Manager

The Ruth Gorse Academy; Leeds; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

GORSE Academies Trust is seeking an experienced Trust Catering Manager to lead a central catering service across multiple academies, delivering high‑quality, nutritious menus and consistent standards. The role blends strategic oversight with hands-on guidance across sites and budgets.

You will recruit and develop a central catering team, manage procurement and cost control, ensure HACCP and health and safety compliance, and build strong relationships with academy leaders, staff, suppliers and

Qualifications

• Experience leading large-scale or multi-site catering operations.
• Strong leadership and people development abilities.
• Knowledge of food safety legislation, hygiene standards and allergen management.
• Financial management experience including budgeting and procurement.
• Willingness to travel across multiple sites.

Responsibilities

• Lead catering operations across the trust and develop a cohesive catering strategy.
• Ensure high-quality, nutritious menus and consistent standards across academies.
• Oversee budgets, procurement and cost control.
• Ensure compliance with food safety and health and safety regulations including HACCP.
• Build strong relationships with trust and academy leaders, staff, suppliers and external partners.

Skills

Large-scale catering operations

Leadership and people development

Food safety legislation & allergen mgm

Organisational, communication &problem

Financial management, budgeting &proc

Healthy eating & positive food culture

Travel across sites

Job description

Are you ready to shape and lead an exceptionalcatering service across a high performing multi academy trust? The GORSEAcademies Trust is seeking an experienced, forward thinking Trust CateringManager to provide strategic leadership and operational excellence across allour academies. For many of our pupils, the meal they receive at school is themost important meal of the day. This is a unique opportunity to take ownershipof a trust wide service where your impact will be seen, felt, and appreciated bythousands of pupils, staff, and visitors every day.

The postholder will have the opportunity to shapeand recruit their own central catering support team, enabling a trust-widemodel that delivers consistency, quality and continuous improvement.

This role is perfect for someone who:

• Is passionate about delivering high quality, nutritious and appealingfood to children and young people.
• Has the leadership presence and confidence to inspire catering teamsacross multiple settings.
• Is commercially aware, financially astute and driven to secureoutstanding value for money.
• Thrives in a varied, fast paced environment where strategic oversightand hands on guidance go hand in hand.
• Wants to play a crucial part in enhancing the daily experience ofpupils, staff and visitors across the trust.

The successful candidate will lead cateringoperations across the trust, developing a cohesive catering strategy and ensuring high‑quality, nutritious and inclusive menus. You’ll maintainconsistent standards across all academies, support and manage cateringmanagers, 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 academyleaders, 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‑sitecatering operations.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate and develop diverse teams.
• Excellent knowledge of food safetylegislation, 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.