Head of Catering, Health and Wellbeing at Athena Learning Trust

New

Job Reference #

EDV/2026/ALT/69369

Location

Launceston College, Hurdon Road, Launceston, Cornwall, PL15 9JR

Contract Type

Permanent

Contract Term

Full-Time

Salary

£47,307.91 - £52,538.00 Annually (FTE)
52 Weeks, NJC Grade I

Closing Date

9:00am, 12th Feb 2026

Start Date

ASAP

Positions Available

Positions Available 1

Interview Date(s)

24/02/2026

Interview Date(s) 24/02/2026

About this Role

We are seeking a dynamic and innovative Head of Catering, Health and Wellbeing to join our Athena Learning Trust shared service team supporting schools in Cornwall and Devon.

We believe that education does not stop at the classroom door, and we are on a mission to prove that high-quality nutrition and holistic wellbeing are not add-ons to a child’s education, they are the very foundation of it.

We are looking for more than a manager; we are looking for a pioneer. The link between what a child eats and how they learn, behave, and grow is undeniable. Yet, for too long, school catering across the sector has been treated as a peripheral service focused solely on compliance and cost-cutting.

At Athena, we are turning that model on its head. We want our schools to be regional hubs of nutritional excellence. We want our kitchens to be learning labs where students discover the journey of food from farm to fork. We want our dining halls to be spaces of dignity, social connection, and health.

As our Head of Catering, Health and Wellbeing, you will have the mandate to innovate.

You will not be constrained by the way things have always been done. Instead, you will be empowered to:

Build a Brand: Define what Athena Food looks and tastes like.
Influence Policy: Use our scale to set a new national standard for school nutrition.
Drive Sustainability: Lead our charge toward a zero-waste, low-carbon food future.
Impact Lives: Directly improve the health outcomes and life chances of thousands of young people.

We are looking for a visionary leader who possesses the grit to manage complex operations and the heart to advocate for our students' wellbeing. You will have a seat at the table where strategic decisions are made, reporting into our executive team and chairing our new Wellbeing Advisory Board.

To find out more and arrange an informal chat about this role please contact: people@athenalearningtrust.uk

How to Apply:
If you are a self-starter with a passion for nutritional science, a flair for culinary excellence, and the leadership drive to make Athena a national leader in this space, we want to hear from you.

Please complete the application form on My New Term and tell us about how you connect with our values of "Dream Big, Take Responsibility, and Be Kind" and what you feel you can contribute to our team and our goal to deliver world class education.

Please see the attached Applicant Pack for more information about this role.

Please note: This role is essential and as such we will be interviewing as suitable applicants apply. We reserve the right to close this role early should vacancies be filled before the closing date.