Head of Department - Travel, Food and Drink, Leeds

Leeds City College are seeking an exceptional and commercially driven Head of Department for Travel, Food & Drink to lead a vibrant and high-profile curriculum area at our Printworks Campus. This is an exciting opportunity to lead a curriculum that not only delivers outstanding education and student outcomes, but also operates with a strong commercial mindset, maximising income generation, employer partnerships and real-world learning environments.

You will drive a high-quality, industry-led curriculum across Travel & Tourism, Catering, Hospitality and Food & Drink, ensuring provision is responsive to market demand, employer needs and regional growth priorities. Printworks Campus is a flagship environment for service industries and technical education, offering industry-standard facilities including professional kitchens, restaurant spaces and commercial learning environments. The Travel, Food & Drink provision is uniquely positioned to deliver authentic, revenue-generating student experiences in partnership with leading employers across Leeds and beyond.

What You Will Do

• Lead a strong, employer-led curriculum across Travel, Food & Drink, ensuring it is ambitious, relevant and aligned to industry standards.
• Drive high achievement, retention and progression outcomes, using data to identify gaps and implement rapid improvements.
• Create and deliver a clear commercial strategy for the area, increasing income through full-cost courses, apprenticeships and commercial activity.
• Oversee and grow commercial learning environments (e.g. student restaurant, butchers block), ensuring they deliver both high-quality student experience and revenue.
• Build strong partnerships with employers and industry, securing placements, live projects and progression opportunities.
• Lead and develop staff through performance management, coaching and CPD, creating a culture of accountability and excellence.
• Ensure consistently high standards in teaching, learning and assessment, aligned to Ofsted expectations.
• Take ownership of SAR, QIP and inspection readiness, ensuring a clear line of sight on impact.
• Manage budgets, staffing and resources to ensure efficiency, sustainability and growth.
• Contribute to wider college priorities including curriculum growth, innovation and skills development.

About You

• Has proven experience in leading teams within FE, hospitality, travel or a related sector.
• Brings strong understanding of Food, Hospitality or Travel industries, with current or recent sector knowledge.
• Has a track record of improving quality and delivering strong student outcomes.
• Demonstrates commercial acumen, with experience of income generation and employer engagement.
• Is confident using data and KPIs to drive performance and decision-making.
• Is an inspiring leader who can motivate, challenge and develop staff to perform at their best.
• Is passionate about delivering an exceptional student experience and preparing learners for industry.
• Has a teaching qualification and relevant professional qualifications.

Benefits

• Annual leave: Curriculum and Management: 44 days plus bank holidays; Curriculum support and business support: 39 days plus bank holidays.
• Pension schemes with generous employer contributions: Teachers Pension Scheme, Local Government Pension Scheme, Peoples Pension Scheme.
• CPD opportunities: Annual staff conference plus 2 additional staff development days. Qualifications including PGCE, Apprenticeships, Leadership and Management courses.
• Employee wellbeing initiatives: Family Friendly Policies, discounted onsite spa (Printworks) and gym (Park Lane).
• Travel and commuting: Discounted travel available through Metro card, Northern Rail, First Bus, Arriva Bus and Cycle to work schemes.
• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities.

Leeds City College is one of the largest further education institutions in the country and is one of the biggest providers of apprenticeships regionally. We provide a vibrant and diverse learning environment, delivering excellent and innovative education which is supportive, inspiring and life changing. Leeds City Colleges values put students first and are at the heart of everything the college does. We are committed to lifelong learning and investing in our staff. You'll have access to a broad variety of training and professional development designed to help you continually develop and grow. We offer a wide range of job vacancies, and our large size means there are always exciting opportunities to progress.

At Luminate Education Group we are committed to the safeguarding and welfare of all our students including children, young people, and vulnerable adults. We expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow the Safer Recruitment requirements and best practice as set out within Keeping Children Safe in Education statutory guidance. All successful applicants will be required to complete mandatory pre-employment checks which include an enhanced DBS check, online checks and must have two satisfactory references.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in recruitment is key to our Groups values. We are dedicated to fostering a workplace that embraces equality, diversity and inclusion in all its forms, where every candidate is treated with fairness, respect, and equity. Our recruitment processes are designed to ensure equal opportunities, remove bias, and promote a diverse talent pool.