Catering Assistant

Thornhill College; Derry/Londonderry; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

A local educational institution in Derry/Londonderry is seeking a Catering Assistant to support the daily operations of the catering unit. Responsibilities include food preparation, cash handling, and ensuring a hygienic environment. Applicants should have experience in catering and the ability to work well in a team. This fulltime position offers a start date of January 5th, 2026 and a closing date for applications on December 5th, 2025.

Qualifications

• Experience in a catering role is desirable.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with a team.
• Experience in a school setting may be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Prepare food and beverages, including vegetables and snacks.
• Handle cashless and swipe card till operations.
• Transfer and serve meals and snacks from kitchen to dining areas.
• Prepare dining area with tables, chairs, and serving points.
• Perform general kitchen and dining room cleaning duties.
• Record temperatures for food control purposes.
• Assist in promoting meals to pupils and parents.
• Secure premises as required.

Skills

Experience in a similar position within the catering environment

Ability to work as part of a team

Education

Basic Hygiene Certificate

Job description

To actively participate in the daily operation of the Catering Unit under the direction of the Unit Catering Supervisor to provide an efficient hygienic service, to achieve customer satisfaction and to promote sales within the unit.

Responsibilities

• The basic preparation of food and beverages including the preparation of vegetables and snacks using appropriate equipment.
• To carry out cashless/swipe card till operation duties.
• The transferring and serving of meals and snacks including the transfer of meals and orders from the kitchen to other areas of the school.
• Preparation of the dining area: The setting out of dining room tables, chairs, benches and serving points as required by the meals service. The setting of tables, laying out of cutlery, water jugs etc.
• General kitchen and dining room duties including washing up, clearing away equipment including tables, chairs and benches. The cleaning of the kitchen/servery, dining room and equipment including floors and walls.
• Recording of temperatures for control purposes as required.
• Duties as delegated in connection with service provision.
• Simple cooking including the reconstitution of prepared food.
• Organisation and control of food service points.
• Assisting with the promotion of meals to pupils, parents and principal.
• Securing of premises as required.
• Any other duties which may be delegated to school meals staff due to close of additional lunchtime eating areas during the month of June e.g. supervising, light housekeeping etc.

Skills and Qualifications

• Experience in a similar position within the catering environment is desirable.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Applicants who have experience in a similar position in a school and/or hold a Basic Hygiene Certificate may have an advantage.

Further Information

Start date: 5th January 2026. Closing date: 10.00am Friday 5th December 2025.

Application packs (and General Data Protection Regulation GDPR information) may also be obtained from the College website/vacancies section on: www.thornhillcollege.org.uk or contact the College: Tel: [phone].

Applications to be returned electronically to: [e-mail]. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview – date provisionally set for Friday 12th December 2025. Fair employment monitoring form included with application pack on schooL.