Catering Assistant

Heriot-Watt University; Easter Howgate; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days annual leave

Job summary

Heriot-Watt University is seeking a Catering Assistant to join our campus catering team. Grade 3: £24,546 per annum, pro rata for part-time staff, with 28 days annual leave and additional closed days as shown in our benefits calculator.

The role involves welcoming customers, preparing outlets, handling tills, stock, and basic food preparation while ensuring health, safety and cleanliness to high standards. Flexible hours, with shifts starting early in the day and some weekend work.

Qualifications

• Demonstrates ability to speak and understand English to follow verbal and written instructions and queries
• Well-developed interpersonal skills and courteous customer service
• Ability to work quickly, flexibly and accurately
• Good attention to detail and personal hygiene standards
• Sufficient physical ability to carry out duties (standing, bending, lifting)

Responsibilities

• Provide and assist with professional catering service to students, colleagues and visitors
• Prepare and pre-service activities before opening outlets or events
• Operate outlets tills and process payments (cash, card, contactless)
• Replenish and clean vending machines as trained
• Assist with stock reception, storage and counting of deliveries
• Assist with basic food preparation and production of salads, sandwiches, coffees and hot/cold items
• Prepare, operate and clean equipment (soup kettles, coffee machines, ice machines, blenders, dishwashers, etc.)
• Assist with front and back of house cleaning and with buffet service as required
• Follow health, hygiene, safety and waste management procedures (EH, COSHH)
• Maintain high personal hygiene and present a neat appearance

Skills

Customer service

English communication

Flexibility

Attention to detail

Physical stamina

Tools

Catering equipment operation

Job description

Role:Catering Assistant.

Grade and Salary: Grade 3: £24,546 per annum (pro rata if part-time).

Holiday Entitlement:28 days annual leaveplus 9 buildings-closed days (and Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday). Use our total rewards calculator: Total rewards calculator | Heriot-Watt University to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.

Shifts Available

Hours flexible, 5 days from 7 – All weekly rosters subject to change (occasional weekend work required).

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide and assist with the provision of professional, welcoming, high quality, flexible catering service to students, colleagues and visitors to the University across all areas.
• Preparation and pre-service activities prior to the opening of an outlet or the start of an event.
• Operate the outlet tills – including include taking payments whether cash, credit, contactless or cashless.
• Replenish, clean and service vending machines as trained and per procedures.
• Assist with ordering, receiving and storing food deliveries and stock counting.
• Assist as directed with basic food preparation readying outlets for service, producing prepare to order items – both hot and cold, creation and production of salads, sandwiches, coffees and other items as instructed.
• Preparation, safe operation and cleaning of small items of equipment – to include soup kettles, coffee machines, ice machines, blenders, dishwashers, countertop ovens, toasters etc used daily within the outlets.
• Function Waiting/ service to table, Bar Service, (with relevant training), and assistance with buffet service when required.
• Follow all laid down processes and procedures relating to food preparation, health, hygiene and welfare, temperature checking and waste management. To work within and to be aware of EH, COSHH and Health and Safety Guidelines.
• Maintain a high standard of personal hygiene and work in a clean and tidy manner. Uniform must be always kept clean & presentable.
• Front and back of house cleaning activities as & when necessary.
• Any other relevant duties which may be required from time to time or as the service develops and adapts which may be reasonably expected of the post holder.

Essential & Desirable Criteria

Essential

• Demonstrable ability to speak and understand English to follow verbal and written instructions and deal with customer/student queries
• Well-developed interpersonal skills
• Delivers excellent customer service, with a professional and courteous approach
• Ability to work quickly, flexibly and accurately
• Good attention to detail
• Sufficient physical ability to carry out the duties of the post, including bending, standing, walking, lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling.

Where the post holder is in possession of a valid UK Driving License, they will be required to register it with the University Insurance services and drive University Vehicles when required to facilitate the provision of services

Desirable

• Experience of working within a similar environment
• Experience of operating relevant catering and or cleaning equipment

We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g., part-time working and job share options.

Heriot-WattUniversity is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised, and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.

Heriot-WattUniversity values diversity across our university community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers https://disc.hw.ac.uk/.

Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.

About Heriot-Watt University

At Heriot-Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.

Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.