Food and Beverage Assistant Campus Services 48437 Grade 2

The University of Birmingham; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Birmingham is seeking a dedicated individual to provide excellent customer service in food and beverage outlets. Responsibilities include food preparation, cash handling, and maintaining hygiene standards. The ideal candidate will have customer service experience and a commitment to quality, with opportunities for training and personal development in a diverse workplace offering flexible working arrangements and benefits.

Benefits

40 days paid holiday

Paid day for volunteering

Occupational sick pay

Pension scheme

High-quality subsidised nurseries

Qualifications

• Experience in a busy customer-facing role.
• Ability to maintain a high standard of personal appearance.
• Commitment to providing quality service.

Responsibilities

• Provide excellent customer service in food outlets.
• Maintain hygiene and food safety standards.
• Handle cash and operate EPOS terminals.

Skills

Customer service experience

Food and beverage knowledge

Positive communication skills

Flexibility

Ability to work in a team

Education

A Level 2 Food Safety Certificate (desirable)

Job description

Our offer to you

People are at the heart of what we are and do.

The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global institution. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed and celebrate their success.

We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector‑leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential. With almost 5000 professional services jobs across a wide range of functions in Edgbaston and our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities to develop your career at the University.

We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who we are, what we do, and how we work.

Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important. Depending on the role we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We provide a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, a pension scheme, and three high‑quality subsidised day nurseries.

Our state‑of‑the‑art sports centre, pool, shops, cafés, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens make Edgbaston an attractive location with excellent transport links.

Find out more about the benefits of working for the University of Birmingham.

Background

The Business and Operations department offers a variety of outlets to staff, students and visitors across campus and in student accommodation, from small coffee shops to large hospitality services for conferences and events held on campus and further afield.

Role Summary

You will be responsible for providing excellent customer service in one of those areas/outlets. This post involves basic food preparation, provision of a high quality food and beverage service, cash handling, cleaning and stock control, along with any other duties required to ensure the smooth running of the business and operation services we offer to a diverse range of customers. You may also be required to work elsewhere in the department or wider University.

Main Duties

Customer Service

• Greet and serve customers in a professional, responsive, courteous, and friendly manner, including answering queries and dealing with situations that arise to deliver the highest level of customer service.
• Build rapport with customers whenever possible and encourage customer feedback.
• Maintain a professional working relationship with all colleagues.

Business Requirements

• Undertake basic food and beverage preparation to deliver quality products to the customer.
• Ensure a correct standard of stock rotation is followed while maintaining adequate stock levels, adjusting orders as required and ensuring food products are used prior to the best‑before date.
• Report any equipment failures and hazards to either the Supervisor/Manager/Supplier in a timely manner.
• Ensure all portion controls are adhered to as directed by the Supervisor/Manager and in line with Operations Manuals.
• Maintain control over all food and drink wastage and record as required.
• Ensure that all HACCP hygiene and allergen recording systems and food and drink receipt procedures are carried out and correctly recorded.
• Conform and adhere to all Health/Food Safety Codes of Practice and COSHH regulations at all times.
• Assist with the transportation of commodities and equipment from one location to another as required following hygiene and health and safety protocols.
• Operate electronic point of sale (EPOS) terminals and handle cash effectively, including opening and end‑of‑day procedures, cashing up and ensuring the security of all monies; if required in secure areas.
• Perform cleaning tasks to a high standard at all times following standard operating procedures, ensuring the regular removal of rubbish as necessary and ensuring a clean environment.
• Ensure the thorough cleaning of all equipment, utensils, crockery, glassware, walls, fridges, tables and accompaniments, and all work areas and surfaces, and to ensure they are sanitised before the end of each shift.
• On occasion you may be required to place orders for food and commodities and/or undertake stock takes as directed by your manager.
• If serving alcohol ensure compliance with the relevant licensing laws.

Team Work

• Actively seek opportunities to increase sales by upselling products and making recommendations as directed by your manager.
• Participate in any training and development activities as required.
• Be supportive to colleagues.
• Attend all team briefs, training and departmental meetings as required.
• Be actively involved in an annual personal development review with your line manager/supervisor.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties or requests (other than those stated in the job description) as requested by a senior member of staff, including driving UoB vehicles when required (if you hold a clean driving licence).
• Treat everyone with dignity and respect, supporting equality and valuing diversity.

Operational Requirements

• Contracts are annualised and based on 35 hours per week (or pro‑rata) inclusive of weekdays, weekends, bank holidays and closed days on a rota basis including evening work activities. Operational windows will vary by business unit/activity. Hours will be defined in your contract of employment.
• The post holder will primarily focus on one area – front of house, back of house or logistics. The post holder may be required to work in other areas of the business occasionally, subject to business need.
• To undertake works activities across all UoB campuses as requested that are commensurate with the grade and role activities to support the Division and wider UoB activities.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

• Experience and knowledge of working in a busy customer‑facing role with previous experience of working in a food and beverage environment is an advantage.
• A Level 2 Food Safety Certificate is desirable, although full training will be provided.
• A commitment to providing a quality service.
• Positive communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work on own initiative or as part of a team.
• Ability to maintain a high standard of personal appearance; parts of a uniform is provided for this purpose.
• Work patterns may vary, so a flexible approach to working hours and days is essential.
• Ability to learn and understand how diversity considerations affect own area (requirements/dress code).
• Full clean driving licence desirable.

Dimensions

This role is concerned with providing a quality customer service in the provision of food and beverages.

Planning and Organising

The post holder will follow instructions from their supervisor in terms of day‑to‑day focus, working in response to customer orders or to planned activities in preparation areas, or will need to maintain an awareness of how their work links with others and ensure certain activities are completed within a shift.

Problem Solving and Decision Making

The role will undertake a variety of activities that are very similar in nature, with most problems arising being ones that have been seen before. The role holder will know how to resolve it from experience but will refer to a manager if assistance is required.

Internal and External Relationships

This is a customer‑facing role and will be expected to be polite, responsive, friendly and courteous at all times, dealing with enquiries in a professional manner that leaves customers feeling well treated.

Key Skills

• Abinitio
• Bidding
• EMC
• IT System Administration
• Assembling
• Fire Alarm

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK

Grade: 2

Closing date: 17th November 2025

Employment Type: Full‑Time

Vacancy: 1

Monthly Salary: 23,764 – 24,855