Food Service Assistant

Durham University; North East; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in the North East of England is looking for a team member to provide a professional catering service. You'll ensure high standards in food service and maintain cleanliness in dining areas. The role includes physical tasks like lifting equipment and requires flexibility in working hours, including evenings and weekends. Join us at our Recruitment Open Day for more information.

Qualifications

• Punctual, flexible, willing to work variable shift patterns.
• Able to handle physical tasks including lifting and transporting food equipment.

Responsibilities

• Provide a courteous, professional catering service.
• Ensure food service areas are clean and safe.
• Complete washing up and clearing food areas.

Job description

The Role

You will be working as part of a team to provide students, colleagues and guests with a courteous, professional, friendly and efficient catering service. Working as part of the catering team you will ensure that food service and dining areas are set up to an exceptional standard and remain clean, tidy and a safe working environment.

Washing up is completed as part of the role, this will include the use of an automatic dishwasher, and after service, all food areas are cleared and cleaned.

Working in a catering environment requires an element of physical manual handling which can include lifting and transporting food and catering equipment, including heavy plates and cutlery.

Specific Role Information

We will require you to be punctual, flexible and willing to work variable shift patterns, including evenings and weekends.

Example of the shifts are breakfast/lunch 7.30am-3pm, lunch 10am-3pm and dinner 4.30pm-8pm with on occasion finishing at 10pm if there is a function taking place.

Hours available vary between 9, 10, 12, 16 or 25 hours per week. Some of these contracts are for 52 weeks, and others for 32 weeks (Term time only contracts).

Open Day

Applicants will be invited to attend our Recruitment Open Day for an informal interview on Wednesday 3 December 2025. You will receive an email invite to this Open Day, please contact us if you do not receive this.

Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description.

Who to contact for more information

If you would like to have a chat or ask any questions about the role or if you are struggling to complete the application process, the systems and administration team would be happy to speak to you: .