Kitchen Assistant

Aberystwyth University; Aberystwyth; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 23,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working policy

Hybrid Working

36.5-hour week

Staff discounts on campus facilities

Staff development opportunities

Job summary

Aberystwyth University is seeking a Kitchen Assistant for the Aberystwyth Arts Centre. You will help keep the kitchen clean, support basic food preparation and assist with maintaining a well-organised kitchen operation. Reporting to the Head Chef, you will work flexibly including evenings and weekends to meet business needs.

Responsibilities include cleaning, basic prep, stock support and HACCP compliance, with opportunities for development within the Arts Centre kitchen team.

Qualifications

• Basic Food Hygiene certificate is required.
• Experience in a catering environment preferred.
• Ability to use ordering systems and spreadsheets.
• Knowledge of high quality fresh food.
• Able to work unsupervised and manage own workload.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills.
• Strong communication and teamwork abilities.
• Welsh language level A1 or evidence of learning Welsh.

Responsibilities

• Ensure production, service and storage areas are clean and compliant with health and safety and food safety legislation.
• Maintain a clean and safe kitchen environment.
• Prepare vegetables, salads and desserts as required.
• Prepare sandwiches and filled rolls to standards.
• Follow HACCP, COSHH, and AU safety policies.
• Work as an active, flexible member of the Arts Centre Kitchen Team.

Skills

Organisational skills

Teamwork

Welsh language (A1)

Communication skills

Flexibility

Food safety awareness

Education

Basic Food Hygiene certificate

Tools

Ordering systems

Spreadsheets

Job description

The

The Role

The Kitchen Assistant is essential to the functioning and smooth running of the kitchen, and an integral part of the kitchen team. Primarily responsible for ensuring kitchen cleanliness, basic food preparation, and maintaining kitchen organisation, we are seeking a highly motivated individual. Reporting to the Head Chef, the Kitchen Assistant will be expected to maintain the highest standards of cleanliness and become a key member of the food & beverage team at the Arts Centre.

To make an informal enquiry, please contact Sarah Hughes at [e-mail].

Successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check(DBS)check.

Appointments are normally made within 4 - 8 weeks of the closing date.

What you’ll do

This job description is subject to review and amendment in the light of the changing needs of the University, to provide appropriate development opportunities and/or the addition of any other reasonable duties.

The position requires the post holder to be fully flexible in meeting the needs of the department, to be seen to be a pro-active and dedicated member of the kitchen team, developing a good work ethic, encouraging continued staff and product development in all areas.

Responsible to: Arts Centre Head Chef

Location: Aberystwyth Arts Centre

Hours: Shift patterns vary to cover the business need, based on the Arts Centre’s busy events programme, candidates must therefore be flexible and will be expected to work evenings and weekends.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• To ensure that all production, service and storage areas are clean and comply with all health and safety and food safety legislation.
• To ensure that the kitchens are maintained to be a clean and safe working environment.
• Cleaning of the kitchen, equipment, service areas, crockery, cutlery and glassware.
• Cleaning of the exterior areas of the kitchen, refuse areas and goods in yard.
• Cleaning of floors, walls and equipment in compliance with health and safety, using the correct equipment in the correct manner.
• To ensure that all kitchen staff are aware of any temporary hazards and their working practices amended accordingly.
• Removal of refuse from the kitchen and servery areas into the correct refuse or recyclable containers or bins.
• The completion of cleaning schedules as set out by the university food safety manual.
• To assist in the receiving of goods and the placing of them in the correct areas in the correct manner as set out in the food safety manual and as dictated by the senior chef on duty.
• To check the weight, quality and temperature of all goods in, and ensure correct and timely storage. To check invoices against delivery notes and purchase orders.
• Assisting in stock takes as requested and maintaining stock sheets with the correct pricing.
• Preparation of vegetables, salads & desserts as requested by the senior chef on duty.
• To prepare sandwiches & filled rolls in line with our catering and retail standards, ensuring sandwich displays are well stocked and standards of presentation are maintained throughout the day.
• Being knowledgeable of the products being prepared and the allergens associated with these products, assisting with labelling and the preparation of labels for all products prepared.
• To work in a manner that complies with HACCP, COSHH, and AU safety policy.
• To be an active, flexible and dedicated member of the Arts Centre Kitchen Team.
• To ensure that all equipment faults are reported in a timely manner through the correct channels.

Additional Responsibilities

• Undertake other duties as assigned by your line manager, commensurate with the role's grade.
• To be a flexible member of the team, supporting colleagues at peak times of workload and pressure including attendance at university events e.g. open days, graduation which may include weekend work.
• Promote equality of opportunity, and to support and uphold the University's commitment to diversity and inclusion in all aspects of your work.
• To support the university strategy and underlining plans, engage in continuous personal and professional development in line with the demands of the role, including undertaking relevant training and development activities to develop yourself and support the development of others.
• Fulfil health and safety responsibilities appropriate to the role, while actively promoting the personal health, safety, and wellbeing of staff and students as a member of the Aberystwyth community. Additionally, support the University’s commitment to environmental sustainability through responsible practices and engagement.

The above does not represent an exhaustive list of duties associated with this role.

The position is physically demanding therefore it is essential that the successful applicant has an appropriate level of health and fitness. Appointment to this position may be subject to a satisfactory fitness assessment.

Who you are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required

Essential

1. Basic Food Hygiene certificate.
2. Previous experience in a catering environment.
3. Experience with working on computers with the ability to use ordering systems and spreadsheets.
4. An understanding and knowledge of high quality, freshly prepared food.
5. Ability to work unsupervised to follow tasks and standards as instructed.
6. Excellent organisational and time management skills and the ability to organise and prioritise own workload.
7. Excellent communication skills with the ability to effectively resolve issues as they arise.
8. Ability to work flexibly and as part of a team.
9. Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level A1.* For A1, A2 and B1, include the following: or evidence to demonstrate an on-going commitment to learn Welsh to this level.

Desirable

1. Manual Handling qualification.
2. Allergen Training
3. COSHH Training.
4. First Aid Training.
5. Full UK Driver’s License
6. Previous experience in a kitchen environment.
7. Previous experience with basic food preparation.
8. Previous experience in an Arts/Events based environment.
9. Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level A2*

*More information on Welsh Language Levels can be found at:

https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/hr/policy-and-procedure/welsh-standards/

Benefits

• Flexible working policy
• Hybrid Working
• 36.5 – hour week for full-time roles
• Generous leave entitlements – 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays and university closed days
• Commitment to Professional Development
• Enhanced contribution to our workplace pension schemes
• Staff recognition and reward schemes
• Opportunity to learn the Welsh language for free
• Staff relocation bursary
• Maternity, Paternity, Parental and Adoption Leave
• Staff discount for gym facilities, hospitality, and retail on campus.

Aberystwyth University generally supports hybrid working, allowing a mix of office-based and remote working for suitable roles to enhance flexibility and productivity. Job descriptions typically detail a primary work location alongside opportunities for flexible, remote, or home-based work, subject to service needs and manager approval.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities and, those that are currently underrepresented in our workforce. This includes but is not limited to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, candidates with disabilities, and female candidates.

We are a Bilingual Institution which complies with the Welsh Language Standards and is committed to Equal Opportunities. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.

Employment Visa

Under the UK Government’s points-based system scheme, this role does not meet the criteria to be sponsored by Aberystwyth University (AU) for a Skilled Worker Route (SWR) application.