Kitchen Assistant

John Lewis Partnership; Maidenhead; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading employee-owned business in the UK is seeking a Kitchen Assistant to maintain kitchen standards and help with food preparation. This role offers ongoing training, including Food Safety Level 2, and a Night Premium for late shifts. Applicants should have good communication skills and the ability to work in teams. The position includes varied hours, fostering a good work-life balance and supporting flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

Training in Food Safety Level 2

Night Premium pay

Qualifications

• Experience in a kitchen or hospitality environment is welcomed but not essential.
• Training in Food Safety Level 2 is provided within the first 3 months.

Responsibilities

• Maintain kitchen cleanliness in compliance with food safety regulations.
• Assist in basic food preparation and manage deliveries.
• Contribute to the efficient running of the department.

Skills

Good communication skills

Ability to work in a team or independently

Adhere to food safety policy

Job description

About the Role

As a Kitchen Assistant you’ll work in all areas of the kitchen including being a kitchen porter, basic food preparation, helping to maintain the high standards of hospitality for all hotel guests to enjoy.

You will be involved with the preparation of food for our hotel guests, managing stock and minimising wastage. This is a role where you will receive ongoing training and there is plenty of opportunity for you to progress throughout the kitchen and hospitality sector. In addition to your contractual pay, any time worked between 22:00 - 06:00 will attract Night Premium at a rate of £3.50 per hour. This will also apply to existing Partners who have enrolled onto Enhanced Hours Premium arrangements.

Key Responsibilities

• Working as part of the kitchen brigade to maintain the kitchen standards of cleanliness in compliance with food safety regulations and guidelines.
• Assist in basic food preparation, take responsibility for deliveries, the completion of cleaning schedules and temperature checks for kitchen equipment.
• Add value to the efficient and profitable running of your department in order to achieve business and personal objectives, along with those of your team and the hotel.

Essential Skills / Experience

• Good communication skills.
• The ability to work in a team or on your own.
• Ability to interpret and adhere to food safety policy and health and safety regulations.

Desirable Skills / Experience

• Experience in a kitchen or hospitality environment is welcomed but not essential.
• We’ll make sure you have all the training you need to perform at your best, everyday. This includes training in Food Safety Level 2 which is normally completed in the first 3‑month.

Closing Date

January 1, 2026

Pay

£12.40 Hourly

Contract Type

Permanent

Hours of Work

37.5 hours per week – varied hours of full‑time work to include early starts, late finishes, evenings and weekends between 08:00 and 21:00. Non‑working days are Tuesday and Wednesday.

Job Level

Partnership Level 10

Where You’ll Be Working

Odney Club, Odney Lane, Cookham, Berkshire, SL6 9SR

About the Partnership

We’re the largest employee‑owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.

We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food‑lovers in Waitrose.

As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect.

We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective.

As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.

Important points to note

It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre‑employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays. Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third‑party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles.

We also recommend that you apply as soon as possible as vacancies can close early if we see a high number of applicants.

We want all of our Partners to have a good work‑life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.