Senior Catering Assistant

University of Leeds; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 17,000 - 21,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

On-site gym access

Staff development courses

On-site childcare discounts

Travel schemes

Job summary

The University of Leeds is seeking a Catering Services Assistant on a fixed-term 12-month contract, based on the campus. You will help deliver high-quality service to students, staff and visitors while upholding food hygiene standards and customer focus.

Working 35 hours per week over 5 days (7am–8pm shifts with full flexibility). You may work at different campus catering sites. Benefits include generous annual leave and wellbeing facilities.

Qualifications

• Experience in catering or retail environment and knowledge of food hygiene regulations.
• Ability to provide excellent customer service and maintain brand standards.
• Flexibility to work across campus catering sites and shifts.

Responsibilities

• Assist in delivering an effective and efficient catering service.
• Monitor stock, deliveries and financial procedures to meet customer needs.
• Support Team Leaders and manage designated area staffing.

Skills

Customer service

Catering experience

Food hygiene knowledge

Job description

This role will be based on the university campus and is for a Fixed-term of 12 months as additional resource is needed to cover peak demand for a limited period. We are open to discussing flexible working arrangements.

Interviews are to be held in person on 13th November 2026

Do you know how to go the extra mile for customers? Are you customer focused and dedicated to providing an excellent service? Do you have understanding of the catering industry?

The University of Leeds is one of the top 80 universities in the world. We have a truly global community, with more than 39,000 students from 170 different countries and over 9,000 staff of 100 different nationalities. Established in 1904, we have a strong tradition of academic excellence, reflected in first-class student education, along with world-leading research that has a real impact around the globe.

Providing customers with excellent service and quality fresh food is at the heart of what we strive to achieve in our Catering Services Team.

You will be responsible for assisting in delivering an effective and efficient service in line with our division's strategy and goals, assisting the smooth running of the catering service. Providing customers with excellent service and quality fresh food is at the heart of what we strive to achieve in our catering provision. Working in conjunction with the Team Leaders, you will assist in delivering an effective and efficient campus service to students, staff and visitors in line with the 'Division's' strategy and goals. You will be responsible for ensuring that the Catering Services unit operates effectively and ensuring that customer needs and brand standards are met and are adhered to at all times.

You will ensure that customers are provided with excellent customer service. You will have experience of working within a catering or retail environment and knowledge of food hygiene regulations. You will be responsible for the catering assistants in your designated area and that the monitoring of stock, deliveries and financial procedures are in place to meet all of our customer needs.

This role is 35 hours each week, on a 5 days over 7 basis. Your typical shifts will be between the hours of 7am to 8pm, but full flexibility will be required. Although you will be based at our main campus facility, you may also be required to work at any of the areas within catering services, when there is a business requirement.

• 26 days holiday plus approx. 16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) - That's 42 days a year!
• Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls.
• Personal Development: Access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team.
• Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available.

And much more!

Please see details of the University's Pre-employment Health Assessment within the Candidate Brief.