LABORATORY ASSISTANT

Durban University of Technology; Durban; On-site; ZAR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Durban University of Technology invites applications for the Lab Assistant position in our Hospitality and Tourism Management labs at the Ritson Campus.

The Lab Assistant plays a critical operational role in maintaining high-quality kitchen environments, managing food stock and kitchen equipment, supporting academic staff during practical culinary sessions, and ensuring strict adherence to health, safety, and hygiene standards.

Qualifications

• National Diploma or NQF 6 in Hospitality/Catering/Professional Cookery.
• Minimum of 3 years relevant operational experience in a commercial kitchen, hotel school training facility, or food production environment.
• Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and email/internet usage.

Responsibilities

• Practical Class Preparation: Set up ingredients, specialized tools, and commercial kitchen equipment for daily culinary practicals, demonstrations, and culinary assessment modules.
• Inventory & Store Operations: Receive, inspect, store, and issue raw ingredients, dry stock, and equipment. Maintain accurate stock registers and assist with routine auditing.
• Kitchen Sanitation & HACCP Compliance: Enforce strict hygiene, sanitation, and waste management protocols across all training kitchens, cold stores, and preparation areas.
• Equipment Maintenance & Safety: Perform daily operational checks on commercial kitchen machinery (ovens, refrigeration, cooktops), conduct basic maintenance reporting, and ensure health and safety protocols are followed.
• Support to Teaching Staff: Provide operational and technical support to academic staff and students during scheduled practical kitchen sessions and departmental food events.
• Undertake any additional duties assigned by HOD.

Skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Time management

Education

National Diploma or NQF Level 6 in Hospitality/Catering/Professional Cookery/Food & Beverage Management

Tools

MS Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Email

Internet

Job description

With more than34400 students and approximately 1700 members of staff, theDurban University of Technology (DUT)is a leading university of technology proudly located in the beautiful cities ofDurbanandPietermaritzburg, along the warm east coast of South Africa. Founded in April 2002 through the historic merger of the former ML Sultan Technikon and Technikon Natal, DUT has evolved into a modern, metropolitan, multi-campus university with roots tracing back to 1907.

Today, DUT is recognisednationally and internationallyfor its excellence inteaching and learning, research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and engagement. A proud member of theInternational Association of Universities, DUT continues to expand its influence across South Africa and the world. In the2025 Webometrics Rankings, DUT was ranked among theTop 6% of all universities and colleges worldwide, reflecting its academic excellence, research impact, and strong global visibility.

DUT’s Philosophy of Education, “Our creativity and innovation shape adaptive graduates who transform society,” reflects the institution’s deep commitment to meaningful impact for societal transformation. Guided by its inspirational and aspirational ENVISION2030 strategy, which is rooted in DUT’s DNA of being ‘people-centred and engaged’ and ‘innovative and entrepreneurial’ and underpinned by its bespoke Living Values Framework, DUT focuses on ‘contributing to the improvement of lives and livelihoods’.

The University comprises six diverse Faculties:

1. Accounting and Informatics
2. Applied Science
3. Arts & Design
4. Engineering and the Built Environment
5. Health Sciences
6. Management Sciences

DUT also includes a Business School and the award-winning Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology (IWWT), amongst other research centres and institutes, reinforcing its role as a hub for knowledge, innovation, and societal impact. Over the years, the University has substantially grown its research output, dominating the UoT sector. This is evidenced by the steady increase in NRF-rated researchers and the notable, unprecedented award of seven NRF SARCHi Chairs in 2025. This impetus helps us to remain deeply engaged with our communities globally, thereby transforming societies and economies.

At DUT, we believe in nurturing talent and empowering people to make a real difference. If you are passionate about contributing to education, research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and engagement, DUT offers the ideal environment -Creative. Distinctive. Impactful.

FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM MANAGEMENT: HOTEL SCHOOL (RITSON CAMPUS)

Lab Assistant (REF:20001841)

The Department of Hospitality and Tourism at Durban University of Technology (DUT) invites applications for the position of Lab Assistant in our practical Training Kitchens. The Lab Assistant plays a critical operational role in maintaining high-quality kitchen environments, managing food stock and kitchen equipment, supporting academic staff during practical culinary sessions, and ensuring strict adherence to health, safety, and hygiene standards.

Minimum Requirements

• National Diploma or NQF Level 6 qualification in Hospitality/Catering/Professional Cookery/Food and Beverage Management.
• Minimum of 3 years relevant operational experience in a commercial kitchen, hotel school training facility, or food production environment.

Additional Recommendations

• Proficiency in communications skills.
• Computer literacy in MS Word, Excel, Power-point, internet and email use.
• Knowledge of food safety protocols (HACCP), inventory control systems, and chemical handling.
• Strong organizational skills with high attention to detail and safety.
• Previous exposure to an academic training environment or supervising student assistants.
• First Aid certification.

Summary of Duties

• Practical Class Preparation: Set up ingredients, specialized tools, and commercial kitchen equipment for daily culinary practicals, demonstrations, and culinary assessment modules.
• Inventory & Store Operations: Receive, inspect, store, and issue raw ingredients, dry stock, and equipment. Maintain accurate stock registers and assist with routine auditing.
• Kitchen Sanitation & HACCP Compliance: Enforce strict hygiene, sanitation, and waste management protocols across all training kitchens, cold stores, and preparation areas.
• Equipment Maintenance & Safety: Perform daily operational checks on commercial kitchen machinery (ovens, refrigeration, cooktops), conduct basic maintenance reporting, and ensure health and safety protocols are followed.
• Support to Teaching Staff: Provide operational and technical support to academic staff and students during scheduled practical kitchen sessions and departmental food events.
• Undertake any additional duties assigned by HOD.

Key Competencies

• Strong knowledge of commercial kitchen tools, culinary terminology, and food safety standards.
• Excellent organizational skills with strict attention to detail in inventory tracking.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills to engage professionally with academic staff, students, and external suppliers.
• Problem-solving mindset and time-management capabilities.

Personal Attributes

• Responsible, reliable, independent and has sense of urgency;
• Honest, Reliable, Efficient and Professional at all times.
• People orientated, hard worker, responsible, reliable, creative and innovative.
• Respectful, honest, punctual and understand protocol.
• Proven attributes of transparency, integrity and teamwork.

Salary : Market Related

Contact

Person: Miss MN Mthembu, Tel [phone] or [e-mail]

CLOSING DATE: 05 NOVEMBER 2026

While DUT strives for equal opportunities, preference will be in terms of the University’s equity policy

The University reserves the right not to appoint