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We are a team of over 500, providing fresh and diverse catering throughout Durham University. This includes college dining halls, college bars, college cafés, visitor attractions and branded retail catering outlets.

Catering team members are responsible for providing a professional, responsive and efficient customer-facing catering service to students, staff and visitors, ensuring that food service areas are presented, served, replenished and cleaned to an exceptional standard and in line with standard operating procedures.

Job Title: Food Service Assistant
Department: Operations Directorate, College Catering
Grade: Grade 1
Salary range: £19,578 per annum (pro rata)
Working arrangements:

All roles are any 5 days out of 7. Successful applicants will be required to work some evenings and weekends.

Working in the catering team requires an element of physical manual handling, which can include lifting and transporting catering equipment.

The post holder will be required to work flexibly across all catering areas.

If a fixed contract isn't something you are looking for at the moment, we will also have casual opportunities being made available to provide more flexibility and suit your needs, please ask about these at an interview if you are successfully invited.

Closing date: 10th March 2023
Potential interview date: TBC

The University

At Durham University, we are proud of our people, because they are at the heart of our globally outstanding institution, which is a key part of our local community. We inspire our people to do extraordinary things and we invite you to join our fantastic team.

Across the University, we have a huge variety of roles and responsibilities, which together make us one large and successful community. Whether you are at the very start, middle or end of your career, there is a role for you. We believe everyone has their own unique skills to offer.

At the University we promote and actively champion equality, diversity and inclusion. It is crucial that everyone can be themselves and can flourish in an environment where everyone respects each other and is treated fairly. We want our people and wider community to feel happy, secure and proud to be a part of Durham. We are looking for the same values in you.

We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. For more information on our EDI strategy and values, click here

The Role and Department
College catering are seeking to recruit food service and retail cafe assistants into very rewarding and demanding roles. This role is key in our teams and ensures the smooth running of the food service operation within the food and beverage team, in order for us to achieve an outstanding student experience and guest satisfaction. We focus on personality rather than experience when recruiting new team members. We seek individuals with creativity and the desire to be the very best in everything they do. Think you have that 'sparkle' and 'can-do' attitude we look for in all of our team? Are you excited about becoming part of a team that strives to be the best? Then we want to hear from you

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

Working at Durham

A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University: you will also receive access to the following fantastic benefits:

• 27 Days annual leave per year (in additional to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year), a total of 39 days, dependent on contract.
• No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered. We have parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies.
• Discounts via our benefits portal including; money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, the cinema and days out at various attractions.
• On site nursery and children’s clubs during the summer holidays.
• Lots of support for health and wellbeing including discounted membership for our state of the art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• The opportunity to take part in staff volunteering activities.
• Family friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, which are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers)
• If you are keen on advancing in your role or career, we have a genuine passion for developing our colleagues from qualifications, to IT skills, courses and apprenticeships.
• Generous pension schemes.

What you need to demonstrate when you apply

When you apply it is important that you let us know what skills/experience you have from a similar role and/or what skills/experience you have which would make you right for this role including:

1. Good oral and written communication skills.
2. Basic digital skills including the ability to use core digital tools including internet email
3. Basic numeracy and literacy skills.
4. Evidence of personal development to maintain skills.
5. Experience of working in a team.
6. Ability to manage time in order to meet deadlines.
7. Ability to follow instructions, written or oral, accurately.

Desirable

1. Level 2 Basic food safety hygiene.

2. Experience of working in a customer focused service

How to Apply

We prefer to receive applications online.

We will update you about your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to make sure you have not missed any of our updates.

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, Philip Andrew would be happy to speak to you. E-mail: [email protected].

Typical Role Requirements

Service Delivery

• Complete a set of tasks/procedures within a team to deliver a service to customers.
• Follow instructions from a supervisor to identify what and how to deliver a set of tasks or processes.
• Learn the correct methods and tasks to undertake the role of [job title].
• Learn and adhere to general health, safety and security procedures.
• Use a range of equipment, tools and resources, digital devices, software and applications where necessary.
• Record and store information in a prescribed order.
• Carry out basic administrative tasks under supervision.
• Learn how to, and use manual and electronic everyday tools, equipment and applications to deliver services
• A commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and the University’s values.

Team

• Support your team members daily and assist when instructed.
• Assist team members to deliver an excellent student, staff or visitor service.
• Assist other team members with the application of basic audit and stock control tasks.

Communication/Personal

• Be a committed colleague to our core values and behaviours.
• Communicate with supervisor, team members, other staff, students and visitors in person or using electronic tools and applications.
• Any other reasonable duties.

Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement https://www.durham.ac.uk/about-us/governance/information-governance/privacy-notices/privacy-notices/job-applicants/ which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.

When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas.