Overview
We are hiring a Catering Assistant (x3) to join our team and help deliver a professional, welcoming, and flexible catering service to students, colleagues, and visitors across the University.
Contract Type: Part Time, Open Ended (including weekends) – weekly rosters subject to change. Hours: 0.5FTE (17.5 hours per week) x1, 0.3FTE (8 hours per week) x2. Salary: Grade 2 (£12.64 per hour).
Physical Demands: Bending, standing, walking, lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, cleaning and moving equipment.
Rewards and Benefits: 28 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days per year after 5 years service, plus 9 buildings closed days for all full time staff (pro rata for part time staff). Use the total rewards calculator to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.
Location: Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom (various sites on campus).
Role Responsibilities
* Provide and assist with the provision of professional, welcoming, high quality, flexible catering service to students, colleagues and visitors to the University across all areas.
* Carry out preparation and pre-service activities prior to opening outlets or events.
* Operate outlet tills and handle payments (cash, credit, contactless, or cashless).
* Fill, clean and service vending machines as trained and per procedures.
* Assist with receiving and putting away food deliveries and stock counting.
* Assist with basic food preparation to ready outlets for service, producing hot and cold items, salads, sandwiches, coffees and other items as instructed.
* Prepare, operate and clean small catering equipment (e.g., soup kettles, coffee machines, ice machines, blenders, dishwashers, countertop ovens, toasters).
* Provide front-of-house support including table service, bar service (training provided), and buffet service as required.
* Follow all processes relating to food preparation, health, hygiene and welfare, temperature checking and waste management; work within EH, COSHH and Health and Safety guidelines.
* Maintain high standards of personal hygiene and work in a clean and tidy manner.
* Front and back of house cleaning as necessary.
* Any other duties reasonably required to support service delivery.
Essential Criteria
* Ability to speak and understand English to follow verbal and written instructions and deal with customer/student queries.
* Well-developed interpersonal skills.
* Delivers excellent customer service with a professional and courteous approach.
* Ability to work quickly, flexibly and accurately.
* Good attention to detail.
* Effective physical ability to carry out post activities.
Desirable Criteria
* Experience of working within a similar environment.
* Experience of operating relevant catering and/or cleaning equipment.
Where the post holder is in possession of a valid UK Driving License, they will be required to register it with the University Insurance services and drive University Vehicles when required to facilitate the provision of services.
How To Apply
Please submit via the Heriot-Watt online recruitment system: (1) Cover letter describing interest and suitability for the post; (2) Full CV. Applications can be submitted until midnight on Tuesday 16th September 2025.
Heriot-Watt University is committed to equality of opportunity and to creating an environment in which individuals are treated on the basis of merit and abilities. Equality and diversity are central to our culture, and the university welcomes applications from all sectors of society, including underrepresented groups. For more information, see the university website and Disability Inclusive Science Careers.
We welcome flexible working patterns (e.g., part-time and job share options).
Use our total rewards calculator to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.
Seniority level
* Entry level
Employment type
* Part-time
Job function
* Management and Manufacturing
* Industries: Higher Education
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