At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a busy café operation while supporting learners in a real working kitchen.
- Company: Join Derby City Council, dedicated to serving the community with passion and purpose.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible hours, 27 days annual leave, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with diverse opportunities and support for all backgrounds.
- Why this job: Make a difference by helping others develop real-world skills in a vibrant café environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in supervisory catering roles and a passion for supporting learners.
The predicted salary is between 24000 - 28000 € per year.
The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.
Job details:
- Location: Better Together Café Council House
- Hours: 37 hours per week available (We would consider 1x 37 hours post, or 2 x 18.5 hours posts)
- Core working hours are 7:30 – 15:30 Monday – Thursday and 7:30 – 15:00 Friday.
- Closing Date: Tuesday 2nd June 2026
- Contract Type: Permanent
Are you a passionate catering professional who thrives in a fast‑paced kitchen and loves helping others develop? We’re looking for one full time or two part‑time Catering Supervisors to lead the day‑to‑day operation of our Better Together Teaching Café—a unique place where good food and high quality learning come together. This isn’t just another catering role. You’ll be at the heart of a live training environment, delivering excellent food and customer service while supporting learners as they develop real‑world skills for their future careers. Join us at the Better Together Teaching Café and help us serve great food while building brighter futures.
Who We Are:
Here at Derby City Council, we’re dedicated to delivering nearly 250 first‑class services to citizens and businesses in the heart of the Midlands. People are at the centre of all that we do, and we have an outstanding track record of recruiting and developing talented individuals by providing them with varied and fulfilling career opportunities.
Benefits:
- Flexible work/life balance scheme (depending on your role)
- Modern office environment (depending on your job location)
- Continued professional development opportunities & career conversations
- 27 days annual leave (rising to 32 days after 5 years' service), plus bank holidays (depending on contract)
- Local Government Pension Scheme
- Team Derby Rewards – retail and leisure discounts
- Tusker Car Benefit Scheme
- Cycle2Work Scheme & free cycle training
- Employee Assistance Programme, Wellbeing Calendar and Support
- Access to our Equality Employee Networks – LGBTQ+, Disabled Employee Network & Carers and our Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic Employee Support Network and Neurodiversity Network
- Support for colleagues who are carers
The Opportunity:
You’ll take the lead in running a busy café operation, ensuring everything from breakfast service to event catering runs smoothly and professionally. Lead the café floor and kitchen – delivering consistently high standards of food, service and customer experience. Prepare, cook and serve fresh, high‑quality dishes, including independent service during quieter periods. Manage stock and costs – ordering, rotation, waste control and accurate record‑keeping. Keep standards high – maintaining food hygiene, safety compliance and health & safety procedures. Handle daily finances – ensuring secure and accurate cash handling. Work with tutors to coordinate café service alongside learning activities.
A key part of this role is helping others succeed. You’ll:
- Guide and support learners, tutors and young people on work placements in a real working kitchen.
- Support learners’ understanding of food prep, safety, customer service and workplace behaviour.
- Act as a positive role model, promoting teamwork, inclusion and professionalism.
About You:
- Experience in a supervisory catering or café role.
- Strong knowledge of food safety, hygiene and kitchen operations.
- Confidence to work independently and to lead a small team.
- Excellent organisation, communication and customer service skills.
- A genuine interest in supporting learners and developing others.
- An understanding of the barriers facing adults with additional needs to work in this vocational area.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:
We are a fair and inclusive employer and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds. We recruit for diversity and value difference. As many of our roles can now be home‑based, we are able to offer more opportunities for people who need this facility. We are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. If you are a disabled person, you have the choice to apply under our Guaranteed Interview Scheme so long as you demonstrate that you meet the essential requirements for the job. We feel it is essential that we recruit a talented workforce that is as diverse as the community we work for. Please let us know of any individual requirements or reasonable adjustments you may have during the application, interview, or onboarding process and we’ll do all we can to help. We strongly believe in social understanding of disability and for us it’s all about removing barriers to equality.
Better Together Catering Supervisor employer: Derby City Council
At Derby City Council, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that prioritises employee development and well-being. As a Catering Supervisor at the Better Together Café, you will not only lead a dynamic team in a unique training environment but also enjoy benefits such as flexible working hours, generous annual leave, and access to professional development opportunities. Join us in making a meaningful impact while enjoying a supportive atmosphere that values diversity and inclusion.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Better Together Catering Supervisor
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the catering industry and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a job at Better Together Café!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by practising common questions related to catering supervision. Think about how you can showcase your experience in leading teams and supporting learners—this is your chance to shine!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to visit our website and apply directly! It’s a great way to show your enthusiasm for the role and get noticed by the hiring team at Derby City Council.
✨Tip Number 4
Follow up after your interview with a thank-you email. It’s a simple gesture that shows your appreciation and keeps you fresh in their minds as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Better Together Catering Supervisor
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for catering and helping others shine through. We want to see how much you love the kitchen and supporting learners in their journey!
Tailor Your Experience:Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in supervisory roles and any specific skills that match the job description. We’re looking for someone who can lead a team and maintain high standards, so show us how you’ve done this before!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and make it easy for us to see why you’d be a great fit for the Better Together Café.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at the Better Together Teaching Café.
How to prepare for a job interview at Derby City Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of food safety, hygiene, and kitchen operations. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're serious about the role and understand what it takes to run a successful café.
✨Show Your Passion for Teaching
Since this role involves guiding learners, be prepared to share examples of how you've supported others in their development. Highlight any experience you have in mentoring or training, as this will demonstrate your commitment to helping others succeed.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask how you would handle specific situations in a busy café environment. Think about times you've managed stock, dealt with customer complaints, or maintained high standards under pressure, and be ready to share those stories.
✨Emphasise Teamwork and Inclusion
This role is all about working with a diverse group of people. Be sure to talk about your experiences promoting teamwork and inclusion in previous roles. Showing that you value diversity and can work well with others will resonate with the interviewers.
