Driver & General Assistant in Newcastle upon Tyne

Salary: £26,093 per annum. Newcastle University is a Real Living Wage employer, from April 1st £13.52 per hour (equivalent salary) applies to this position. You will also benefit from 42 days annual leave per year (includes 30 days leave plus 4-day Christmas closure and 8 bank holidays), and a USS pension of 14.5%.

Closing Date: 26 April 2026

Role Overview: Ready to be at the heart of University events? We’re looking for a Driver & General Assistant to join our fast‑paced on campus Event Catering team. You’ll be on the move responsible for driving and delivering. You will set up and collect food, beverages and equipment that help bring events to life across campus. A clean, valid UK driving licence is essential for this post as you will be moving and delivering catering and event equipment throughout our 50 acre city campus. While Event Catering will be your main base, you’ll also jump in to support other catering units when needed, making this a varied, hands‑on role where no two days are the same. Working outside the main campus may be required to sites such as Cochrane Park or University farms. This is a permanent, full‑time position (37 hours per week). Normal days of work are Monday to Friday, core hours 10am to 6pm; you may be required to work weekends or evenings depending on business need, with overtime during events such as Open Days.

Key Accountabilities:

• To prepare, serve, sell and deliver quality food and beverages to meet demand, ensuring items are replenished and portion control is exercised per Service Policy and Procedure.
• To clean and maintain designated interior and/or exterior catering areas and associated equipment, fixtures and fittings to pre‑determined cleaning schedules to ensure a high standard of hygiene at all times.
• To follow Statutory Food Hygiene, Health and Safety and Liquor Licensing Legislation, and University and Accommodation & Hospitality Services’ Policies and Procedures to ensure a clean, safe and secure environment for customers.
• To identify and report any defects, damage or hazards in the workplace (e.g., facilities and equipment) to ensure corrective action and immediate hazard mitigation.
• To assist with receipt of incoming stock, issue and control, using predetermined checklists, pricing and product rotation for efficient service and minimal wastage.
• To deal with customer queries or complaints, referring complex matters to the line manager.
• To support the Service’s commitment to training and development by fully participating in training courses.

The Person – Essential Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Experience of working in a hospitality and catering environment.
• Literate and numerate.
• Clean, valid UK driving licence.

Desirable:

• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) and Manual Handling Training.
• Barista Training.
• Knowledge of Health and Safety.

Attributes & Behaviour:

• Customer‑focused approach.
• Ability to communicate clearly.
• Good team worker, equally able to work alone.
• Flexible and adaptable.
• Standards oriented.
• Ability to prioritise workload and remain calm under pressure.
• Positive approach to personal and skill development.
• Able to work in other locations as required.
• Reliable and dependable.
• Smart appearance.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Food Safety for Caterers Level 2 Certificate.
• British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICS) – Food Premises Cleaning Certificate.

Diversity & Inclusion: Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution. We are committed to being fully inclusive, actively recruiting, supporting and retaining colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity and celebrate the contributions of all employees and the communities they represent. We are a proud equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams. We believe success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population. Our achievements include a Gold Athena Swan award for gender equality, a Race Equality Charter Bronze award, and recognition as a Disability Confident employer. We also support researchers through the Euraxess initiative.

Application Information: For informal enquiries about this role, contact # in the first instance. Please answer mandatory questions below; interviews will be held early May. Successful applicants will be required to complete necessary DVLA checks and occupational health surveillance.

Requisition ID: 29079