Kitchen Shift Manager in Saint Andrews

The University of St Andrews Students’ Association (aka Your Union) sits at the heart of the Campus - recently voted as one of the leading Universities in the UK, ranked first in the UK by the Guardian and Times/Sunday Times and with a reputation to protect. With over 11,000 members we are the primary student venue in St Andrews and support a thriving student scene with over 140 affiliated societies.

We are a dynamic, student-led organisation dedicated to enhancing the student experience for every student in St Andrews. We provide a wide range of services, including events, campaigns, societies, support, and representation. Our mission is to empower students, support their development, and create a vibrant campus culture.

Role Overview

To support, lead and motivate the team to meet sales, profit and compliance targets. To run kitchen shifts independently and ensure delivery of excellent customer service, food to specification, and a clean, safe and legal working environment in line with company standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Operational Management
• Run kitchen shifts independently, overseeing day-to-day operations.
• Ensure kitchen opening and closing procedures are followed.
• Adopt a “stand back and look” approach to maintain standards throughout the shift.
• Ensure all kitchen areas are correctly presented and maintained.
• Food Quality & Service
• Prepare, cook and present food to company specification.
• Deliver food within required service time targets.
• Maintain high standards of cleanliness, quality, service, maintenance and atmosphere (CQSMA).
• Respond to customer feedback positively and take appropriate action.
• Standards & Compliance
• Maintain a clean, safe and legal workplace at all times.
• Ensure adherence to SOPs, food safety, and company policies.
• Record accidents, incidents, and serious food complaints correctly.
• Support achievement and maintenance of five-star food hygiene standards.
• Commercial & Financial Management
• Support delivery of kitchen sales and profit targets.
• Work with the Kitchen Manager to forecast sales and manage costs.
• Assist in managing profit and loss performance and maximising sales opportunities.
• Monitor portion control and stock levels.
• Complete stock checks, wastage logs, and investigate discrepancies.
• Support management of stock holdings and minimise shrinkage.
• Complete manager’s own stock (MOS) and implement improvements.
• Team Leadership & People Management
• Lead, motivate and coach the kitchen team during shifts.
• Delegate tasks effectively and provide constructive feedback.
• Support recruitment, inductions, and training of team.
• Assist with probation reviews and performance management.
• Manage day-to-day performance and attendance issues.
• Support rota planning aligned with sales and labour targets.
• Systems & Administration
• Maintain kitchen documentation and training materials.
• Ensure administration is completed in line with GDPR and company.
• Use operational systems including kitchen screen, stock, and personnel systems.
• Keep up to date with operational updates, action packs, and Maintenance & Facilities.
• Monitor and manage kitchen maintenance issues.
• Liaise with contractors and support resolution of issues.
• Financial Responsibilities
• Support achievement of kitchen financial targets.
• Control stock, portioning, and wastage.
• Assist with ordering and stock management.
• Contribute to cost control and efficiency improvements.
• Key Outcomes
• Well-run kitchen shifts with consistent operational standards.
• High-quality food delivered within service targets.
• Strong team performance and engagement during shifts.
• Compliance with food safety and legal requirements.
• Contribution to overall kitchen financial performance.

Person Specification

• Expected Behaviours
• Demonstrates leadership and accountability on shift.
• Strong organisation and time management.
• Communicates clearly and works effectively with others.
• Remains calm in a fast-paced environment.
• Professional, reliable, and committed.
• Essential
• Experience working in a kitchen or hospitality environment.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• Ability to lead and supervise a team.
• Understanding of food safety and compliance standards.
• Basic IT and systems knowledge.
• Desirable
• Previous supervisory experience in a kitchen environment.
• Exposure to stock control and kitchen financial processes.
• Participation in management or leadership training.

Organisational Values

• A commitment to put students at the heart of everything that the Students’ Association does.
• A commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and an ability to turn this commitment into real change for under-represented groups.
• A commitment to a positive workplace culture which is friendly, approachable and open to listening.
• Commitment to operational excellence.
• Focus on teamwork and collaboration.
• Dedication to customer experience and service quality.

Inclusivity and Accessibility

The University of St Andrews Students’ Association is committed to promoting diversity and equality for all and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds. While successful candidates will always be recruited on merit, we particularly aim to include applicants with disabilities, from BAME backgrounds, and those with diverse sexualities or marginalised gender identities.