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- Tasks: Prepare and serve delicious food while delivering top-notch customer service.
- Company: Join the University of Derby, a modern university with a commitment to excellence.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous leave, pension scheme, staff discounts, and a flexible working environment.
- Why this job: Be part of a vibrant team and enhance the student experience at a prestigious institution.
- Qualifications: Experience in food production and customer service is essential.
- Other info: Great opportunity for personal and professional development in a supportive culture.
The predicted salary is between 1040 - 1248 £ per month.
About The University
We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better. The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region. We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes. Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.
About The College/Department
Our Campus Services teams strive to maintain and enhance the exceptional facilities and services that empower our students and staff to thrive in a safe, welcoming, and inspiring setting for our community. We are the team who support the services and facilities on our sites - food, travel, cleaning, waste, print, post, and the porters are all within our service line.
About The Role
We are looking for a customer-focused Food Service Assistant to join our team at the iconic Devonshire Dome in Buxton. In this role, you will support the Operations Supervisor in the day-to-day delivery of a high-quality food service experience. You will be responsible for the preparation, service, and delivery of food provisions to students and staff, ensuring excellent standards of food safety, presentation, and customer care at all times. As a Food Service Assistant, you will also play an important role in supporting the Operations Supervisor with the implementation of service improvements and operational changes. Your contribution will help develop the business, enhance the customer experience, and sustain the University’s strong reputation for quality and professionalism.
Key Responsibilities
- Preparing and serving food and beverages to a wide range of customers
- Delivering friendly, efficient, and professional customer service
- Maintaining high standards of cleanliness, hygiene, and food safety
- Supporting operational changes and service improvements
- Working collaboratively as part of a positive and inclusive team
The working pattern for this role is as follows, with a 30 minute break each day:
- Monday 8am - 2 pm
- Tuesday - Thursday 8:15am - 2 pm
- Friday 8:15am - 1:30pm
The anticipated interview date is Friday 27th February 2026. Please note this is a fixed term position until 26th June 2026; the role is 26 hours per week, term time only.
About You
To be successful in this post, you will be a reliable and motivated individual with experience working in a food production and customer service environment. You will take pride in delivering excellent customer service and are confident working independently and unsupervised, while maintaining high standards at all times.
Principal accountabilities
- To maintain the catering facilities and ensuring levels of customer service are met at all time.
- To produce food within the refectory to the required standard
- To maintain service standards set out within the Standard Operating Practice (SOP) manuals.
- To handle all cash and internal credit transactions in accordance with University financial operating procedures.
- To deliver service that emphasises motivation, empowerment, teamwork and a passion for service.
- To maintain the highest levels of customer service at all times.
- To complete all necessary food safety and sales control documentation as required.
- To maintain the highest possible levels of personal hygiene at all times.
- Being proactive with any customer complaints within the operations and use reasonable recompense to resolve any advised issues.
- Liaise with your supervisor to ensure that standards are maintained in the catering facilities.
- Delivery of operations as directed by the Operations Supervisor to include delivery of external retail brands to the required standard.
- Have a working knowledge and ensuring you, and others are adhering to the University’s Health & Safety policies.
- To comply with the requirements of Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults, Prevent, Health and Safety, Quality and other University policies including Equal Opportunities, Risk Management and Equality and Diversity.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
- Experience working in a food production environment
- Experience of working in a customer services environment
Skills, Knowledge & Abilities
- Ability to work unsupervised and independently
- Excellent customer service skills
Business requirements
The usual working hours are Monday 8:00am to 2:00pm, Tuesday – Thursday 8:15am – 2:00pm, Friday 8:15am – 1:30pm, with a 30-minute break during each shift. Completed DBS check with child barred list.
Desirable Criteria
Qualifications
- NVQ Level 2 (or equivalent qualification) in Catering or Customer services
- Basic food hygiene certificate
- NVQ Level 1 in Hospitality (or equivalent qualification) or currently working towards
Experience
- Experience of Chemical Handling and COSHH regulations
- Previous cash handling experience
Skills, Knowledge And Abilities
- CLAIT training or ability to use basic word, excel and outlook packages
Benefits
- Generous annual leave entitlement of 38 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)
- Local Government Pension Scheme
- Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family-friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
- Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers
- Discounted onsite gym
- Cycle to Work scheme
- A flexible working environment
- A commitment to personal and professional development
Key contact
For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Richard Greensmith, Operations Manager via r.greensmith@derby.ac.uk. For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via recruitment@derby.ac.uk.
Important information
Visa Sponsorship Eligibility
The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who are able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.
DBS check
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 and is therefore subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Any information you provide will be treated in confidence and only used when considering your suitability for the post. To enable us to process your DBS check please ensure you are able to supply the documentation listed on the DBS website at interview stage.
Equity, diversity and inclusion
The University of Derby is committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion, regardless of age, disability, trans status, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief (or none), sex and sexual orientation. We are Disability Confident Employers, demonstrating our commitment to disability inclusion, and invite applicants to highlight adjustments they may require to ensure equitable participation in our recruitment processes. Further, we are committed to ensuring an environment which is trans and non-binary-inclusive for all our staff, students, partners, and visitors, and continuously review our policies, guidance and training. When applying to join the University, you can choose your preferred title, including the gender-neutral title 'Mx'. We also ask our candidates if they would like to share their preferred pronouns. This is voluntary but demonstrates our commitment to inclusivity for trans and non-binary candidates. Once employed, you can add pronouns and preferred names onto our system. The University of Derby undertakes anonymised shortlisting during the staff recruitment process. This means that, when shortlisting, panel members will not be able to see an applicant’s name and will see an applicant number instead. This demonstrates the practical steps we are taking to remove barriers to recruitment by minimising the possible impact of our unconscious bias. However you identify, we actively celebrate the knowledge, experience and talents each person brings. Our students come from a wide range of backgrounds; therefore we are particularly interested to hear from applicants who will help our leaders and teams be more reflective of our student population. Read more about equity, diversity and inclusion at the University of Derby.
Environmental Sustainability
At the University of Derby, we are passionate about embedding sustainability into everything that we do. We aim to bring environmental sustainability into all aspects of the University, including teaching, research and operational activities. In line with the University's strategic framework, we expect all our staff to embed sustainability into their working practices and support the University’s objective to reach net zero carbon by 2050.
Cafe Food Service Assistant in Buxton employer: Team Derby
Contact Detail:
Team Derby Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Cafe Food Service Assistant in Buxton
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the University of Derby and its values. When you walk into that interview, show them you understand their commitment to excellence and sustainability. It’ll help you connect with the team and demonstrate that you’re not just looking for any job, but you want to be part of their mission.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your customer service skills! Since this role is all about delivering a top-notch experience, think of examples from your past where you’ve gone above and beyond for customers. Be ready to share these stories during your interview to showcase your passion for service.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to ask questions during your interview! This shows you’re genuinely interested in the role and the team. Ask about their approach to food safety or how they implement service improvements. It’s a great way to engage and make a lasting impression.
✨Tip Number 4
Finally, apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, you’ll find all the info you need about the role and the team you could be joining. Let’s get you that job!
We think you need these skills to ace Cafe Food Service Assistant in Buxton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Customer Service: When writing your application, let us know how much you love providing excellent customer service. Share any experiences where you went above and beyond to make someone's day better – it really helps us see your enthusiasm!
Highlight Relevant Experience: Make sure to mention any previous roles you've had in food service or customer-facing positions. We want to see how your past experiences can contribute to our team at the Devonshire Dome.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon – we appreciate a well-structured application that’s easy to read and understand.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our official website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly and is considered promptly.
How to prepare for a job interview at Team Derby
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, brush up on your knowledge of food safety standards and customer service best practices. Familiarise yourself with the University’s values and how they align with your own approach to service. This will show that you’re not just interested in the role, but also in contributing positively to their mission.
✨Show Off Your Experience
Be ready to discuss your previous experience in food production and customer service. Prepare specific examples of how you've handled customer complaints or improved service quality in past roles. This will demonstrate your ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and your commitment to excellent service.
✨Team Player Vibes
Since this role involves working as part of a team, be prepared to talk about your teamwork skills. Share examples of how you’ve collaborated with others to achieve common goals. Highlighting your ability to work well with colleagues will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t forget to ask questions! Inquire about the team dynamics, opportunities for professional development, or how the University implements service improvements. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if it’s the right fit for you.
