Cafe Food Service Assistant

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 customersDelivering friendly, efficient, and professional customer serviceMaintaining high standards of cleanliness, hygiene, and food safetySupporting operational changes and service improvementsWorking 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.

Benefits

Generous annual leave entitlement of 38 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)Local Government Pension SchemeSuite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family-friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance ProgrammeAccess to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailersDiscounted onsite gymCycle to Work schemeA flexible working environmentA commitment to personal and professional development

Key Contact

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Richard Greensmith, Operations Manager via [email protected].

For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via [email protected]

Important Information

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.

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.

Please visit our website for more information.

The University of Derby is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our staff, students and children. At the University of Derby, safeguarding is everybody's concern.

Please find our Safeguarding pages including our Safeguarding Policy here.

Closing Date: 17 Feb 2026

Area: Operational Support

Salary: £25,045 to £25,421 per annum, pro rata (for exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £29,234 per annum, pro rata).