Westminster College Cambridge
25,000 per year
Cambridge
Full-time
Westminster College, Cambridge: Job Description

Position: Commis Chef
Full time: 37.5 hours per week (includes evenings and weekends)
Salary: from £25,000

Reporting to the Head Chef, but working as part of a wider team, you will be responsible for
all aspects of the college’s food preparation business. This will include helping the Head Chef
or Sous Chef in delivering the right amount and quality of food for the business and following
food safety regulations at all times. You will have a basic level of skills, personal professional
competence,  and  organisation.   You  will be as  creative as you  can be, take initiative when
appropriate and participate fully in the smooth running of the College.

General responsibilities

•  Organise your time and work without continuous supervision.
•  Have pride in your work, work to a high standard and provide a high level of service.
•  Respect the privacy of residents.
•  Work  in  a  safe  and  conscientious  manner,  observing  health  and  safety  requirements,
including  those  relating  to  COSHH,  manual  handling,  working  at  height  and  fire
regulations.

•  Alert the Head chef or Sous Chef of any concerns or opportunities.

Particular responsibilities

You will:
•  Follow recipes and instructions from Head Chef or Sous Chef to deliver menus for

students, staff and conferences and events within the college.

•  To support Head Chef or Sous Chef in development of catering services.

•  To carefully ensure quality, nutritional balance diet for residential students.

•  To follow the shift rota pattern as business requires.

•  To be prepared to work flexible hours to cover the other team members’ leave or

absences.

•  To manage stock of ingredients and consumables.

•  To receive deliveries, check against order and invoice. Check critical control points where

applicable.

•  To ensure that all deliveries are put away appropriately.

•  To check invoice price and amounts delivered are accurate before authorisation.

•  To prepare, cook and serve meals to the standard required.

•  To observe, follow all legislative Health and Hygiene practices and policy.

•  To accurately record and follow HACCP’s information’s, to manage and critical control

points log.

•  To follow and adapt to new methods, dishes and appliances instructed by the Head Chef

or Sous Chef

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•  To work efficiently with the Catering Staff.

•  To assist with clearing, washing and storing crockery, cutlery and equipment required

during and by the end of each shift.

•  To ensure cleaning schedules are completed appropriately.

•  Any other task as directed by the Hospitality Manager, which are consistent with the aims

of this post.

Other matters

You will have a flexible approach to working hours and be prepared to work evenings and
weekends.

You will familiarise yourself with and always comply with regulations, policies and procedures
of the College including Health and Safety and Fire regulations.

You will always act in the best interests of the College.

You will act within any standing orders or financial limitations imposed by the Governors,
Management committee, Principal, Bursar or the Domestic Manager.

Expected Standards

•  Communication  -  Communicate  effectively  with  colleagues  and  internal  and  external

customers.

•  Equality and Diversity – Act in ways that support a culture which promotes equality and

values diversity.

•  Health, Safety and Security – Act in ways that protect own and others’ health, safety, and

security.

•  Customer service – Deliver excellent customer service.

•  Personal and People Development – Take responsibility for own personal development

and develop skills and knowledge to enable effective work performance.

Further details available in Expected standards document

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MEASUR
EMENT

Interview

Interview

Person Specification

ESSENTIAL

1.  Education and Training

DESIRABLE

•  Educated to GCSE / NVQ2 level or

equivalent with good spoken English skills.

•  Level 1 food hygiene completed or

willingness to complete straight away

•  Qualification in
professional
cookery completed
or underway

2.  Relevant Experience

•  At least 6 months of recent and relevant

experience working in a kitchen
environment.

•  Experience of working independently and

within a team

3.  Special Knowledge and Skills

•  Respect for the Christian ethos of the

College

•  Respect for all College visitors (including

customers, volunteers and URC colleagues
or members)

•  Experience in fine
dining kitchen
environment
•  Experience in

College kitchen

•  Completed training
in HACCP and or
food safety
systems.

•  Completed allergen

Interview
/ Trial
shift

•  Understanding or willingness to understand

training

HACCP and food safety systems.

•  Ability to follow recipes
•  Good understanding of allergens

4.  Special Qualities and Aptitudes
•  Good communication skills
•  Proven capacity to work alongside others.
•  Pro-active, able to take initiative and able to

work alone when required.

•  Reliable
•  High standard of, and pride in, work
•  Able to understand, anticipate and

contribute.

•  Professional approach
•  Prepared to train and develop.
•  Able to take on specific responsibilities.
•  Good level of organisation skills

5.  Any other requirements

•  Helpful and friendly
with a ‘Can do’
attitude.

Interview
/ Trial
shift

•  A willingness to work flexibly across the

•  Own transport

interview

year, as the role involves 7am starts and
11pm finishes on a rota basis, including
weekends.

July 2025

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