Job Description Job Title: Department: Conference and Catering Reporting to: Responsible for: Catering Supervisor N/A Catering Assistant Job summary: To deliver an efficient, friendly, quality service to our customers and to meet the catering needs of the College Background Homerton College was founded in the 18th Century, moved to its current location in 1894 and was granted a Royal Charter as a self-governing College of the University of Cambridge in 2010. Located within easy reach of the historic city centre and within 5 minutes of Cambridge mainline station, the College has over 1,000 students and a Fellowship of over 70. Nearly 700 students live on the site. The College is set within 25 acres of landscaped gardens and parkland, and its conference and event facilities comprise a dedicated modern Conference Centre. Ample free on-site parking is also an attraction for conference organisers. The Conference and Catering Department Catering provides Breakfast, lunch and dinner, Monday to Friday, and lunch (or brunch) at weekends, although the Conference and Catering Manager will keep under review the services and service times for students. There is also a popular Buttery and a Bar which is manned by employed staff. In addition Formal Hall is served once or twice per week during term.. The maximum capacity for Formal Hall is 250, and many Formal Halls reach this capacity. There are many other formal College meals throughout the year for which a high standard of catering and service is required, including: Graduate Formals Guest Nights, Governing Body Dinners, Matriculation Dinners, Charter Dinner, Alumni Reunion Dinner and Congregation and Graduation lunches. The College has a thriving Conference business which represents an important source of income to the College. As well as the dedicated conference centre with 5 meeting rooms there are a further 22 flexible meeting rooms, 3 versatile dining rooms and over 500 en-suite bedrooms available for letting during the vacations. Catering includes lunches and dinners for conference guests, BBQs, breakfast service during vacations, Christmas parties and marquee events. The catering department also provides refreshments for a wide variety of functions and meetings, both College events and private events. Conference and catering staff work with the students to support and maximise opportunities for academic and social events. Catering Assistant JD - Feb 2025 Page 1 of 3 Key result areas: 1. Supervision • To assist with maintaining standards within the Conference and Catering department • Ensure that customers experience high levels of service and hygiene • Uniform and standards of appearance are followed correctly. • Following financial regulations. • Maintaining a safe working environment for self and colleagues • Participate in team meetings and maintain effective and meaningful communication with management and colleagues. • Maintain record of any complaints so that we can avoid these in future. 2. Food service • To ensure all areas are clean and tidy and appropriate levels of service equipment and cutlery is available at all times. • Ensure all foods are well presented and topped up. • To assist in training staff to have good product knowledge and to offer customer advice to meet their dietary requirements. • Display appropriate point of sale and merchandising. • To ensure the correct portion control is carried out. 3. Sustainability • Ensure our food policy and any relevant information related to improving the sustainability is communicated to staff and students • Be proactive in finding ways of reducing the carbon footprint of catering 4. Health and Safety All staff members are expected to observe all health and safety at work regulations as set out by Homerton College in accordance with its statutory obligations. • Ensure food safety procedures are adhered to. • Follow fire safety procedures. • Follow COSHH procedures. • Reporting of all accidents and near misses. • Safe use of machinery and equipment to minimise any risk of injury. • To promote good housekeeping and ensure public toilets are kept clean and fit for use and are monitored daily by the outlet team. • Take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work. • Report any unsafe practices or broken machinery/equipment to the management team, so that remedial action can be taken immediately. 5. Operational Duties • To develop self to provide a high quality flexible service. • To attend meetings and follow up where appropriately with feedback to outlet team. • To attend training courses as required. • Be flexible with working hours especially during peak times to ensure that Catering deliver to agreed levels of expectation. This will include working any five days out of seven including some evenings. Catering Assistant JD - Feb 2025 Page 2 of 3 • To carry out any reasonable request made by the Management team. • Assist in any building or facilities issues Person Specification Essential Qualities • Experience of working in a fast-paced professional catering environment • Knowledge of health and safety in the workplace • Work in a positive, respectful and professional manner • A passion for delivering excellent customer service • The ability to follow instructions from the catering supervisors • A flexible approach to working hours including evenings and weekends • Able to work unsupervised and on own initiative • Good communication skills • Excellent attendance and time keeping skills • Good team player • Organised Desirable Qualities • Previous experience of working in a catering environment in particular within a college. • Working experience in a cafeteria / café type environment Catering Assistant JD - Feb 2025 Page 3 of 3