CATERING ASSISTANT JOB DESCRIPTION

Counter hygiene lapses, stock shortfalls, and missed service windows are the everyday risks a Catering Assistant is hired to prevent. In institutional and corporate settings, this role keeps daily food and beverage service running - managing counter stock, maintaining compliance with FIFO and HACCP standards, and serving staff, students, and guests to a consistent standard. The role operates within a catering team and reports to a supervisor or head of catering. Food Safety certification is a common requirement in this environment.

As the Catering Assistant, you maintain the quality and continuity of daily catering service across institutional outlets, from counter preparation through to end-of-shift clean-down. The position sits within a frontline catering team, working to schedules and standards set by the catering supervisor or head chef.

Career Impact: Experience with FIFO stock management, HACCP compliance, and food hygiene standards builds a verified operational record that supports progression into senior catering or kitchen coordinator roles.

Business Impact: Staff, students, and guests depend on timely, hygienic service every meal period - gaps in counter cover or food safety compliance fall directly on this role.

Growth Opportunity: Hands-on exposure to procurement processes, event setup, and institutional service standards broadens your skill base toward roles such as catering supervisor or food service coordinator.

• Prepare and restock counters, display units, and refrigeration ahead of each service period.
• Serve food and beverages to staff, students, and guests to the required standard throughout the shift.
• Operate the point of sale or cashless till system accurately for all customer transactions.
• Maintain cleanliness of kitchen, counter, and café areas in line with COSHH and food hygiene legislation.
• Record and report food wastage daily using the designated wastage sheet and notify the supervisor of relevant issues.
• Source and organise supplies and materials to ensure uninterrupted service, escalating shortfalls to management.
• Set up and clear down areas for meetings, events, and catered functions as directed.
• Support other departments and assist with additional duties when instructed by the team leader.

• High school diploma or equivalent; a Basic Food Hygiene Certificate is preferred.
• One or more years of experience in a catering, food service, or customer-facing environment.
• Working knowledge of food safety standards, including FIFO stock rotation and HACCP procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to follow health and safety regulations and maintain high personal hygiene standards.
• Strong time management and organisational skills to meet service schedules under pressure.
• Clear verbal communication skills for direct interaction with staff, students, and guests.
• Willingness to work flexible hours including weekends, evenings, and shift patterns as required.

• Experience interpreting and executing catering or hospitality event sheets.
• Familiarity with basic procurement or purchase order processes for supplier management.
• Prior experience in an institutional setting such as education, healthcare, or corporate facilities catering.

• Food hygiene inspection score, reflecting adherence to HACCP and COSHH standards on site.
• Counter stock availability rate, measuring how consistently shelves and display units are fully stocked at service start.
• Wastage log accuracy, tracking completeness and timeliness of daily waste recording.
• Till reconciliation variance, measuring cash and cashless transaction accuracy across each shift.
• Service readiness time, reflecting how consistently the counter and seating areas are prepared before service opens.

• Base Salary Range: $28,000 to $36,000 per year, depending on setting and hours.
• Bonus: Uncommon at this level; occasional performance or retention bonuses at some employers.
• Equity: Not applicable for this role.
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage; eligibility varies by employer and hours worked.
• PTO: 10 to 15 days annually; some institutional employers offer additional closure days.
• Common Perks: Complimentary or subsidised meals on shift, uniform provision, and access to employee assistance programmes.

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Background checks, including criminal history screening, are a standard condition of employment in food service and institutional settings. All applicants are considered without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities are available throughout the hiring process upon request. Candidates must be authorised to work in the United States prior to their start date.

The Catering Assistant delivers consistent food and beverage service across catering outlets, handling counter restocking, point of sale operation, and cash management while supporting staff, students, and visitors. Reporting to the Team Leader and Head Chef, the role contributes to continuous service improvement by attending team meetings and coordinating with other departments as needed.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in wash-up when necessary and clean and maintain coffee machines.
• Be aware of menu boards, daily specials, and contents to assist customers with advice and guidance when required.
• Re-stock fridges, display units, and counters as required.
• Prepare and clean counters and any areas in the catering outlets and remove waste when required.
• Operate the point of sale system for payments and take cash during the shift.
• Attend and give input at team meetings to add continuous improvement to the service.
• Assist with other duties as instructed by the Team Leader and Head Chef.
• Communicate face to face with students, staff, and visitors.
• Support other departments if and when required.
• Report any faults or issues with vending machines or catering equipment to management.
• Share ideas for cost saving, improvements, and innovative suggestions.
• Organise materials and equipment to be on hand during service.
• Load and unload catering vehicles.

Required Qualifications

• Basic Food Hygiene Certificate preferred but not essential.
• Commitment to good customer service and customer care.
• Ability to work well under pressure.
• Ability to understand and interpret hospitality event sheets.
• Weekend, evening, or bank holiday working may be required as part of this role.

Embedded within a corporate hospitality team, the Catering Assistant shapes the standard of food and beverage service across events, boardroom functions, and VIP dinners, ensuring each setting is prepared to a prompt and professional standard. Working closely with reception and operations staff, the role covers client floor management and occasional morning or evening functions to maintain uninterrupted service.

Core Functions

• Deliver a variety of services including coffee service, breakfasts, lunches, cocktail parties, dinners, and other VIP functions.
• Work occasional morning or evening functions.
• Ensure meeting rooms are ready for service.
• Manage the opening or closing of the client floor, ensuring all is complete for operations.
• Cover reception responsibilities if required.

Qualifications & Experience

• Certification in Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA).
• 1–2 years of experience in a hospitality environment, with boardroom experience highly desirable.
• Knowledge of table setting, especially in a fine dining environment, highly desirable.
• Experience as a barista or strong coffee-making skills.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• High level of organisational skills.
• Impeccable grooming standards.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work unsupervised.
• Flexibility in working hours when required.

Reporting to the catering supervisor, the Catering Assistant owns food and drink service alongside kitchen porter duties, including washing pots, general food preparation, and cleaning across the kitchen and café area. Partnering with the wider catering team, the role supports smooth daily operations in a flexible, ad-hoc capacity with variable hours.

Primary Duties

• Serve food and drinks.
• Perform kitchen porter duties, including washing pots and cutlery.
• Carry out general cleaning around the kitchen and café area.
• Clear tables.
• Carry out general food preparation.

Skills & Qualifications

• Previous experience in catering.
• Previous experience in customer service.
• Flexibility to work on weekends as required.
• Can-do attitude with ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to work well under pressure in a busy environment.
• Understanding that this role is ad-hoc and temporary with no guaranteed hours.

Sitting at the intersection of hospitality and facilities support, the Catering Assistant builds reliable daily lunch service for staff, guests, and clients while managing supplier purchase orders and sourcing supplies to prevent shortages. Operating across building-wide errands, event setup, and kitchen sanitation, the role enables smooth catering operations within a corporate office environment.

Duties

• Serve lunch to staff, guests, and clients.
• Clean and sanitise kitchen areas daily.
• Create purchase orders for suppliers.
• Set up for meetings and events.
• Run food and drink errands across the building.
• Source supplies when shortages arise.

Experience & Qualifications

• Some customer service experience, preferably in hospitality.
• Sound knowledge of food hygiene, health, and safety regulations.
• Solution-focused with excellent attention to detail.
• Efficient and well organised with strong timekeeping.
• Ability to perform in a fast-paced and changing environment under pressure.

Benefit

• Yearly personal development plans, career progression opportunities, and a career counsellors programme.
• 25 days of annual leave per year, plus closure between Christmas and New Year, summer Fridays, and bank holidays.
• Flexible working policy, competitive family leave benefits, childcare fee scheme, and women's health and family forming support.
• Wellbeing supports including confidential therapy, mental health first aiders, private medical insurance, in-house GP, nutritionist, physiotherapist, fitness programmes, and financial advisor.
• Inclusive activities including team sports, agency band, inspirational talks, social events, and annual kids' Christmas party.
• Annual travel contribution of £1,500 towards commute costs, pro rata.

A key member of the conference and events support team, the Catering Assistant leads coordination between conference services, banquet, audio visual, and event services teams, managing VIP amenity requests, internal meeting room assignments, and the distribution of time-sensitive documents throughout the hotel. Collaborating across departments through oral and written instructions, the role ensures accurate records management and consistent availability to sustain daily hotel operations.

Accountabilities

• Act as liaison between conference services, catering, banquet, audio visual, and event services teams and their related clients.
• Use computer software packages to enter data, produce operational working documents, and departmental updates.
• Answer telephone calls and respond to caller inquiries in a clear and pleasant manner.
• Prepare and distribute time-sensitive documents to appropriate persons and locations throughout the hotel building.
• Take all calls and emails for internal meetings and room requests and assign room, food and beverage, audio visual, and setup needs.
• Handle amenity requests for all VIP clients and coordinate arrangements with other departments through oral and written instructions.
• Organise, file, and retrieve documents in appropriate binders to maintain essential departmental records.
• Comply with attendance rules and maintain regular availability.

Education & Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent required, with an associate degree in Hospitality and Tourism preferred.
• Prior experience in the hospitality industry, including knowledge of conferences and banquets or a related area.
• Typing speed of 40 WPM with filing and general office skills.
• Basic knowledge of mathematics and calculator skills to perform calculations with a high degree of accuracy.
• Proficiency in computer software including office productivity suites.
• Self-starter with an even-tempered disposition.
• Strong written and oral communication skills for interaction with vendors and department heads.
• Ability to effectively deal with internal and external customers.
• Detail-oriented and highly organised.
• Neat and professional personal appearance maintained at all times.

Consistent FIFO stock rotation, HACCP compliance, and safeguarding adherence depend on the Catering Assistant, who delivers counter service, cashless till operation, and daily cleaning across the college common room. Serving as the frontline contact for food safety recording and shelf management, the role supports the catering department's legislative and hygiene standards throughout each shift.

Operational Focus

• Supervise the college common room in accordance with safeguarding policy.
• Operate the cashless till.
• Stack shelves and keep them tidy and arranged in order according to FIFO policy.
• Undertake general duties including counter service, general cleaning, or any other tasks as required.
• Maintain a high standard of cleanliness in compliance with legislation and standards set by the Catering Department, using cleaning products in accordance with COSHH training and procedures.
• Report food wastage to the supervisor in charge and record on the daily wastage sheet.
• Adhere to FIFO policy when using and storing products, ensuring items are stored correctly, labelled, and sealed according to HACCP policy.
• Maintain high levels of personal hygiene at all times in accordance with company hygiene policies.

Professional Experience

• 1 year of experience in a busy catering environment.
• Experience in customer service.
• Basic product knowledge.
• Food safety knowledge with ability to apply to working practices.
• Health and safety awareness.
• High standard of professional conduct.