Academic Jobs - Home of Higher Ed Logo
University of Cambridge  Jobs

University of Cambridge

Food Service Assistants

Closes:

Salary: £25,249 per year

465

Role Introduction/ About the Role:

The Food Service Assistant role plays an important role in delivering friendly, efficient, and high quality service across cafés, catering outlets, and events throughout the University Estate. Whether preparing great barista coffee, serving food, or supporting hospitality for meetings and functions, this role helps create a welcoming experience for students, staff, and visitors. Working as part of a flexible and customer focused team, the Food Service Assistant contributes to smooth day to day operations and the successful delivery of events of all sizes.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Prepare and serve hot and cold drinks, including barista coffees, to a consistently high standard.
  • Carry out basic food production tasks
  • Serve food and snacks, ensuring excellent presentation and a friendly, efficient customer experience.
  • Support University events, assisting with hospitality service, food preparation, and setup/clear down across multiple sites.
  • Maintain high standards of cleanliness, ensuring service areas, counters, and equipment are clean, organised, and compliant with hygiene regulations.
  • Assist with stock rotation and replenishment, keeping displays well presented and reporting low stock or issues to supervisors.
  • Handle payments and operate tills, following cash handling procedures accurately.
  • Work collaboratively with catering and events teams, helping to deliver smooth, coordinated service.
  • Follow food safety, allergen, and health & safety procedures, ensuring a safe environment for customers and colleagues.
  • Support the movement of supplies and equipment between outlets and event locations when required.
  • Provide excellent customer service, responding to queries and ensuring all guests feel welcomed and supported.

About You

You're friendly, reliable, and take pride in creating a positive experience for every guest. You enjoy working as part of a team and bring a helpful, can do attitude to each shift. You're comfortable in a busy environment, staying organised and focused even when things get lively. You pay attention to detail, follow food safety standards, and understand the importance of cleanliness and presentation. Whether you're serving customers, preparing simple food items, or keeping the service area tidy, you approach every task with care and enthusiasm. Above all, you enjoy working with people and contributing to a welcoming, efficient, and well run service.

Applications will be reviewed regularly and we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

If you have any questions about this vacancy or the application process, please email Estates Division on EDR@admin.cam.ac.uk

Please quote reference XM50899 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Apply online

Download further information

Further Information - Food Service Assistant

Job details

Title
Food Service Assistants
Employer
University of Cambridge
Location
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
Published
Sep 9, 2026
Closes:
Oct 6, 2026
Job type
Full time, Staff / Administration
Field
Communications, Marketing, and Public Affairs
Salary

Salary: £25,249 per year

Tell them AcademicJobs.com sent you!

Frequently Asked Questions

☕What does a Food Service Assistant do at the University of Cambridge?

The role is varied and customer-facing. You will prepare and serve barista coffee, hot and cold drinks, and snacks; carry out basic food production; support catering for University events; maintain food hygiene and cleanliness; and handle till operations. Explore customer service roles in higher education to see how this fits into the sector.

📋What experience or qualifications do I need?

The advert does not list formal qualifications. The University is looking for a friendly, reliable person with a can-do attitude, teamwork skills, and some experience or confidence with basic food preparation, cash handling, and food safety procedures. If you need help preparing your application, use this free resume template.

🛂Is visa sponsorship available for this Food Service Assistant role?

The job states that all employees must be eligible to live and work in the UK, so you should confirm your right-to-work status before applying. The advert does not explicitly confirm visa sponsorship. For further questions, contact the Estates Division at EDR@admin.cam.ac.uk.

📝How do I apply for this University of Cambridge job?

Apply online through the University recruitment system using the Apply button. You will need to create an account if you have not already. Quote reference XM50899 on your application and in any correspondence. Submit early because applications are reviewed regularly and the vacancy may close early.

📍Where will I work as a Food Service Assistant?

You will work across the University Estate in Cambridge, United Kingdom, including cafés, catering outlets, and event locations. This means you may move between different sites to support hospitality and functions.

🧹What skills are most important for success in this role?

Key skills include customer service, communication, flexibility, attention to detail, and the ability to stay organised in a busy environment. You should also follow allergen, health and safety, and food hygiene procedures. See administration jobs in higher education for related career paths.

About the employer

University of Cambridge  Jobs

University of Cambridge

4.0 Star Employer Ranking

Join the University of Cambridge, a world-renowned institution known for its academic excellence, research innovation, and vibrant community. Explore a career where you can contribute to groundbreaking research and enjoy a supportive work environment.

Visit the employer page

Hire Experts… Post a Job

Post a Job

Roles… Create a Job Alert

Related Jobs

View All Jobs
432

Service Technician

University of Cambridge
198

Archivist (Part Time, Fixed Term)

University of Cambridge
270

Deputy NACWO

University of Cambridge
London, England65

Communications, Events and Marketing Manager

London School of Economics and Political Science
124

Senior Accounts Assistant

University of Cambridge
Falmer, England77

Communications and Events Officer

University of Sussex
160

Service Technician - Barrier

University of Cambridge

Related Research Grants

Grants and In-Kind Support to USA, Canada, and International Journalists to Report on Rainforest Abuses

USA, Canada, and International

Grants to USA and Israel Scientists for Collaborative Biological Research Projects Related to IOS

All USA, Israel

Award to a USA, Canada, or International Individual to Recognize Lifetime Achievement in Public Folklore

Award to a USA or Canada Psychiatrist or Team for Outstanding Child Psychiatry Research

All USA, Canada

Grants to USA, Canada, and International Researchers for Directed Fitness Research

Grants to USA, Canada, and International Master's and Doctoral Students for Research in Behavior Analysis

Grants to International Organizations and Individuals to Promote Behavior Analysis

All USA, USA Territories: American Samoa (USA); Guam (USA); Puerto Rico (USA); Virgin Islands (USA); Northern Mariana Islands (USA);, USA Compact Free Associations: The Federated States of Micronesia (USA) Marshall Islands (USA) Republic of Palau (USA), International, Israel and Canada.

Grants to USA, Canada, and International Doctoral Students for Research in Behavior Development

All USA, USA Territories: American Samoa (USA); Guam (USA); Puerto Rico (USA); Virgin Islands (USA); Northern Mariana Islands (USA);, USA Compact Free Associations: The Federated States of Micronesia (USA) Marshall Islands (USA) Republic of Palau (USA), International, Israel and Canada

View all research grants →