Description

Kitchen Assistant
Location: Oxford, OX1 1BP
Salary: £25,550 per annum
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time

Role

The Modern Art Café operates Tuesday to Sunday, 11am–6pm, offering light lunches, soups, seasonal specials, and a variety of cakes and pastries. Our menu is carefully planned to minimise waste and adhere to strict budgets.

As a key part of the gallery, the Kitchen Assistant will provide a welcoming atmosphere, high-quality food, and excellent customer service. This is a hands-on role, primarily focused on food and drink preparation and engaging with the public.

Responsibilities

Customer Service

  • Deliver excellent service to a diverse customer base, including staff and artists.
  • Handle and record customer complaints professionally.

Food & Drink

  • Prepare and present café food and drinks to agreed standards.
  • Deputise for the Chef Manager, including cooking the lunch menu (including Sundays).
  • Maintain attractive displays and follow menu plans.
  • Uphold hygiene standards, adhering to a strict cleaning schedule.
  • Comply with the Licensing Act 2003 for alcohol sales.
  • Engage with management to support business growth.

Health & Safety & Daily Operations

  • Follow hygiene policies and ensure kitchen compliance with all regulations (Allergens, CoSHH, HACCP, Fire, Manual Handling).
  • Maintain high hygiene levels in line with the Safer Food Better Business manual.
  • Complete all required gallery training, including Safeguarding Children Level 2.
  • Support waste reduction and procurement in line with the Gallery’s Environmental Strategy.

Staff

  • Monitor café staff performance and escalate issues to the Chef Manager as needed.
  • Attend regular gallery staff meetings.

Commercial Activities

  • Control stock to minimise waste and maintain budgeted margins.
  • Track sales data as instructed by the Chef Manager.
  • Assist in planning and implementing café improvements.

Person Specification

Essential Skills & Experience

  • Strong attention to detail and food presentation.
  • Previous café cooking experience.
  • Proactive and flexible approach to sales and operations.
  • Experience in food preparation, cooking, stock management, and cash handling.
  • Barista experience, including making a variety of hot drinks.
  • Knowledge of allergens and dietary requirements.
  • Commitment to excellent customer service.
  • Self-motivated, able to work independently, and a strong team player.

Desirable Skills & Experience

  • Availability for some weekend and evening shifts.
  • Interest in contemporary art.

Benefits

Employees are entitled to a staff discount in the Modern Art Oxford Shop and Café. There is an Employee Assistance Programme through Gemelli, and a series of discounts and salary sacrifice schemes through BHN Extras.

Applications must be received by 9.00am Monday 3rd March 2025

Initial interviews planned for w/c 10th March 2025

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

Modern Art Oxford is committed to creating equality of opportunity for all and we value diversity in our team. As part of our Anti-racism Action Plan, we welcome applications from people from the global majority who are under-represented in the workforce in our sector.

No agencies please.