Kitchen Assistant
Waffle+Coffee | Saffron Walden
We’re looking for a reliable, hardworking and enthusiastic Kitchen Assistant to join our team at Waffle+Coffee on a Monday, Friday and Saturday each week.
Our kitchen is a busy, fast-paced environment, particularly during peak service, so we’re looking for someone who can work efficiently, stay focused and work well under pressure.
Previous kitchen or hospitality experience would be an advantage, but it isn’t essential. We’re happy to train the right person who has a great attitude, is dependable and genuinely wants to learn.
This is a hands-on role supporting our Chef and Kitchen Manager with the day-to-day running of the kitchen. As you gain experience and confidence, we’ll expect you to take on more responsibility, including eventually being trusted to independently open and close the kitchen.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the Chef and Kitchen Manager with the day-to-day running of the kitchen
- Prepare ingredients and food ready for service
- Assist with the preparation and cooking of menu items
- Follow recipes, portion sizes and presentation standards consistently
- Keep preparation areas organised, stocked and ready for service
- Work quickly and efficiently during busy periods
- Communicate clearly with the kitchen and front-of-house teams during service
- Help ensure orders leave the kitchen accurately and to a high standard
- Receive, check and correctly store food deliveries
- Rotate stock correctly and follow food storage procedures
- Monitor stock levels and report when ingredients or supplies are running low
- Follow correct date labelling and stock rotation procedures
- Maintain high standards of cleanliness throughout the kitchen
- Complete daily and scheduled kitchen cleaning tasks
- Carry out general KP duties, including washing up and keeping the wash-up area organised when required
- Follow all food hygiene, food safety and health and safety procedures
- Follow allergen procedures carefully and understand the importance of preventing cross-contamination
- Help maintain a clean, safe and organised working environment
- Complete kitchen opening and closing procedures
- As you progress, take responsibility for independently opening and closing the kitchen
- Support the wider café team when required
Food Hygiene & Allergens
Food safety and allergen awareness are extremely important to us.
You don’t need to already hold food hygiene or allergen qualifications as full training will be provided, including food hygiene and allergen training.
However, we do expect you to understand the importance of food safety and allergens and to take these responsibilities seriously at all times.
What We’re Looking For
Our kitchen can get very busy, so this role will suit someone who enjoys working at pace and can remain calm and focused when there are multiple orders coming through.
We’re looking for someone who:
- Is reliable, punctual and dependable
- Works well under pressure and can keep up in a fast-paced kitchen environment
- Can stay calm, focused and organised during busy services
- Can prioritise tasks and work efficiently
- Has good attention to detail, even when things get busy
- Takes pride in producing food to a consistent standard
- Is clean, organised and understands the importance of kitchen hygiene
- Is willing to learn and take direction
- Responds positively to feedback
- Works well as part of a team
- Communicates clearly with colleagues
- Is happy to get stuck into all aspects of the kitchen, including cleaning and KP duties
- Uses initiative and can see what needs doing
- Is willing to take on greater responsibility as their skills and confidence develop
Previous café, restaurant, catering or kitchen experience is preferred but not essential.
Training & Development
We’ll provide training in:
- Food hygiene and food safety
- Food allergens and cross-contamination
- Our menu and ingredients
- Food preparation and cooking
- Recipes, portion control and presentation
- Kitchen cleaning procedures
- Stock rotation and food storage
- Safe use of kitchen equipment
- Kitchen opening and closing procedures
For the right person, there is plenty of opportunity to develop within the role. We want someone who can become a trusted member of the kitchen team and, once fully trained, is confident taking greater responsibility for the kitchen and their shifts.
If you’re hardworking, reliable, enjoy being part of a busy team and want the opportunity to learn and develop in a fast-paced café kitchen, we’d love to hear from you.
Job Type: Part-time
Pay: £10.80-£12.71 per hour
Expected hours: 16.0 – 24.0 per week
Benefits:
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
Experience:
- Kitchen experience: 1 year (preferred)
Work Location: In person
