Rothamsted Research
Cafe Assistant
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Café Assistant
Location: Harpenden, Hertfordshire
Contract: Permanent part-time role, 25 hours per week
Salary: £24,785 pro rata per annum
Are you looking for a customer-facing part-time role in hospitality?
Do you like interacting with people and providing exceptional customer service?
This could be your next opportunity; join our hospitality team.
We are looking for an experienced Café Assistant to support the day-to-day operation of the Rothamsted Enterprises Café based in Harpenden. The position offers an opportunity to develop barista and hospitality skills within a supportive and customer-focused environment.
The Campus Café serves both the Rothamsted community and the wider public, providing high-quality coffee, breakfast, lunch and refreshments in a welcoming environment. Our culture is friendly, supportive, ambitious and customer-focused, with a strong commitment to learning, development and excellence in hospitality.
What You’ll Do
Working under the direction of the Café Supervisor. The role focuses on delivering excellent customer service, preparing quality coffee and beverages, maintaining high standards of cleanliness and food safety, and contributing positively to the café team.
Key Responsibilities
Customer Service
- Welcoming and assisting customers in a friendly and professional manner to maintain our welcoming café environment.
- Take orders and process payments accurately using the EPOS system.
- Preparing and serving our quality food and beverages.
- Respond to customer enquiries.
Coffee & Beverage Preparation
- Preparing espresso-based coffees, teas and other drinks.
- Following recipes and maintaining our quality standards
- Develop barista skills
- Grinding and dosing coffee
- Espresso extraction
- Milk texturing and steaming
- Safely operate coffee equipment.
- Monitor stock levels of beverage ingredients.
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Cleanliness, Food Safety & Presentation
- Maintain clean workstations and customer areas.
- Follow food hygiene, allergen and health and safety procedures.
- Clean equipment in line with café standards.
- Support opening and closing procedures.
- Ensure stock is rotated and stored correctly.
Teamwork & Operational Support
- Work collaboratively with colleagues and the Café Supervisor.
- Replenish stock and prepare service areas.
- Assist with stock checks and stocktakes.
- Support wider hospitality operations when required.
- Assist with kitchen portering duties when needed.
Professional Development
- Participate in training and development.
- Develop coffee-making and customer service skills.
- Complete mandatory food safety and health & safety training.
- Respond positively to coaching and feedback.
About You
You will have experience working within a hospitality or café environment and be confident in a customer-facing role. You will demonstrate a flexible approach to work, with strong communication and interpersonal skills. As a team player, you will have a friendly and approachable manner while also being capable of working independently and using your own initiative when required. A strong eye for detail and the ability to stay calm when the café is busy.
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You will have a full and valid clean driving licence or have the ability to get to our Harpenden site.
What we are looking for
- Previous café barista, restaurant or hospitality experience
- Five GCSEs (including Maths and English) or equivalent qualification and some relevant work experience.
- Ability to comply with food hygiene, allergen and health & safety requirements, ideally with a Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate.
- Strong customer service and communication skills.
- Ability to follow procedures and recipes accurately.
- Good attention to detail and cleanliness standards.
- Friendly and approachable manner and the ability to stay calm during busy periods.
- Positive, proactive "can-do" attitude.
Why Join Us?
You will be joining a friendly team at Rothamsted Enterprises, working in a unique environment based on a large campus
What We Can Offer You
- Ongoing training and development opportunities.
- 25 days' annual leave
- Generous Pension scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Free car parking
Ready to take your next step? Apply today.
Interviews commence from the 12th October 2026
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
This vacancy does not meet the Home Office requirements; therefore, please ensure you are eligible or already hold the legal right to work in the UK.
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