Café Assistant

The Makers' Kirk

• Greenock -

Work | Art | Soup

The Makers' Kirk is a co-working & creative event space newly established in a renovated church in the heart of Greenock.

We are looking for a Café Assistant to provide attentive and quality serve to tenants and visitors to the Kirk creating a welcoming environment for all.

Job Description and Person Specification

Cafe Assistant

Working hours: Full Time: hours - to be confirmed.

The post holder will be expected to work flexibly within the opening hours of the operation which may include one day in the weekend.

Remuneration: Living Wage - £12.60

Role purpose

• Support The Kirk's cafe and co-working community by preparing simple, wholesome food, delivering friendly counter/table service, and producing consistently excellent coffee, tea, and hot drinks.
• Uphold high standards of food safety, cleanliness, and sustainability, reflecting our focus on Scottish and locally sourced produce.

Key responsibilities Food prep

• Batch-prep core items: soups, vegan bases, coleslaw, salad components, baked potatoes, toastie/roll fillings, quiche mix/finishing, homemade beans, yoghurt/granola pots, and kids platters.
• Portion, label, and rotate mise en place using FIFO; maintain accurate date/temperature records.
• Slice, reheat, and plate bakes/scones/cakes; prepare simple garnishes and condiments.
• Operate small catering equipment safely: high-speed/convection ovens, Instant Pot/pressure cooker, hand blender, food processor, veg-prep equipment, and commercial dishwasher.

Coffee/tea and beverage service

• Dial-in and run espresso service (grinder calibration, shot timing, milk texturing, latte art) for espresso, flat whites, lattes, cappuccinos, americanos, and decaf.
• Brew filter batch coffee and cafetières; prepare a broad tea range (loose-leaf and classic styles), hot chocolate, and kid-friendly soft drinks/cordials.
• Maintain barista station: clean group heads, purge/bleed steam wands, backflush, descale as scheduled; keep rinser/scales/knock box hygienic and stocked.
• Manage drink presentation and pace to standard ticket times during rush periods.

Front-of-house service

• Set up, serve, and close down the cafe floor and co-working refreshment points; run food, clear tables, reset, and handle basic table touches.
• Use POS to take orders, process payments, and manage modifiers/allergens accurately.
• Support meeting room and event refreshment service (coffee/tea urns, jugs, platters) and light catering assembly.

Hygiene, safety, and compliance

• Follow daily/weekly cleaning schedules; complete checklists for kitchen, coffee bar, and dish area.
• Record cooking/cooling/reheat temps and maintain allergen segregation to UK Food Information Regulations.
• Practice safe manual handling, knife safety, and chemical handling (COSHH); report hazards promptly.

Sustainability and local focus

• Minimise waste via accurate prep, portion control, creative use of surplus, and correct storage.
• Sort recycling/compost; reduce single-use where feasible; support seasonal and Scottish/local product use in daily service.

Stock and housekeeping

• Receive deliveries; check quality, rotate stock, and update par levels.
• Flag low stock and equipment issues; help maintain smallwares and crockery displays.

What success looks like

• Consistent drink quality and timing; attractive plating that reflects our homely, Scottish-inspired style.
• Clean, orderly stations; complete logs and checklists with zero critical non-conformances.
• Warm, efficient service that keeps queues moving and guests returning.
• Low wastage and accurate par prep across busy and quiet days.

Essential requirements

• Experience in a cafe, coffee bar, or casual dining role covering at least two of: food prep, barista, service.
• Basic knife skills and comfort using ovens, small appliances, and dishwashers.
• Food safety awareness (ability to pass Level 2 Food Hygiene within 30 days if not already held).
• Confident customer service, clear communication, and accurate allergen handling.
• Reliable, punctual, and calm under pressure; able to stand for long shifts and lift up to 15 kg.

Desirable

• Barista training/experience (dial-in, milk texturing, latte art).
• Allergen training and familiarity with UK 14 allergens.
• Event/meeting refreshment or co-working hospitality experience.
• Interest in local, seasonal Scottish food and sustainability.

Schedule and availability

• Rotating shifts including early opens, mid shifts, closes, at least one weekend day, and occasional evenings for events.
• We plan rotas 2–3 weeks in advance and aim to cluster hours to suit availability where possible.

Compensation and benefits

• Hourly pay: £12.60, plus holiday pay.
• Staff coffee/meal during shifts; paid training (Food Hygiene L2, barista skills).
• Progression opportunities as we grow (Senior Barista/Shift Lead).

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: £12.60 per hour

Work Location: In person