JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Purpose:

As the Food and Beverage Team Member in our Student Union, you will play a crucial role in welcoming customers to the bar, lounge, and function areas. Your direct interaction with customers contributes to the highest level of customer service. You'll be responsible for receiving and delivering beverages (coffee, soft drinks, and alcohol) and food orders, making strong customer service skills essential for this position.

This role is an enjoyable and rewarding opportunity, working in an extremely sociable environment. We expect a high level of commitment and a real passion to be part of a dedicated working team. You will need to be hardworking, fun and always ready to work with a smile on your face.

Responsible to: Food and Beverage Team Leader

Responsible for: Casual Staff

Department/Service

The Food and Beverage Team Member is part of the Greenwich Students’ Union Commercial Services. At GSU, we turn over £1.1m through our not-for-profit commercial services that provide services to students, staff, and the local population. We provide students at the University of Greenwich with social spaces to study, make friends and have fun.

Additionally, the profit generated through our varied income portfolio is invested back into the SU support services for students. We are a Living Wage Employer and a large employer of students putting money back in their pockets to support studying and living costs in London and Kent.

Duties and Key Responsibilities

Operational Tasks

• Provide an exceptional standard of service for the F&B team, fostering excellent teamwork to maintain and deliver high standards.
• Cultivate a positive and friendly working environment within the team.
• Strictly always adhere to the conditions of our premises license.
• Reset the venue and outlets to the required standard at the end of each shift in preparation for the next service, these will include bars, diners, cafes, entertainment and technical areas.
• Confers with the Venue Management team/Supervisor on set-ups and last-minute changes.
• Take responsibility for always ensuring an excellent guest experience in a safe and efficient manner.
• Operate tills, ticket admission, take cash, and give change in line with set procedures.
• Manage orders and inventory to ensure there are no shortages of supplies.
• Undertake any other appropriate duties as deemed necessary.
• Engage in food preparation activities, including coffee making, cooking, washing, peeling, and cutting.
• Maintain a comprehensive working knowledge of food and beverage menus to advise guests on selections and promote additional sales.
• Assist the event team with setting up and packing down.
• Presentable for work in a clean and tidy fashion, wearing the stipulated uniform which will be clean and ironed or wearing the theme dress as required whilst on company premises and never attend work under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other substances.

Standards of Service

• Provide professional, friendly, and efficient service to all guests.
• Maintain a clean and well-presented work area throughout shifts.
• Keep all areas of the venue clean including toilets, foyer, cellar, back rooms, and customer tables, ensuring customer areas are clean at all times.
• Deliver an efficient and effective service, understanding and exceeding customer needs and requirements whenever possible.
• Promote additional sales through professional and courteous up-selling.
• Prepare and serve food and beverage items to a consistently high standard.
• Adhere to strict cash handling procedures, be familiar with credit/debit card procedures, and promptly report any issues to a Team Leader.
• Ensure all products are fully stocked throughout the shift and securely stored at the end of the shift.
• Enforce the Challenge 25 policy, only accepting approved forms of ID for age verification.
• Clear and clean customer tables, ensuring customer areas remain clean at all times, and wash glasses and dishes as required.
• Using correct COSHH around the venue.
• Tries new and sustainable practices: whenever possible, employee tries to reduce the negative environmental impact of their work – especially their waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Ensure all administration related to the department is complete and accurate, including delivery notes, incident and accident reports, and accident books.
• Act as the initial point of contact for queries/issues related to F&B outlets.

Stock Management and Reporting

• Check and return all invoices/delivery notes to the Finance Team (FT) and F&B Venue Manager by the agreed-upon deadline each day.
• Handle stock and equipment in a secure manner.
• Record wastage in line with venue procedures.
• Assist with cellar management and stock control whilst on duty.
• Conduct stock rotation to ensure product quality, and relocate stock internally as needed to meet customer demand.
• Assist in the maintenance of bar, venue and merchandising displays as required.
• Dispose of rubbish in the correct manner in line with our recycling objectives
• Run line cleans when asked by Management.

Health, Safety, and Compliance

• Work within operational procedures, licensing, health, and safety policies, safeguarding, hygiene and other regulations pertaining to the operation of the venue, ensuring all staff are trained appropriately.
• Adhere to all GSU policies related to HR, staffing, health and safety, data protection, environment, and any other specific GSU Policy impacting your role or that of the team.

General Responsibilities

• Represent and be an ambassador for GSU.
• Be flexible and carry out other associated duties as may arise, develop, or be assigned in line with the broad remit of the position.
• Maintain and improve competencies through continuous professional development.
• Abide by organisational policies, codes of conduct and practices.
• Support and promote workplace liberation, diversity, equality, and inclusion of opportunity.
• Treat with confidentiality any personal, private, or sensitive information about individual organisations, clients, staff, and Project data.
• Actively seek better ways to assist GSU in becoming a more sustainable workplace.
• Any other duties commensurate with the accountabilities of the post

PERSON SPECIFICATION:

Essential Attributes

• Previous experience as a Team Member or experience in high-turnover venues, covering a comprehensive range of events.
• Exceptional customer service and creating a welcoming environment for students.
• Excellent communication skills and a positive attitude while interacting with clients and co-workers.
• Ability to handle difficult or conflict situations and communicate effectively both orally and in writing at all levels.
• Excellent time management, organisational, and planning skills.
• Demonstrated accountability, responsibility, reliability, and amenability.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and Word, and understanding social media platforms.
• Must be willing to work late nights and weekends as required.

Desirable Attributes

• Health and Safety Level 2, First Aid etc.
• Hospitality, events, and entertainment experience.
• Good experience in managing health & safety and security legislation.
• Technical understanding of lighting, sound, and other production equipment.
• Understanding and knowledge of working within the student sector.

Personal Attributes and Other Requirements

• All Commercial Services staff may be asked to work at other campus outlets on an ad hoc basis to assist with day-to-day operations and events.
• Innovative and forward-thinking approach to continued improvement.
• Able to travel extensively within the Borough and Region.
• Able to work unsociable hours and stay overnight where necessary.
• Work well in a team with a flexible approach to work.
• Commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities.
• An ability to apply awareness of diversity issues to all areas of work.
• Commitment to the values and ethos of the Organisation.

Skills You Will Develop

• Food and Beverage expertise, including bar, restaurant, lounge, and function areas.
• Knowledge of wine and food pairings.
• Cash handling proficiency.
• Planning and organising skills.
• Effective teamwork abilities.
• Cultural, community and environmental awareness.

Training Available

• Formal hospitality qualification (if applicable).
• Specialist training relevant to the role.
• Ongoing in-depth support is available throughout the year from the Venue Managers

Miscellaneous

• The definition and examples of work included above are not exhaustive – they are illustrative and for guidance only. A particular post holder with this job title may not perform all duties detailed in this job description. Conversely, not all the duties performed will be listed on this document.
• It is the practice of GSU Commercial Services to periodically examine employees’ job descriptions and update them to ensure they relate to the job as then being performed. This will be done with the Senior Manager in consultation with the employee.

CONDITIONS:

Contract Casual

Hours Zero hours per week. Expected commitment of 2 to 3 shifts per week minimum.

Salary £11.44ph + Paid holiday on top of your hourly rate of 12.07% per hour

Notice period One Week

Benefits Training opportunity. Personal development opportunities. Building verbal communication skills. Gaining essential knowledge and experience to further your career options. Working as part of a team. Uniform and Meal on duty provided.