Chaplaincy Cook

Chaplaincy Cook

Grade and Salary: Grade 4 £24,215 - £26,093 per annum

FTE and working pattern: Part time

Wednesday 14h00-19h00 (5 hours per week during semester time) and one other hour to be worked when convenient and can be from home.

The hours are worked over a total of 38 weeks, September to May.

The Chaplaincy: About our team

The Chaplaincy is a place of welcome and hospitality, cultural meeting-place and a place for prayer and worship. Hospitality and meals play a large part in creating that "at home" environment for students.

Part of the Student Wellbeing Service, it is based in its own premises at the Edinburgh campus where there are approximately 9000 students. The purpose of the Chaplaincy is to enhance the student experience by promoting spiritual and social wellbeing to people of all faiths and those with no religious affiliation, by providing a multi cultural meeting place for mutual support and interaction. It has a key place in the University's Strategy of Building Flourishing Communities. It plays a key role in delivering events that form part of the student experience and in particular, for our International students.

The work of Chaplaincy is headed up by the University Chaplain, and a team including a part time Imam, an International Student Worker, an Executive Assistant and a number of volunteers from the local community and students.

Purpose of Role

Prepare, cook, and serve the weekly Chaplaincy Wednesday Meal for 80-150 students, ensuring high quality, culturally sensitive, and budget appropriate meals. The meal is served at 18:00 each Wednesday during semester time.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan menus and cook weekly Wednesday meals for students. Meal should consist of 2 dishes with one being a vegetarian option. Meals should also take account of cultural, religious & dietary requirements (eg offering halal option if possible).
• Plan weekly menus consisting of two dishes, including one vegetarian option.
• Ensure meals reflect cultural, religious and dietary needs, including halal options where possible.
• Maintain up to date- knowledge of common allergens and ensure that allergens are recorded and communicated.
• Plan meals in line with Chaplaincy food budget and manage the spending responsibly (food budget).
• Order ingredients from the main kitchen one week in advance for Wednesday delivery.
• Maintain kitchen cupboard stock items and inform Chaplaincy EA of any purchases required.
• Ensure preparation of meals to consistent portion sizes and quality standards.
• Communicate effectively and maintain positive working relationships with the Chaplaincy Team, resident students, main kitchen staff and student volunteers.
• Supervise students and volunteers assisting with meal preparation, ensuring they follow Food Hygiene regulations and maintain a clean working environment.
• Encourage and support student volunteers, fostering a welcoming and inclusive kitchen environment
• Maintaining a clean, safe kitchen environment in line with Food Hygiene and HACCP requirements.
• Ensure full compliance with the University's HACCP procedures.
• Undertake a full kitchen clean and stock take in the summer break
• Provide catering for two non Wednesday events per semester.

Essential Criteria

• Level 3 Food and Hygiene Certificate
• Level 3 HACCP qualification
• Strong organisational and time management skills
• Good communication and listening skills
• Ability to encourage and support student volunteers
• Understanding of cultural and religious food practices

How to Apply

Applications can be submitted up to midnight (UK time) on the 15th March 2026.

Please submit your CV via the Heriot Watton line recruitment.

Equality and diversity

Heriot Wattt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised, and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.

Heriot Wattt University values diversity across our university community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from under represented groups. For more information, please see our website and also our award winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers

We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g. part time working and job share options.

Use our total rewards calculator: to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot Wattt University.