Job Description

Job title

: Community Cafe Assistant

Reporting to

: Cafe Manager

Hours of Work:

16-30 hours per week (Wednesday to Saturday)

Job share will be considered

Some evening work required for events

Weekend work required

Location:

Based at The Berin Centre, Berinsfield.

Occasional travel out of Berinsfield may be required.

Salary and benefits:

25,992 per annum (to be pro rata'd depending on hours, with 37.5 being full time)

Holiday entitlement of 25 days per annum plus bank holidays, pro rata, and a pension scheme, for employees.

Contract:

Permanent.

The Community Cafe Assistant role is crucial in bringing our vision of a Community Cafe to life! We're looking for someone with a special mix of passion for food, excellent customer service, and a real enthusiasm for people. Someone who can help us make sure the cafe is the heart of the community, offering a warm and welcoming environment for all. Does this sound like you?!

About The Berin Centre

The Berin Centre is a well-established hub within the Berinsfield community, providing family and community services including child and family activities and support, a Community Larder, social and skills-based groups for adults, and hireable space for complementary services including counselling and Citizen's Advice. Our latest addition, our new Community Cafe, will be opening for the first time later this year.

Our Strategic Priorities for 2025 are:

Develop the reach and impact of our core family, community and food services, ensuring integration at every opportunity Continually evaluate the community's evolving needs and respond with relevant direct delivery or partner services Complete the construction of a high-quality multi-purpose Community Cafe building safely, on time and on budget Update our fundraising strategy with a focus on increasing revenue funding

Role summary

After several years of planning, community involvement, and fundraising, we're delighted to currently be in the process of constructing a new building which will become our Community Cafe. This brand new facility will offer a host of new services, including operating a cafe 3-4 days/week, and working alongside our Community and Family staff to provide a range of other groups, activities and classes. For more detail on our vision for this service, please watch our Explainer Video:

You'll support this vision by offering excellent customer service and food delivery and ensure that required due diligence checks are being completed. Responsible for working with the Cafe Manager to complete any tasks as required to run a successful cafe, duties include making coffees, taking orders, product knowledge and customer engagement. You'll work with staff from other teams that engage local people in developing positive relationships.

We're committed to building a team that is diverse and inclusive and therefore actively welcome applications from marginalised and underserved groups including people of the global majority, trans and non-binary people, and people with disabilities. The Berin Centre is committed to opportunities to grow and develop, so even if you don't have everything we're looking for but are motivated to learn, we still want to hear from you!

Key tasks and responsibilities:

1. Cafe Operations

Support the daily operations of the Community Cafe including serving food, taking payments and operating the till, clearing tables, dealing with customer queries, supporting food preparation, cashing up, and general cleaning and tidying. Follow any stock management systems, assisting to minimise waste. Contribute to maintaining record keeping, cleanliness, health and safety, and food hygiene. Work within cafe procedures to ensure consistent high quality, efficiency, and smooth operating, taking initiative as well as working to direction. Assist with keeping the cafe and its garden maintained to a high, clean, tidy and safe standard at all times. Support the delivery of The Berin Centre-wide events, such as the annual Summer Celebration. Share your ideas and thoughts to help us continually develop and improve our services. Build warm and professional relationships with customers and visitors, ensuring an excellent standard of customer service.

2. Personal responsibilities

Ensure health and safety and safeguarding policies and procedures are followed, including following risk assessments and operating procedures. Ensure that your manager is kept informed of all accidents, incidents, complaints and concerns, and support agreed actions as appropriate.

3. Responsibilities of all Berin Centre employees

Support the day-to-day running of The Berin Centre on occasion. Ensure that The Berin Centre (including the cafe) is a welcoming, inclusive and nurturing environment for all. Support the development of a culture of continuous improvement and user involvement; actively seeking opportunities to improve our services and to involve stakeholders in doing so. Act at all times in a professional manner and positively promote The Berin Centre in all interactions. Be accountable for own actions and practice, attending meetings, supervision, and development opportunities to ensure service excellence. Manage individual workload and plan time effectively.

Note:

The post holder is expected to carry out other duties from time to time which are broadly consistent with those in this document. This job description is subject to changes to meet the needs of the organisation, following discussion with the post holder.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and is subject to an enhanced criminal records check by the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Person Specification

Essential:

Enthusiasm for, and understanding of, healthy, delicious and affordable food Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to connect with diverse groups of people Ability to work calmly under pressure Ability to work evenings and weekends Fluent in spoken English Commitment to excellent customer experience, going above and beyond

Desirable:

Experience of successfully working in a customer facing role Knowledge of health and safety and food hygiene requirements Enthusiasm for providing an environmentally conscious and sustainable cafe Event experience Barista training and/or knowledge of and passion for great coffee Excellent knowledge of, or connection to, the Berinsfield area
Job Type: Part-time

Pay: 25,992.00 per year

Expected hours: 16 - 30 per week

Benefits:

Casual dress Company pension Discounted or free food Free parking Sick pay
Physical Setting:

Cafe
Shift:

Day shift
Work days:

Monday to Friday Weekend availability
Ability to commute/relocate:

Wallingford OX10 7LZ: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)
Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 28/07/2025