Cafe lead - Community Hub (Permanent)

Location: Lochaber Hope Community Hub
Contract: Permanent
Hours: 28 hours per week. Monday to Thursday, 9:00am - 5pm. No evening shifts. Saturday work required from July.

Salary: £26,000-£28,000 FTE, depending on experience.Approx. £20,800-£22,400 per year based on 28 hours/week.

Reports to: Project Manager
Start date: As soon as possible

This is a hands on role in a welcoming community environment, focused on simple, good-quality food and creating a space where people feel comfortable spending time. This is not just a front-of house role - we are looking for someone enthusiastic, practical and motivated who enjoys taking initiative, preparing food, and helping shape and grow a café from the ground up as part of the wider Community Hub.

We hope for the Café Lead to start around a week before the café launch on 27th June 2026. This will give time to get familiar with the kitchen, storage and till systems, prepare some backup soups and freezer meals, and allow both the team and the successful candidate time to settle in and shape how the café runs together.

Role Responsibilities

• Preparing simple food including soups, toasties, sandwiches and baked potatoes
• Baking a small selection of cakes
• Serving customers in a friendly and welcoming way
• Making hot drinks (training provided if needed)
• Handling payments (card and cash)
• Setting up and closing the kitchen and café area each day
• Keeping the workspace clean and organised
• Monitoring stock and helping maintain simple systems

Requirements

About You

We are looking for someone who:

• Has experience preparing food in a practical setting (for example a café, kitchen, school or similar)
• Is confident cooking simple meals independently and managing their own prep
• Is organised, reliable and able to plan ahead for the day or week
• Is friendly, approachable and comfortable serving customers
• Is happy to move between kitchen prep and front of house
• Enjoys working in a community setting

You do not need to be a chef, but you should feel confident cooking simple food to a good standard and working on your own when needed.

Additional Information

This role is part of a community hub supporting mental health and wellbeing. The café is a simple, developing service, and the role may grow over time as we learn what works.

To apply, please get in touch with a CV and a covering letter.

What We Offer

• A supportive team environment in a vibrant community space.
• The opportunity to be at the heart of a busy hub supporting local people and projects.
• Training and support, with scope to develop your role and contribute to new initiatives.
• Part time hours with fixed days each week, offering good work-life balance.
• Holiday entitlement: 34 days per year pro rata (including public holidays) - equivalent to 21 days.
• PVG check required (employer will support this process).

Closing date for applications: Monday 8th June 2026

Please note: Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.