Full Time

JOB PURPOSE
Do you have a passion for food and dedicated to high levels of customer service?
Visiting our Café is an essential part of the visitor experience for those coming to Newhailes House and Gardens the role of the Visitor Service Assistant – Kitchen Assistant is to make it a positive and memorable part of a visitor’s day with us. Our café is a busy operation, and the ideal candidate should be experienced in a high volume, fast paced environment.
You will assist the Head Chef in the day to day management of the kitchen to ensure that all targets are met and that all visitors receive the highest level of visitor experience standards.
You must have full weekend availability, hours will be issued on a rota basis.
We pride ourselves on creating a team work ethic here at Newhailes House so you may be required for additional support with other areas such as serving in the cafe.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES
 Contribute to food production as per the menu cycle/specification.
 Keeping up to date HACCP, COSHH checklists and temperature sheets.
 Ensure high standards of kitchen hygiene, cleanliness, tidiness and related schedules.
 Use fresh produce and ingredients whenever and where-ever is possible and minimise wastage.
 Maintain a high standard of food presentation to the customer.
 Share in the common responsibility of implementing the Trust’s “Health & Safety Policy”, being mindful at all times of the health and safety of self, staff, volunteers, and visitors.
 Share in the common responsibility of working in a manner mindful of the Trust’s obligations to minimise impact on the environment, through e.g. efficient use of water/heat/light, recycling and the disposal of waste, considered use of transport.
 Help to reduce occurrences where Health or Safety of yourself and other employees may be put in jeopardy.
 Adherence to the COSHH Training provided and control of substances covered by COSHH.
 Involvement in the upkeep and maintenance of both the kitchen and café areas.
 Assist with daily cleaning and pot wash duties.

SCOPE OF ROLE
Location
The post holder will be based at Newhailes but may also be expected to work in other Edinburgh cluster properties and at special events/functions when required.
People Management
The post holder does not direct line manage any team.
Financial Management
Not a budget holder but responsible for the day- to -day management of stock
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE
Essential
 Experience working in a similar, quick service, environment and delivering the best visitor service.
 Practical experience of food preparation and service.
 Previous experience working in a team.
 Ability to follow instruction and work independently off own initiative.
 Skill in establishing priorities and managing workload.
 Keen interest in food.
Desirable
 Awareness of what the National Trust for Scotland sets out to achieve.
 High standard of presentation and service (experience an advantage).
 Intermediate Food Hygiene Certificate.

Benefits and package:
-Salary £27900 plus shift allowance (circa £5000 annually)
-Closed over festive period
-37 days holiday, plus 4 Giving More volunteer days
-Save for retirement and invest in your future – pension contributions (employee up to 8.75%, employer up to 14%)
-Share in our success with up to 10% Share Reward scheme (subject to eligibility)
-Private medical insurance that covers the cost of private healthcare and includes round the clock access to GP services and menopause health line
-24/7 support for you and your loved ones to counselling, life coaching and information on financial, mental, and physical wellbeing
-Experience our exceptional brands with a generous annual product allowance, plus at least 20% discount in our staff shop 
-Embrace work-life harmony with 26 weeks’ paid maternity, paternity and adoption leave, and up to five paid carers leave days a year

As Commis Chef with the Macallan Estate Experience, you will be part of the team that delivers the entire culinary experience across the Estate. This is a chance to train under and be inspired by a Head Chef with multi Michelin experience. We are in search of an ambitious chef with positive and approachable manner who enjoys the fast pace of working in a busy kitchen. We are looking for someone with basic understanding of kitchen operation, huge passion for food and willingness to learn, you will be working under close supervision and all training will be provided on the job. 

-Prepare ingredients under the guidance of senior chefs
-Maintain high standards of kitchen hygiene and cleanliness
-Rotate stock, organise inventory, and manage food deliveries
-Accurately measure ingredients and portion sizes
-Learn and apply food safety techniques
-Perform mise en place tasks, including chopping vegetables, stocking stations, organising ingredients, and pre-cooking certain items
-Ensure compliance with food hygiene and safety regulations, such as HACCP, COSHH, and other due diligence requirements
-Maintain clean and organised workstations, preventing cross-contamination

To be successful in this role, you possess basic cookery skills and a working knowledge of fundamental culinary terms and kitchen equipment. You demonstrate good interpersonal skills, effectively collaborating with kitchen staff, front-of-house teams, and management. A solid understanding of safe food handling practices, food rotation, and maintaining a hygienic kitchen environment is essential. Friendly and approachable, you build positive relationships with both customers and colleagues. Quality-driven and detail-oriented, you uphold high standards of customer service. Your flexibility in approach, strong time-keeping, and commitment to executing tasks to perfection reflect your dedication. Your strong sense of ownership and pride in your work ensures excellence in every aspect of your role.

We’ve put together some criteria that we think is important for this role, but don’t worry if your experience and expertise isn’t an exact match. If you feel that you can add value to our role and to Edrington more broadly, we would welcome your application and be eager to learn more about you.

We’re proud of our inclusive culture – where unique experiences, ideas and perspectives are celebrated. We want everyone to feel respected and empowered to contribute to our success.

Get involved. From colleague networks like Balance, Pride and Kick-Start to inclusion allies and DE&I champions, we encourage our people to be curious, get involved and help us make change happen.

Benefits and package:
-Salary £30,000 plus shift allowance (circa £5000 annually)
-Closed over festive period
-37 days holiday, plus 4 Giving More volunteer days 
-Save for retirement and invest in your future – pension contributions (employee up to 8.75%, employer up to 14%) 
-Share in our success with up to 10% Share Reward scheme (subject to eligibility) 
-Private medical insurance that covers the cost of private healthcare and includes round the clock access to GP services and menopause health line 
-24/7 support for you and your loved ones to counselling, life coaching and information on financial, mental, and physical wellbeing 
-Experience our exceptional brands with a generous annual product allowance, plus at least 20% discount in our staff shop   
-Embrace 26 weeks’ paid maternity, paternity and adoption leave, and up to five paid carers leave days a year 

As a Chef de Partie at The Macallan Estate, this role will collaborate closely with the Sous Chef to consistently uphold 5-star service standards and ensure the delivery of top-quality cuisine. Joining a dynamic kitchen team with extensive experience in multiple Michelin-starred establishments, the CDP position brings established skills, demonstrating a profound enthusiasm for crafting, cooking, and presenting exquisite dishes within a specialised section. The role requires a heightened level of diligence and the capability to operate autonomously, without supervision.

-Collaborate closely with the Sous Chef to maintain consistent 5-star service standards and ensure high-quality food preparation
-Demonstrate expertise in specialised culinary techniques within assigned section
-Prepare, cook, and present dishes according to established recipes and standards
-Monitoring portion and waste control
-Work effectively in a fast-paced environment, demonstrating adaptability and flexibility
-Communicate effectively with other kitchen staff to ensure smooth service operations
-Take initiative to address any issues or challenges that arise during service.
-Contribute to menu development and innovation under the guidance of senior kitchen staff
-Overseeing the maintenance of kitchen and food safety
-Ensuring full compliance of all food hygiene and health and safety regulations including HACCP, COSHH and all other distillery related due diligence and controls

To be successful in this role, you have previous experience working in a similar role, demonstrating a solid knowledge and culinary skills. You have the ability to work without supervision and produce exceptional quality of food. Strong interpersonal abilities, facilitating seamless collaboration with both kitchen and front-of-house teams, as well as effective communication with management. A comprehensive understanding of safe food handling practices and adeptness in food rotation procedures to maintain freshness and quality. A personable and professional demeanor, consistently delivering exceptional service with a welcoming attitude. Effective problem-solving skills, enabling quick and practical resolutions to challenges encountered in a fast-paced kitchen environment.

Join our team where your culinary talents and interpersonal finesse will contribute to our collective success in delivering exceptional dining experiences.

We’ve put together some criteria that we think is important for this role, but don’t worry if your experience and expertise isn’t an exact match. If you feel that you can add value to our role and to Edrington more broadly, we would welcome your application and be eager to learn more about you. 

We’re proud of our inclusive culture – where unique experiences, ideas and perspectives are celebrated. We want everyone to feel respected and empowered to contribute to our success.

Get involved. From colleague networks like Balance, Pride and Kick-Start to inclusion allies and DE&I champions, we encourage our people to be curious, get involved and help us make change happen.

JOB PURPOSE

To provide operational delivery of the visitor experience and supervision in the Food & Beverage department at Pitmedden Gardens and on-site Events in line with the Trust’s policies. Delivering Performance standards and targets to ensure enjoyment of the property by visitors and members is maximised and key commercial, financial and development objectives are achieved to make the property fully sustainable.
The Visitor Services Supervisor at a Trust property plays a pivotal role ensuring that the management objectives are achieved through excellent customer service and with delegated responsibility for catering duty management is very often the face of the Trust to visitors. As such directly influences public perceptions of the Trust and is significant to developing and maintaining the property’s reputation.
This role requires weekend working and at times may require the post holder to work evenings to cover events.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

Supervising/undertaking the day-to-day operation of the property and environs to ensure excellent customer/visitor experience. This includes supervision of:
Catering Operation
 Lead with menu development and the preparation and presentation of a high-quality food and drink offer.
 Ensure compliance with health and safety, food hygiene, food allergen, licensing and environmental health standards, completing all related record-keeping.
 Assist with food led events throughout the year to support over all business goals.
Visitor experience
 Offer excellent customer service and ensure all members of the team do the same.
 Support property-wide targets for completion of visitor surveys to understand more about our visitors.
 Act as one of our duty management team, responsible for ensuring a safe and smooth visitor operation, opening/closing the visitor attraction, addressing issues, emergency procedure and providing relief cover, as required.

Line management of Visitor Services Assistants – Food and Beverage
 Duty management responsibility includes opening and closing of all on-site facilities.
 Ensure the property social account is managed to generate interest and help drive visitor engagement.
 Support the informal learning and community engagement and outreach programme.
 Security of the Property.
 Ensuring the completion of cash/till reconciliation.
 End of week reports and reconciliation.
 Ensure health and safety procedures, emergency procedures, and environmental procedures are followed.
 Deputising for the Visitor Services Manager on-site and off-site as required.
 Recruitment; induction; development; and management of all Food and beverage visitor services employees and volunteers. Ensuring that they understand role responsibilities and are equipped to fulfill the role to the standards required.
 Ensure the team feel valued, respected, motivated and supported.
 Supervising the activities of a team of permanent and seasonal Visitor Service Assistants (VSAs), achieving excellent staff performance and motivation through induction, training, task-setting and coaching on front and back of house.

Working closely with other managers across the Property to deliver a programme of visitor events, which increase visitor numbers, drive secondary spends and support overall Property targets.

Instil a Health and Safety culture across the property, ensuring the teamwork within the property’s ‘Safe System of Work’ to reduce risk of incidents and accidents to volunteers, employees and visitors.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE

Qualifications

Essential
 Significant previous experience of working in an operations role in the hospitality industry – including supervision of staff and/or responsibility for specific activities.
 Previous event coordination/management experience.
 Excellent customer service skills.
 Excellent organisational, administrative and time-management skills with the ability to prioritise and re-prioritise workload to meet changing demands.
 An understanding and commitment to the aims and objectives of the National Trust for Scotland.
 Access to own transport and full Driving License.

Desirable
 Food and Hygiene Qualification.
 Current First Aid certification.
 A formal qualification in Catering, Hospitality, Tourism or Event Management.
 Barista trained.
 The ability to think and act quickly when confronted with emergencies.
 Competent user of Microsoft Office products.

 
DIMENSIONS AND SCOPE OF JOB

Finance Management
 Share responsibility for achieving the catering budget together with the F&B Manager.
 Monitor commercial performance and adjust activities to capitalize on sales opportunities and run a cost-effective catering operation.
 Supervise daily café till operations and perform end-of-day income reconciliation.
 Assist the F&B Manager with menu costing and stock-taking.
 Supervise active record-keeping in line with Environmental Health requirements

Tools / equipment / systems
 Access to laptop and relevant online people management, training, financial monitoring and stock ordering systems, including NTS intranet and Microsoft 365.
 EPOS tills and chip and pin machines.
 Fully equipped commercial catering kitchens.
 Use of internal finance and banking systems.

Performance indicators and targets
 Weekly, monthly and annual sales and cost of sales targets.
 Food compliance standards and record-keeping.
 Visitor enjoyment reviews and ratings from visitor surveys and visitor feedback.

The Purpose, Context, Key Responsibilities, and Person Specification reflect the requirements of the job at the time of issue. The Trust reserves the right to amend these with appropriate consultation and/or request the post-holder to undertake any activities that it believes to be reasonable within the broad scope of the job or his/her general abilities.