Kitchen Porter Job Description
A practical, entry-level hospitality role responsible for cleaning, basic food‑prep support and keeping the kitchen operating smoothly during service. Use this template to produce a clear advert that sets expectations for shifts, physical tasks and the hygiene standards required.
What does a Kitchen Porter professional do?
A Kitchen Porter keeps the kitchen clean, supplies equipment, disposes waste correctly and supports chefs during service.
Kitchen Porter job description template
Use this employer-ready example as a starting point, then replace the placeholders and adjust the content so it accurately reflects your vacancy.
Kitchen Porter
About the role
[Company name] is recruiting a reliable Kitchen Porter to join our kitchen team in [insert location]. You will be responsible for washing dishes and equipment, maintaining kitchen cleanliness and assisting with basic food‑prep tasks during [insert hours / shift pattern]. This is a physically active role; uniform and training will be provided. Salary: [insert salary / hourly rate].
Key responsibilities
- Operate dishwashers and hand‑wash crockery, pans and utensils to an agreed standard
- Keep workstations, floors, walls and kitchen equipment clean and sanitised throughout shift
- Empty and manage refuse, recycling and grease traps in line with hygiene procedures
- Unload and store deliveries safely, rotating stock and labelling as required
- Support cooks with basic food preparation tasks such as peeling, portioning and plating as directed
- Report faults, hazards or damaged equipment to the supervisor and log accordingly
- Follow COSHH, food hygiene and health & safety procedures, including correct use of cleaning chemicals and PPE
- Help set up and clear down service areas quickly to maintain flow during peak periods
Essential skills and experience
- Right to work in the UK or permitted to work in the advertised location
- Ability to carry out physically demanding tasks, including lifting and standing for long periods
- Reliable timekeeping and the ability to work allocated shifts (including evenings, weekends or early mornings if required)
- Willingness to follow food safety, COSHH and hygiene procedures
- Basic communication skills and ability to follow instructions from kitchen supervisors
Desirable
- Previous experience in a kitchen, catering or cleaning role
- Basic food hygiene certificate (Level 1) or willingness to obtain training
- Experience operating industrial dishwashers and kitchen cleaning equipment
- Awareness of waste segregation and recycling practices in a commercial kitchen
- Flexible availability and willingness to cover extra shifts at short notice
What we offer
- [Hourly pay: insert amount or range]
- [Holiday entitlement: insert details]
- [Pension scheme: insert details if applicable]
- [Free or discounted staff meals during shifts]
- [Uniform provided]
- [On‑the‑job training and basic food hygiene certification offered]
How to apply
Apply with your CV and any additional information requested. Make the interview process, closing date and any assessment stages clear where known.
Use this as a starting point rather than a final advert. The strongest version will reflect the real role, salary, location, systems, responsibilities, benefits and working arrangements.
What is a Kitchen Porter role?
A Kitchen Porter performs essential back‑of‑house duties that keep a commercial kitchen operational and hygienic. Typical tasks include washing dishes and equipment, cleaning surfaces and floors, handling waste, storing deliveries and supporting chefs with simple food‑preparation tasks. The role is physically demanding, often shift‑based, and provides a common entry point into hospitality with on‑the‑job training opportunities.
Shift work
Roles often require early starts, late finishes and weekend shifts; rota patterns vary by venue.
Hands‑on tasks
Day‑to‑day duties are practical: washing, cleaning, basic food prep and equipment handling.
Hygiene & safety
Adhering to food safety, COSHH and PPE rules is central to the role.
Typical Kitchen Porter responsibilities
Responsibilities should reflect the real scope of the vacancy rather than every task someone in this profession might ever complete.
Operate dishwashers
Operate dishwashers and hand‑wash crockery, pans and utensils to an agreed standard
Keep workstations
Keep workstations, floors, walls and kitchen equipment clean and sanitised throughout shift
Empty
Empty and manage refuse, recycling and grease traps in line with hygiene procedures
Unload
Unload and store deliveries safely, rotating stock and labelling as required
Support cooks with basic food
Support cooks with basic food preparation tasks such as peeling, portioning and plating as directed
Report faults
Report faults, hazards or damaged equipment to the supervisor and log accordingly
Follow COSHH
Follow COSHH, food hygiene and health & safety procedures, including correct use of cleaning chemicals and PPE
Help set up
Help set up and clear down service areas quickly to maintain flow during peak periods
Kitchen Porter skills and experience to look for
Keep the essential list focused on what the person really needs to perform the role. Move useful-but-trainable experience into desirable criteria.
Usually worth prioritising
- Right to work in the UK or permitted to work in the advertised location
- Ability to carry out physically demanding tasks, including lifting and standing for long periods
- Reliable timekeeping and the ability to work allocated shifts (including evenings, weekends or early mornings if required)
- Willingness to follow food safety, COSHH and hygiene procedures
- Basic communication skills and ability to follow instructions from kitchen supervisors
Useful where relevant
- Previous experience in a kitchen, catering or cleaning role
- Basic food hygiene certificate (Level 1) or willingness to obtain training
- Experience operating industrial dishwashers and kitchen cleaning equipment
- Awareness of waste segregation and recycling practices in a commercial kitchen
- Flexible availability and willingness to cover extra shifts at short notice
See our guide to what to include in a job advert before publishing.
How to write a Kitchen Porter job advert
Small role-specific details can make the advert much easier for suitable candidates to assess.
Be clear about shifts and hours
State typical start/finish times, weekend requirements and whether rota patterns or fixed shifts are used — this filters applicants effectively.
Describe physical demands honestly
Mention lifting, standing and pace of work so candidates understand expectations and reduce unsuitable applications.
Highlight training and progression
If you offer food hygiene training, NVQ support or moving into kitchen roles, state this to attract applicants seeking career development.
List immediate practical perks
Include whether meals, uniform or staff discounts are provided — these matter to entry‑level hospitality candidates.
Kitchen Porter salary considerations
Pay for Kitchen Porters varies by venue type, location and shift pattern. Rather than a single market figure, consider the factors below when setting a competitive hourly rate or salary.
depending on experience
- Use a genuine range
- Separate variable pay
- Avoid “competitive” alone
- Match salary to seniority
What Kitchen Porter candidates will want to know
Practical details can influence whether a suitable candidate applies, even when the title and salary are attractive.
What are the typical shift patterns and weekly hours?
Candidates want to know start/finish times, how often weekends are required and whether rotas are predictable.
Is pay hourly and are there any shift premiums or tips?
Specify whether the role is paid hourly or salaried, how tips are handled and if evenings/weekends attract extras.
Will staff meals and uniform be provided?
Practical extras like meals and provided uniform are important for entry‑level applicants.
Is training provided and are there progression opportunities?
Candidates often look for roles that offer food hygiene training and routes into kitchen or supervisory positions.
What PPE and safety measures are in place?
Explain requirements for non‑slip shoes, gloves or other PPE and any training on safe lifting and chemical handling.
Where to post a Kitchen Porter job
For Kitchen Porter roles, combine broad UK job boards with hospitality‑specific sites and local channels. Entry‑level roles tend to attract local applicants, so advertise on regional job sites, college hospitality boards and community Facebook groups as well as national boards. Use sector networks and hospitality recruiters if you need multiple hires quickly or candidates with previous kitchen experience.
Related hospitality / catering job descriptions
Recruiting for a slightly different role? These templates may be a closer fit.
Kitchen Porter job description FAQs
Do Kitchen Porters need formal qualifications?
No formal qualifications are required in most cases. Basic food‑hygiene certificates are useful and often provided on the job. Employers may ask for demonstrable reliability and the ability to meet physical demands.
Are background checks needed?
Standard checks are rare for Kitchen Porter roles. However, employers should carry out right‑to‑work checks and may request references. For certain venues (schools, hospitals) additional checks could be required.
How long does it take to recruit a Kitchen Porter?
Recruitment times vary. For a single local hire you can often shortlist and appoint within 1–3 weeks. Larger recruitment drives or specialist venues may take longer.
What should I pay my Kitchen Porter?
Set pay to reflect local market conditions, venue type, shift patterns and any benefits offered. Ensure compliance with UK minimum wage and national employment law; consider shift premiums for unsocial hours.
Can Kitchen Porters progress within the business?
Yes. Many Kitchen Porters progress to Kitchen Assistant, Commis Chef or supervisory roles with experience and training. Offering basic food‑hygiene courses and internal promotion routes helps retain staff.
Ready to hire a Kitchen Porter?
Use the advert template above to create a clear vacancy that sets expectations for shifts and physical duties. Promote the role on local and hospitality channels to attract suitable candidates quickly.
