Cook - Edinburgh Central Youth Hostel

Hostelling Scotland; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A charitable organization in Edinburgh is seeking a Cook to manage food preparation for large groups. The role involves cooking, maintaining food hygiene standards, managing stock levels, and training team members. Ideal candidates will have experience in catering and knowledge of food safety regulations. This position offers various employee benefits such as pension contributions and meal discounts. Apply through the organization’s website before the closing date on January 16, 2026.

Benefits

Membership of Hostelling Scotland

Employee Assistance Programme

Pension and holidays

Meal discounts on shift

Uniform provided

Qualifications

• Experience in catering for large groups and contract catering.
• Strong understanding of HACCP and COSHH regulations.
• Calm under pressure with excellent time management skills.

Responsibilities

• Cook daily food for breakfast and evening meals.
• Manage stock levels and ensure effective communication with the team.
• Maintain cleanliness and comply with HACCP procedures.

Skills

Cooking for large groups

Knowledge of food hygiene

Time management

Ability to multitask

Education

Elementary Food Hygiene certificate

SVQ/NVQ in catering

Job description

Cook - Edinburgh Central Youth Hostel

Job Reference: EDICO014

Position: Cook

Locations: Edinburgh Central Youth Hostel, 9 Haddington Place, Leith Walk, Edinburgh EH7 4AL

Contract: Permanent

Hours per week: 32

Salary: £Competitive

Accommodation: This is a live-out position

Join our team, with an adventurous spirit, to help our guests discover and experience the real Scotland while you can enjoy exploring cities, hillwalking, climbing and many other outdoor activities in your spare time.

As a non‑profit charity, we give people, who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity, the chance of a well needed break to explore and experience Scotland or to develop their skills for life, learning and work through our youth programmes.

Working with Hostelling Scotland is more than just a job. Join our team to become an Ambassador for Scotland and make a difference!

You will be part of our dedicated and friendly team at our Edinburgh Central Youth Hostel.

Responsibilities

• Cooking daily food for breakfast buffet and evening meals, catering for groups from 10 up to 120, dining room capacity up to 65 people, including café style lunch ensuring high quality whilst achieving budgetary requirements taking into consideration allergens and special dietary advice.
• Familiarise self with ordering systems and suppliers to ensure stock levels are sufficient to deal with demand whilst managing and monitoring stock controls for the catering operation.
• Ensure effective communication with all members of the team; facilitating smooth and thorough handovers between shifts. Comply with Hostelling Scotland’s Policies and Procedures whether communicated verbally in writing or by electronic means.
• Maintain the standards of cleanliness and hygiene in the main catering kitchen, back of the house in accordance with the hostel’s HACCP house rules, and cleaning schedules.
• Ensure that all processes are undertaken in a manner that ensures compliance with Cooksafe procedures as well as Hostelling Scotland house rules.
• Work with the Group, Hostel Managers and catering team, sharing responsibility for all aspects of food and beverage delivery including Food Hygiene, Cooksafe protocol and providing relevant F&B/catering training to team members while keeping abreast of and adopting the most updated food safety and food hygiene best practice.
• With the guidance of the Hostel Manager ensure that guest feedback and complaints from all sources are handled and resolved in a timely and professional manner and in conjunction with other members of the management team.

Ideal Qualifications

• Previous experience of catering for large groups, pastry chef experience, working in a busy contract catering environment.
• Excellent knowledge of food hygiene, HACCP and COSHH regulations and a relevant catering qualification including Elementary Food Hygiene certificate, SVQ/NVQ in catering, food production.
• Ability to multitask and work under pressure whilst remaining calm.
• Vast knowledge of food styles.
• Excellent time management skills.

Benefits

• Membership of Hostelling Scotland
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Pension and holidays
• Meal discounts on shift
• Uniform is provided

Additional Information

• A successful candidate is required to provide one satisfactory reference and a recent Basic Disclosure clearance.
• You must be able to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK prior to starting with us.

About Hostelling Scotland

Hostelling Scotland is a not‑for‑profit charity with over 60 youth and affiliate hostels. Since 1931, we have welcomed millions of visitors through our doors, helping them to ‘get outside’, to explore what Scotland has to offer, discovering the beautiful locations and the natural benefits of the great outdoors.

How to apply

If you would like to join us, please visit our website www.hostellingscotland.org.uk/careers to learn about how we process job applicants’ information and apply.

Closing Date: 16 th January 2026

Interview Date: Face to face interviews from the 12 th January onwards