Job Vacancies

Darwin is a friendly, supportive place to work, in a beautiful central Cambridge setting. We're always keen to hear from candidates looking to become part of our welcoming community. Our current vacancies can be viewed below. Please contact recruitment@darwin.cam.ac.uk if you have any questions about these posts, or about working at Darwin in general.

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College Porter

£24,469.25 per annum for 30 hours per week
The working pattern for this role is 3 x 10-hour shifts per week:

Week 1
Wednesday: 20:30 – 06:30
Thursday: 20:30 – 06:30
Friday: 20:30 – 06:30

Week 2
Friday: 20:30 – 06:30
Saturday: 20:30 – 06:30
Sunday: 20:30 – 06:30

The Porter will be required to work shifts over the Christmas and Easter period.

You will be required to represent the College by providing reception, switchboard and general front of house services to College members, visitors, and guests with a high standard of professionalism and courtesy.

You will need to ensure the welfare of the College members and help ensure that College rules are adhered to.

The role requires you to be able to effectively communicate in English in order to provide a high level of service to callers (in person, on the phone and by email) to the Porters’ Lodge.

You must have experience of working in an environment where customer care is important.

Experience of working in a role with responsibility for security and/or safety is desirable.

A good level of fitness is required to be able to respond quickly to situations that may arise on the main site and other College locations.

The role requires you to work at the Darwin College site in the centre of Cambridge.

The full job description outlines the requirements of the post.

Benefits

  • Free meals during working hours and college kitchen opening hours.
  • 33 days’ annual leave a year (inclusive of bank holidays) (pro rata for part time workers). After 5 years’ service your annual holiday entitlement will be increased by one day.
  • Non-contractual annual bonus.
  • Uniform is provided.
  • Defined contribution Pension scheme.
  • Free access to the College gym.
  • Training and Professional Development.
  • Access to the Cambridge University Library.

To apply, please submit a CV and a covering letter to recruitment@darwin.cam.ac.uk

Closing Date: Friday 9th October 2026.

Front of House Assistant
Full-Time – 40 Hours per week

£27,655 per annum

We are seeking a full-time Front of House Assistant to join our award-winning team. Being passionate about people and food is key to our success in delivering a consistently high-quality service to our College community.

You will be working in the social hub of the College.  Work ranges from greeting customers, operating coffee machines and preparing food items in our café and restaurant servery,  to cleaning and maintaining food safety and schedules.  There may also be opportunities to work at formal events and celebratory dinners.

Hours worked will be on a rota basis and will include evenings, weekends and lone working.

Benefits

  • Access to College gym
  • Training and Professional Development
  • Access to Cambridge University Library
  • 33 days’ annual leave a year (inclusive of bank holidays) (pro rata for part time workers). After 5 years’ service your annual holiday entitlement will be increased by one day
  • Non-contractual annual bonus
  • Defined contribution Pension scheme
  • Free meals during working hours and college kitchen opening hours
  • Use of the Colleges punts, canoes and kayaks at a cost of £30 a year

These benefits are non-contractual and may be changed or removed at any time

To apply please email with a copy of your CV and covering letter to recruitment@darwin.cam.ac.uk.

Applications will be considered as they are received.

The closing date for applications is Friday 2nd October 2026.

Housekeeping Assistant
£13.30 per hour, working 32.5 hours per week.

The position is Monday to Friday, from 6am to 1pm (6.5hours per day, plus 30 minutes unpaid break).

The housekeeping assistant is responsible for keeping the College buildings and student residences cleaned to the highest standard in a safe organised environment. You will also be responsible for designated areas, such as student rooms, guest rooms and communal areas.

You will need to have previous cleaning experience, and demonstrate the ability to follow instructions and work safely.

You will need to be able to lift and fully utilise cleaning equipment, as well as to use computers to a basic level.

You will need to able to communicate via email and WhatsApp in written English and have a level of English that ensures you fully understand manuals, instructions and cleaning product safety information.

The role requires you to work at the Darwin College site in the centre of Cambridge. You will also be required to work one weekend per month.

The full job description outlines the requirements of the post.

Benefits

  • Free meals during working hours and College kitchen opening hours.
  • 33 days’ annual leave a year, inclusive of bank holidays (pro rata for part time workers). After 5 years’ service your annual holiday entitlement will be increased by one day.
  • Non-contractual annual bonus.
  • Uniform is provided.
  • Defined contribution Pension scheme.
  • Free access to the College gym.
  • Training and Professional Development.
  • Access to the Cambridge University Library.

To apply, please submit a CV and a covering letter to recruitment@darwin.cam.ac.uk

Closing Date: Friday 2nd October 2026

Chef de Partie

Full-time – 40 hours per week (no split shifts)

£31,361 (Salary Scale DC21) per annum

This is an exciting role within the Catering team at Darwin College.  You will be working with the Head Chef and Catering team to maintain the high standards of the College.  We are a small, respected kitchen in Cambridge and focus on enhancing the training and skills of all our staff.

We are an award-winning kitchen, using local produce, where everything is cooked in house.  As Chef de Partie you will be responsible for a section and report directly to the Head Chef. You will maintain a healthy awareness of current trends in hospitality and ensure that high levels of customer service are maintained when dealing with customers.

You will be interested in a career in hospitality. You will have experience in running a section of your own and ideally have a good foundation in cookery and presentation skills. The successful applicant will have a NVQ level 2 in professional cookery or similar.

Due to the nature of the role the successful applicant will be expected to work weekends and weekdays on a rota system.

We offer 33 days holiday (including bank holidays), pension scheme, meals on duty, uniform, and the opportunity to work in our award-winning team.

For further details please contact the Head Chef on 01223 368872.

The full job description outlines the requirements of the post.

Benefits

  • Free meals during working hours and college kitchen opening hours.
  • 33 days’ annual leave a year (inclusive of bank holidays) (pro rata for part-time workers). After 5 years’ service your annual holiday entitlement will be increased by one day.
  • Non-contractual annual bonus.
  • Uniform is provided.
  • Defined contribution Pension scheme.
  • Free access to the College gym.
  • Training and Professional Development.
  • Access to the Cambridge University Library.

To apply, please submit a CV and a covering letter to recruitment@darwin.cam.ac.uk

Closing Date: Friday 25th September 2026.

 

Stipendiary Moses and Mary Finley Research Fellowship

Darwin College invites applications for election to a stipendiary Moses and Mary Finley Research Fellowship in economic, social or political history starting from 1 October 2027.

The Fellowship is available for research into economic, social or political history of any period and (unlike the Finley Ancient History Fellowship) is not confined to specialists in Greek or Roman history, although they are eligible to apply.  Preference will be given to those whose interests coincide with those of the late Sir Moses Finley. Darwin College is able to elect this stipendiary Research Fellow thanks to a bequest in the Will of Sir Moses and Lady Finley.  In addition, Sir Moses bequeathed his personal library to the College. This may assist the research of the successful candidate.

Eligibility

The Fellowship is open to candidates from any university, irrespective of their age.

The Fellowship is intended for an outstanding researcher who is close to completing their PhD, or who has recently completed their PhD Degree, or an equivalent recognised degree.   No candidate should normally have completed in total more than three years of research since their PhD is conferred by 1 October 2027.  Any career breaks or part-time working will be taken into account.

Non-stipendiary Research Fellowships

Darwin College invites applications for election to several non-stipendiary Research Fellowships starting from 1 October 2027.

The candidate who heads the list will be designated the Charles and Katharine Darwin Research Fellow.

Eligibility

The Fellowships are open to candidates from any university. The Fellowships are intended for outstanding researchers of any age who are close to completing, or who have recently completed, their PhD degree, or an equivalently recognised qualification. No more than three years of research should have been undertaken since the candidate’s PhD was conferred by 1 October 2027. Any career breaks or part-time working will be taken into account.