Culinary Staff

Description

A Better Bite Culinary Staff work under the direct supervision of the Head Cook and Head of Food and Beverage to provide the necessary support for the timely and accurate production of food within the division. This position requires strict adherence to all policies and regulations for safety, therapeutic diets, and facility food preparation guidelines.

Compensation

This position maintains flexible work hours to ensure all division responsibilities are properly executed.  Gratuity is awarded for assistance on both catered events and café service. We require post-secondary culinary education and a minimum of two years work experience.

Schedule

Business hours of operation are Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 8 pm, and brunch service on Saturdays from 9am to 2pm.  An appropriate schedule will be developed on a bi-weekly basis.

Flexibility

This staff person may also be required for additional support during peak hours in the café by busing tables, running errands and assisting with dishwashing. As with all positions within A Better Bite Community Kitchen / Meals on Wheels, there may be instances where the volunteer coordinator may ask for support with meal delivery.

Core Competencies

• Customer Focus
• Communication
• Energy & Stress Management
• Teamwork
• Quality Orientation
• Problem Solving
• Accountability and Dependability
• Operating Equipment
• Ethics and Integrity

Job Duties

• Basic chopping and peeling of fruits and vegetables to support recipes in A Better Bite Community Kitchen.
• Prepare and serve all menu items according to kitchen policies and procedures.
• Early morning baking: breads, biscuits, desserts.
• Preparing soups, stocks and sauces.
• Preparation of salads, fruits and vegetables.
• Packaging and proper labelling of meals.
• Demonstrate flexibility and fill in available shifts as required by staff.
• Support, encourage and supervise a team of Meals on Wheels volunteers.
• Set up and clearing of catering events and services.
• Buffet service.
• Dishwashing.
• Delivery of meals, if required.
• Ensure quality and safety of food preparation by performing standard and any additional sanitary measures including sweeping of floors, cleaning and sanitizing surfaces, proper covering and storage of food items according to standards and procedures.
• Stay productive at all times and prepare for future needs.
• Log all temperatures and record all cleaning duties as per kitchen standard operating procedures.
• Demonstrate ability to follow instructions and willingness to take on new responsibilities and tasks.
• Take pride in cleanliness and organization of the kitchen.
• Must be able to multi-task and work at an efficient and consistent pace.
• Contact Head Cook or Division Manager if a situation arises that requires approval.
• Probes for clarity in order to understand or effectively implement change.
• Adhere to all regulations including blood-borne pathogens, infection control, use of hazardous materials and fire safety.
• Notify Head Cook when supplies are low to ensure that all food and other departmental supplies are ordered and received in a timely manner so that adequate inventory levels are maintained to support volume or anticipated volume.
• Report any infraction in the food services department policies and procedures.
• Arrive to work at the scheduled time.
• Perform other related duties as required.
• Participate actively in problem solving and decision making, and supports decisions made by the team.

Requirements

• Post-secondary education in culinary training mandatory.
• Minimum of two years work experience in a professional kitchen setting.
• Food safety training required.
• First aid training required.
• Clear criminal background check required.
• Knowledge of methods and procedures for serving food, principles of sanitation, and principles of safe food handling required.
• Must be free of diseases that may be transmitted in the performance of job responsibilities.
• Ability to lift up to 50lb required.
• Effective communication skills.
• Highly flexible, with solid interpersonal skills that allow one to work effectively in a diverse working environment.
• Highly effective teamwork skills.
• Attention to detail in all areas of work.
• Superior time management skills, multitasking skills, and the ability to prioritize tasks with minimal supervision.
• Strong problem identification and problem resolution skills.
• Strong work ethic and positive team attitude.

Working Conditions

• Interacts with volunteers, family of clients, customers, staff and visitors in a respectful manner.
• Travel may be required.
• Manual dexterity required to use desktop computer and peripherals.
• Overtime as required.

New Dawn Enterprises Limited is the oldest Community Development Corporation in Canada. New Dawn is a private, volunteer-directed social enterprise dedicated to community building. It seeks to identify community needs and to establish and operate ventures that speak to those needs. Its mission is to engage the community to create and support a culture of self-reliance. Its vision is a self-reliant people living in a vibrant community. New Dawn articulates this mission through a number of businesses, organizations, and partnerships.

Among its businesses and activities are New Dawn Health Care, New Dawn Real Estate, New Dawn Community Engagement and Education, New Dawn Meals on Wheels, the Cape Breton Island Centre for Immigration, and the New Dawn Centre for Social Innovation.