Kitchen Coordinator, Manager & Chef jobs

Position: Kitchen Coordinator/Chef
Organization: LUSH Valley Food Action Society
Location: 2342 Rosewall Crescent, Courtenay BC

• Wage: $25.64/hour
  • Plus holiday, benefits and wellness package
• Schedule: 32 hours/ week
• Generally Monday - Thursday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM with some flexibility and occasional evenings and weekends
• Start Date: March 17th, 2025

GENERAL OVERVIEW:

LUSH Valley Food Action Society is a Comox Valley based non-profit organization. We envision a region where healthy, local food is at the heart of community wellbeing. We support the Comox Valley community to gain food-systems tools, engage in just and resilient local food systems and receive equitable access to nourishing food.

When you work with LUSH Valley, you become part of an energetic and passionate team making positive change in the Comox Valley.

LUSH Valley offers:

• A diverse and inclusive work environment
• Opportunities for growth and learning
• A monthly wellness benefit and health benefits
• Fresh food perks

ROLE SUMMARY:

LUSH Valley is looking for a dynamic and experienced Chef/Cook to coordinate LUSH Valley Kitchen programs, which include the Hot Meal program, mid-week catering and occasional support for Young Cooks, our youth educational programming. The ideal candidate will be passionate about local and seasonal food and able to develop creative local menus while sticking to a budget. The Kitchen Coordinator must be comfortable directing volunteers, working with community partners, ordering food, and products, creating new products out of local produce, pricing and working in a production kitchen and on a line.

The Kitchen Coordinator will work under the supervision of LUSH Valley’s Kitchen Manager, but will be self-directed and often work alone or direct volunteers and seasonal/contract staff with minimal supervision.

The Kitchen Coordinator will build on existing farm relationships, prepare batch lunches for the Hot Meal program and create fun and creative menus for a series of catering events ranging from 25-300 people.

Kitchen Coordinator’s support for Young Cooks may involve occasional facilitation or assisting the Program Manager with recruiting facilitators, curriculum development and/or material development. Experience working with and teaching youth in kitchens is an asset .

The Kitchen Coordinator will work with a small group of dedicated and capable volunteers. Experience working with volunteers is an asset; the ability to take a leadership role in the kitchen is a must.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Prepare and cook up to 150 meals a day for the Hot Meal Program
• With support, prepare food for LUSH Valley catering events
• Work with volunteers and staff to purchase, prepare, cook and serve meals
• Create diverse menus highlighting local and seasonal foods
• Understand and be guided by a budget
• Engage with and be sensitive and accommodating to a variety of LUSH Valley clients, including those with allergies or food sensitivities.
• Collaborate with various staff, board, volunteers, farmers and community partners
• Additional tasks as required
• Meeting Food Safe requirements and keeping a tidy kitchen and workspace

SKILLS and ABILITIES

• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to work independently and/or part of a team
• Ability to take a leadership role in the kitchen
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
• The ability to maintain calm under pressure
• Collaborative, can-do attitude
• Good time-management and organizational skills
• Ability to organize, multitask and self-direct
• Ability to foster and maintain positive working relationships

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• 3+ years of culinary experience
• Formal culinary training
• Experience teaching or instructing cooking for various audiences
• Experience working with or teaching youth an asset
• Managerial experience an asset
• Valid FoodSafe Certification
• Criminal record clearance
• Class 5 driver's license with a clear driver's abstract

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

LUSH Valley’s cooking programs operate out of the LUSH Valley kitchen at our building in Tin Town. On occasion, the Kitchen Coordinator will also work out of The Farmer’s Kitchen (TFK) food truck.

The LUSH Valley and TFK facility includes a large walk-in cooler, walk-in freezer, a small deep fryer, a six burner stove, an oven and a flat-top grill, induction burners and a large processing space with necessary equipment. Additional commercial equipment is actively being acquired. The ideal candidate will have experience using, cleaning and maintaining these pieces of equipment. The kitchen also requires the ability to work in small spaces and use stairs with ease. Some heavy lifting is required in this role. Business-casual attire may be required for certain events.

TO APPLY:

Please submit your resume and cover letter to Natasha at support@lushvalley.org

Please mention you saw this at GoodWork.ca.

LUSH Valley is grateful to receive all applications, but we can only contact shortlisted candidates.

LUSH Valley believes in diversity, employment equity and social justice. We encourage applications from all community members, but would be especially interested in receiving them from Indigenous peoples, visible minorities, persons with disability, LGBTQIA2S+ people and members of marginalized communities.