Job Type: Part-Time Weekends and Relief on Weekdays

Hours Required: Saturdays and Sundays, 11am – 7pm plus weekday relief shifts 11 am – 7pm (or 10am – 6pm on Thursdays which are delivery days).

Position Summary

Our employer partner is seeking an experienced and dependable Relief Cook / Food & Nutrition Worker to independently manage meal preparation and food service in a women's shelter in the High Park/Parkdale neigbhourhood of Toronto.

The successful candidate must be comfortable working independently in the kitchen without direct supervision, planning nutritious meals, managing dietary requirements and food allergies, preparing and serving meals for groups of shelter residents.

The shelter provides services within a client-centred, feminist, trauma-informed, anti-racist and anti-oppression framework. Relief Cook / Food & Nutrition Worker contributes to creating a welcoming environment by providing residents with nutritious, culturally responsive and thoughtfully prepared meals.

Ideal For

This position is ideal for an experienced cook or food-service professional who is confident running a kitchen independently. The successful candidate will be organized, resourceful and comfortable making day-to-day kitchen decisions while maintaining high standards of food safety and meal quality.

This role is well suited to someone who takes pride in being trusted to manage a kitchen and who understands that flexibility, good judgement and respect for residents are as significant as strong cooking skills.

Key ResponsibilitiesIndependent Kitchen & Meal Preparation

- Independently manage food preparation and kitchen operations during assigned shifts,
- Prepare nutritious lunches, dinners and snacks for shelter residents according to meal plans and resident needs.
- Manage time to ensure meals are ready and served as scheduled.
- Adjust food preparation appropriately when unexpected dietary needs, shortages or other kitchen issues arise.
- Create an inviting mealtime experience through thoughtful preparation and presentation.




- Prepare meals for occasional in-house events and seasonal outdoor barbecues, as required.

Menu Planning & Dietary Requirements

- Develop weekly and bi-weekly meal plans that are nutritious, practical and appropriate for a communal shelter setting.
- Plan meals that accommodate food allergies, medical dietary requirements, religious requirements, cultural preferences and other dietary restrictions.
- Apply allergen awareness and cross-contamination prevention practices throughout meal planning, preparation and service.
- Collaborate with Resident Services Manager and residents to appropriately meet dietary needs.

Food Safety, Inventory & Kitchen Maintenance

- Maintain safe food handling, preparation and storage practices in accordance with applicable City of Toronto requirements.
- Monitor food inventory, rotate stock using FIFO principles and identify shortages.
- Assist with food ordering and make effective use of available food supplies and donations.
- Label, store and dispose of food appropriately.
- Maintain a clean, organized and sanitary kitchen and food-storage setting.
- Ensure cleaning and household supplies are appropriately labelled and safely stored.
- Maintain cleanliness of food-service-related laundry and waste areas.

Collaboration & Shelter Environment

- Work collaboratively with shelter staff, relief staff and volunteers to maintain consistent food-service operations.
- Consult with and obtain direction from the immediate supervisor prior to taking action in nonroutine and exceptional situations.
- Provide guidance to volunteers and other personnel regarding kitchen and food-service procedures when required.




- Maintain positive and professional relationships with residents, vendors and food-donation partners.
- Work from a trauma-informed, feminist and anti-oppressive approach when interacting with shelter residents.
- Maintain confidentiality regarding residents and organizational information.
- Follow occupational health and safety, WHMIS, emergency procedures and organizational policies.

Qualifications / RequirementsRequired

- Valid Food Handler Certification recognized by Toronto Public Health.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently in a kitchen and take responsibility for meal preparation without ongoing supervision.
- Minimum one year of experience preparing meals in a professional, institutional, communal or similar food-service environment.
- Demonstrated experience creating meal plans, not only preparing meals from an established menu.
- Knowledge and experience accommodating food allergies, dietary restrictions and culturally diverse food requirements.
- Knowledge of food safety, sanitation, food storage, allergen management and cross-contamination prevention.
- Valid Standard First Aid/CPR certification.
- Ability to obtain/provide a satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Check as required by the employer.
- Strong organization, time-management, communication and problem-solving skills.
- Sound judgement and the ability to respond independently to unexpected situations in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability and willingness to work within a feminist, trauma-informed, anti-racist and anti-oppressive service environment.

Preferred

- Experience preparing meals in a shelter, residential, congregate-living or social-service environment.
- Experience working in a Violence Against Women (VAW) shelter or supporting individuals affected by gender-based violence.

Pay: $25.95 per hour

Application question(s)

- Are you able to work both Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 7pm and cover occasional relief shifts during the weekdays?

Work Location: In person

📌 Weekend Cook / Food & Nutrition Worker (Toronto)
🏢 Riverdale Immigrant Women's Centre
📍 Toronto