INTERNAL/EXTERNAL JOB POSTING – September 14, 2026Muskoka Family Focus and Children’s Place

Position Title: Early Learning Centre – Cook

Location: Fairvern Children’s Place

Terms of Employment:

Status: Full time Permanent

Start Date: Expected December 7, 2026 (subject to change with notice)

Hours: Monday to Friday; 8:00-1:00/3:00-5:00 Split shift subject to change. Up to 7 hours per day and/or 35 hours per week, contingent upon enrolment, subject to change

Actual hours of work may be subject to slight variation

Rate of Pay: $21.58-23.88 per hour (five step scale)

Skill Requirements:

· Secondary School Diploma

· Experience working with children and/or families.

· Experience cooking for large groups, including planning nutritious meals and snacks, catering to special diets, grocery shopping and staying within a budget.

· Valid Food Handler’s Course Certificate.

· Excellent interpersonal, communication and organizational skills.

· A commitment to the childcare field with a philosophy that is conducive to that of Muskoka Family Focus and Children's Place.

· Knowledge of Canada Food guide for children and healthy menu planning.

· Ability to create a grocery order and pick up groceries weekly. Valid Drivers license.

· Able to meet the physical demands of position such as carrying groceries, lifting dish trays.

· Good attendance record.

· An ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced atmosphere.

· Flexible, non-judgmental, energetic, resourceful, creative and approachable.

· Current Standard First Aid and Infant Child C.P.R. Certificate.

· Worker Health and Safety Certificate.

· Violence and Harassment in the Workplace Certificate.

· Satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Check and Medical Assessment, including up to date immunizations, on hiring and as required by Muskoka Family Focus and Children's Place policies.

These positions are open to male and female applicants A FULL IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

Please forward a letter expressing your interest and outlining your qualifications for this position to:

[email protected]

Submissions are to be received by noon on Monday September 21, 2026

:

Position: Early Learning Centre Cook

Reports to: Early Learning Centre Supervisor

Approved by: Management Team Date: March 2018

MISSION STATEMENT: Muskoka Family Focus and Children’s Place is dedicated to providing high quality child and family resources and educational services.

JOB SUMMARY: To assume responsibility for all kitchen duties involved in the preparation of nourishment at the early learning centre according to the Child Care and Early Years Act (CCEYA) and other regulations, including Canada’s Food Guide and the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit.

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Help build a positive work environment and positively promote our organization in the community.
2. Be aware of and adhere to policies and procedures for Muskoka Family Focus & Children's Place. Maintain or exceed the standards set by the Child Care and Early Years Act (CCEYA) 2014 and the District of Muskoka’s Assurance for Quality Improvement (AQI) Program.




3. Adhere to the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice as prescribed by the Ontario College of Early Childhood Educators.
4. Menu Planning

a. Prepare and complete menu plans that adhere to Canada’s Food Guide and the CCEYA regulations, in consultation with the Early Learning Centre Supervisor. b. Post menus in advance, as required and on approval.

c. Purchase and store supplies and groceries, in consultation with, and subject to the approval of, the Early Learning Centre Supervisor.

1. Health and Safety

a. Work in compliance with the Ontario Health and Safety Acts and Regulations.b. Use personal protective equipment as directed by Supervisor.c. Report workplace hazards and dangers to Supervisor.d. Work in a manner as required by Muskoka Family Focus & Children’s Place and use prescribed safety equipment when required.e. In accordance the internal responsibility system take responsibility for Health and Safety as an essential part of his/her job.
1. Food Preparation

a. Assume responsibility for the preparation of nutritious mid-day meals and morning and afternoon snacks that adhere to Canada’s Food Guide and the CCEYA regulations. b. Alter recipes as necessary to accommodate children with food allergies and intolerances.
1. Kitchen Maintenance

a. Maintain the cleanliness and general tidiness of the kitchen during regular working hours, including cleaning appliances, work surfaces and storage areas. Notify the Early Learning Centre Supervisor if additional maintenance is required. b. Collect all dirty dishes and maintain the cleanliness of all eating and snacking utensils. This includes rinsing dishes before washing, when necessary.
1. Community/Team Building

- Communicate with the Supervisor on a regular basis regarding any issues related to the children, special diets, parents, work environment, supplies or equipment, etc.
- Maintain a positive professional working relationship with co-workers, parents, students, volunteers, resource teachers and other professionals, considering the children’s needs as the priority.
- Accommodate special requests for food to enhance programming, whenever possible.
- Meet with parents or caregivers to discuss food allergies or intolerances, whenever possible.
- Prepare and post in consultation with the Early Learning Centre Supervisor in the kitchen an up to date list of children with allergies and or food allergies and their days of attendance.
- Attend and participate in early learning centre team meetings and Muskoka Family Focus & Children's Place all-team meetings, as well as ongoing professional development.
- Act as a team player; offer ideas, support and suggestions for improvement where necessary.




- Report any suspicions of abuse to Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions while referring to the Child Protection Protocol. Inform your supervisor of this report prior to reporting when possible.
- Maintain the confidentiality of families, staff, volunteers, students and outside agencies at all times, including any written information collected from families.
- Participate in monthly fire drills.
- Participate fully in the annual performance appraisal process as well as the Program Statement Checklist, including regular long and short term goal planning in cooperation with the Early Learning Centre Supervisor.
- Maintain a record of kitchen cleaning/maintenance, and communicate with your supervisor as per the SMDHU requirements.

1. Care of Property:

a. Work as part of a team with other staffing the early learning centre to maintain a tidy and aesthetically pleasing early learning centre centre, for example: outside foyer, playrooms, halls, gross motor room, playgrounds, storage and staff rooms. This includes general housekeeping duties, such as: mopping floors, laundry, dishes and removing garbage.
1. Record Keeping:

a. Maintain a record of the temperature of the refrigerator, freezer, dishwasher and food. Refrigerator and freezer records must be kept for 3 years. b. May participate in the annual Assessment for Quality Improvement (AQI) for the early learning centre.

c. Use the Daily Communication Log for the early learning centre and individual rooms, if applicable.

d. Menu changes must be recorded on the menus and kept for 30 days.

e. Once per month someone in the building does a health and safety assessment. These reports are forwarded to the Joint Health and Safety Committee for review at the quarterly meetings.

Because of the changing nature of the work and work to be done, other duties and responsibilities may be assigned from time to time.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

· Secondary School Diploma.

· Experience cooking for large groups, including planning nutritious meals and snacks, catering to special diets, grocery shopping and staying within a budget.

· Current Food Handler’s Course.

· Worker Health and Safety Certificate.

· Excellent interpersonal, communication and organizational skills.

· A commitment to the childcare field with a philosophy that is conducive to that of Muskoka Family Focus and Children's Place.

· Able to meet the physical demands of purchasing, carrying in and putting away groceries.

· Valid drivers’ license and access to a vehicle.

· Current Standard First Aid and Infant Child C.P.R. Certificate.

· Satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Check and Medical Assessment, including immunizations and TB tests, on hiring and as required by Muskoka Family Focus and Children's Place policies.

Pay: $21.58-$23.36 per hour

Expected hours: 35.0 per week

Perks

- Dental care
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Paid time off

Education:
- Secondary School (required)

Experience:
- Cooking for large group: 2 years (required)

Licence/Certification:
- Driving Licence (required)
- First Aid CPR -C (required)

Work Location: In person

📌 Fairvern Children's Place Cook (Huntsville)
🏢 Muskoka Family Focus and Children's Place
📍 Huntsville