The Yellowknife Women’s Society is seeking an experienced and reliable Cook to join our Spruce Bough Supportive Living program.

This position is ideal for someone with hands-on kitchen experience who is comfortable planning and preparing meals for a group of residents. Experience as a line cook, camp kitchen worker, institutional cook, catering cook, or in a similar kitchen environment is strongly preferred.

The Cook is responsible for preparing nutritious and balanced breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals, developing practical menu plans, accommodating dietary restrictions and food allergies, and maintaining high standards of food safety and kitchen cleanliness.

Because Spruce Bough is a supportive living environment, the Cook will also have regular interaction with residents. The successful candidate will bring a respectful, compassionate, and non-judgmental approach to those interactions while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.

What You’ll Do

Meal Preparation & Menu Planning

- Plan and prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner for Spruce Bough residents.
- Develop practical, nutritious, balanced, and varied menu plans.
- Prepare meals according to established schedules and ensure meals are ready and served on time.
- Consider resident preferences, dietary requirements, available ingredients, and program needs when planning meals.
- Adjust menus and meal preparation when resident numbers, available ingredients, or other circumstances change.
- Prepare appropriate alternatives for residents with food allergies, dietary restrictions, or approved food preferences.
- Incorporate culturally appropriate foods and ingredients into meal planning where appropriate.
- Knowledge of Indigenous foods, traditional ingredients, or Indigenous cooking practices is considered an asset.

Food Safety & Kitchen Operations
- Follow all food safety, sanitation, and safe food-handling requirements.
- Maintain strict practices around food allergies and cross-contamination.
- Properly store, label, rotate, and handle food to maintain freshness and prevent contamination or spoilage.
- Monitor food temperatures and follow appropriate food safety procedures.
- Maintain a clean, organized, and sanitary kitchen throughout the day.
- Clean and sanitize kitchen surfaces, equipment, dishes, utensils, and food preparation areas.




- Safely operate kitchen equipment and report damaged or malfunctioning equipment.
- Minimize food waste through appropriate planning, portioning, storage, and use of ingredients.

Inventory & Supplies
- Monitor food and kitchen supplies and communicate purchasing needs to the appropriate staff.
- Assist with receiving, organizing, and storing food and kitchen supplies.
- Maintain appropriate inventory levels to ensure ingredients are available for planned meals.
- Use food and supplies responsibly and help manage costs and minimize waste.

Resident & Program Environment
- Interact with residents in a respectful, compassionate, and non-judgmental manner.
- Help create a welcoming and respectful environment during meal times.
- Maintain appropriate professional boundaries when working with residents.
- Respond appropriately to resident questions or concerns related to meals and dietary needs.
- Communicate relevant resident dietary requirements or food-related concerns to the appropriate program staff.
- Work cooperatively with the Spruce Bough team to support the smooth operation of the program.
- Contribute to a safe, respectful, and supportive living environment.
- Follow YKWS policies and procedures, including those related to confidentiality, resident safety, harm reduction, and respectful service delivery.

What We’re Looking For
- Previous hands-on experience working in a qualified kitchen.
- Experience as a line cook, camp kitchen worker, institutional cook, catering cook, or in a similar food-service environment is strongly preferred.
- Experience preparing and serving meals for groups of approximately 30 people is an asset.
- Experience preparing multiple meals throughout the day, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- Ability to develop and follow practical menu plans.
- Experience accommodating dietary restrictions, food allergies, and individual food preferences.
- Strong knowledge of food safety, sanitation, safe food handling,



and prevention of cross-contamination.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills.
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple kitchen priorities.
- Ability to remain organized and calm in a busy kitchen environment.
- Ability to adapt when meal requirements, resident numbers, or available ingredients change.
- Ability to maintain a clean, safe, and organized kitchen.
- Respectful, compassionate, and non-judgmental approach when working with residents and staff.
- Ability to maintain professional boundaries in a supportive living environment.
- Knowledge of Indigenous foods, traditional ingredients, or Indigenous cooking practices is considered an asset.
- Food Safe certification, or willingness to obtain certification, is considered an asset.
- First Aid/CPR certification is considered an asset.

About Spruce Bough Spruce Bough is a permanent supportive living program serving some of the most vulnerable members of the Yellowknife community. The program provides long-term housing for individuals with complex and overlapping needs, including experiences of chronic homelessness.

The Cook is part of the Spruce Bough team and contributes to the daily well-being of residents by providing consistent, nutritious meals in a safe and welcoming environment.

The successful candidate should understand the importance of working with residents in a person-centred, compassionate, non-judgmental, and harm-reduction-focused environment.

What We Offer

- A meaningful opportunity to contribute to a long-term supportive living program.
- A supportive and collaborative team environment.
- The opportunity to use your cooking skills to provide nutritious and meaningful meals to residents.
- An opportunity to contribute culturally appropriate foods and ideas to the meal program.
- The opportunity to build positive relationships with residents through consistent and respectful meal service.

The Yellowknife Women’s Society is committed to creating a respectful, inclusive, and supportive workplace. We encourage individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to apply.

Pay: From $25.00 per hour

Expected hours: 8.0 – 32.0 per week

Benefits

- Flexible schedule
- In office parking
- Paid time off

Work Location: In person

📌 Cook at Spruce Bough Supportive Living (Yellowknife)
🏢 Yellowknife Women's Society
📍 Yellowknife