Position Overview

The Kitchen Assistant plays an important supporting role in the daily operations of Cocktails & Canapés, helping maintain a clean, organized, and efficient kitchen environment.

Working alongside the culinary team, this position is primarily responsible for kitchen cleanliness, sanitation, organization, equipment maintenance, and general operational support. Responsibilities include cleaning and maintaining kitchen equipment, organizing and consolidating event returns, assisting with dishwashing, and supporting basic food preparation when required.

As a premium catering and events company, maintaining high standards of cleanliness, organization, and operational readiness is essential to our success. The Kitchen Assistant helps ensure that the kitchen, equipment, and supplies are properly maintained and ready for daily production and upcoming events.

This is a hands-on role suited to someone who takes pride in cleanliness, organization, efficiency, and teamwork. The successful candidate must be reliable, proactive, detail-oriented, and comfortable working in a rapid-paced kitchen environment.

Key Roles & Responsibilities

1. Kitchen Cleaning & Sanitation

- Maintain overall cleanliness and sanitation of the kitchen and surrounding work areas.
- Perform daily cleaning duties, including floors, walls, countertops, sinks, shelving, and workstations.
- Ensure garbage, recycling, and compost are regularly emptied and disposed of properly.
- Clean and sanitize food preparation areas, storage areas, and shared kitchen spaces.
- Maintain cleanliness of refrigerators, freezers, walk-in coolers, and dry storage areas.
- Follow established cleaning schedules and sanitation procedures.
- Ensure cleaning supplies are properly stored and replenished.

2. Equipment Cleaning & Maintenance

- Perform regular and deep cleaning of kitchen equipment, including ovens, stoves, fryers, mixers, food processors, refrigerators, and other smallwares.
- Clean and maintain kitchen tools, racks, trays, sheet pans, containers, and storage equipment.
- Assist with cleaning equipment after catering events and large-scale productions.
- Ensure equipment is properly dried, stored, and organized after cleaning.
- Identify damaged, missing, or malfunctioning equipment and report it to the kitchen leadership team.




- Maintain a high standard of cleanliness and care when handling company equipment.

3. Event Returns & Equipment Organization

- Receive and assist with unloading returned equipment, supplies, and materials from off-site events.
- Sort, clean, organize, and consolidate items returned from events.
- Separate food-safe equipment, smallwares, serving pieces, linens, and other event materials as required.
- Ensure all returned items are properly cleaned and returned to their designated storage locations.
- Identify missing, damaged, or broken items and communicate discrepancies to the kitchen leadership team.
- Help organize and maintain storage areas to ensure equipment is easily accessible for future events.
- Assist with preparing, organizing, and consolidating equipment for upcoming events when required.

4. Dishwashing & General Kitchen Support

- Assist with dishwashing and cleaning duties as required during daily kitchen operations and event production.
- Wash, sanitize, dry, and organize dishes, pots, pans, utensils, and kitchen equipment.
- Ensure dishwashing areas are maintained in a clean and orderly manner.
- Support kitchen staff with general cleaning and operational tasks during busy production periods.
- Assist with maintaining a steady flow of clean equipment and smallwares for kitchen production.

5. Basic Food Preparation

- Assist with light food preparation as directed by the Sous Chef or Junior Sous Chef.
- Perform basic preparation tasks such as washing and peeling vegetables, portioning ingredients, and organizing mise en place.
- Assist with simple food preparation and production tasks according to established instructions.
- Ensure ingredients are properly labeled, dated, stored, and handled.
- Follow all food safety procedures and instructions when handling food.
- Maintain clean and organized workstations throughout food preparation.

6. Kitchen Organization & General Operations

- Maintain organized dry storage, refrigeration, and freezer areas.
- Assist with receiving and putting away incoming deliveries.




- Rotate products using FIFO (First In, First Out) procedures.
- Ensure ingredients, supplies, and equipment are stored in their designated locations.
- Assist with inventory organization and identifying low-stock cleaning or operational supplies.
- Take initiative in identifying areas that require cleaning, maintenance, or organization.
- Complete additional duties as assigned by the culinary leadership team.

Qualifications & Requirements

- Previous kitchen, dishwashing, cleaning, or hospitality experience is preferred but not mandatory.
- Basic understanding of commercial kitchen operations is an asset.
- FoodSafe Level 1 certification is preferred, or willingness to obtain certification.
- Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
- Ability to work independently and follow instructions.
- Strong work ethic, positive attitude, and willingness to take initiative.
- Reliable, punctual, and dependable.
- Comfortable performing repetitive cleaning and physical tasks.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced kitchen environment.
- Ability to lift and carry equipment, supplies, and food products.
- Willingness to assist with different kitchen duties as operational needs require.
- Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays when required.

Transportation Requirements

- Reliable transportation to and from the kitchen facility is required.
- A valid Class 5 BC driver's licence is an asset.
- Access to a personal vehicle is an asset.

Key Performance Expectations

- Consistently maintain high standards of kitchen cleanliness and sanitation.
- Ensure kitchen equipment and smallwares are properly cleaned, maintained, and organized.
- Efficiently process, sort, and consolidate equipment returned from catering events.
- Maintain organized storage areas and ensure supplies are returned to their designated locations.
- Complete assigned cleaning and preparation tasks within established timelines.
- Demonstrate initiative by identifying and addressing cleaning and organizational needs without constant supervision.
- Maintain a positive, cooperative, and professional attitude.
- Demonstrate reliability, punctuality, accountability, and a strong commitment to teamwork.

Pay: From $19.00 per hour

Expected hours: 20.0 – 25.0 per week

Work Location: In person

📌 Kitchen Assistant (Central Vancouver)
🏢 Cocktails and Canapes
📍 Central Vancouver