Blood Ties Four Directions Centre is looking for a Cook!
Position Overview: Cook
Blood Ties Four Directions Centre recently received funding to upgrade our kitchen and expand our lunch program to better meet community needs. The program is being gradually scaled up with the ultimate goal to distribute 30 lunches and 30 dinners 7 days per week to people experiencing food insecurity, including people who use substances, people experiencing housing insecurity or who are unhoused, people living with HIV and/or hepatitis, and people with complex mental health concerns. Meals will be served at the Blood Ties Drop-in Centre. We are seeking a Temporary Full-Time Cook to work 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday until March 31st, 2025. There is the potential for additional hours on an as needed basis.
The Cook will:
- Oversee the meal program with support from the Kitchen Coordinator
- Work in collaboration with other Blood Ties staff to develop a menu considering clients’ nutritional, cultural, and health needs
- Maintain inventories and purchase food with support from the Kitchen Coordinator
- Work in collaboration with the Kitchen Coordinator, Executive Director, Program Manager, and board of directors to develop and implement program policies and procedures
- Maintain a safe and sanitary kitchen and follows food safe handling practices
- Work independently on weekends, holidays, and as needed to cover staff absences
- Serve food to clients in a low-barrier Drop-in Centre using a trauma-informed, culturally safe, and non-judgmental approach
- Work collaboratively within the frontline team to ensure that the Drop-in Community Guidelines are followed, appropriate boundaries are set and maintained, and the safety of staff and clients is maintained.
Required Qualifications:
- Proven experience as a cook
- Proven time management skills and ability to work independently
- Experience accommodating dietary restrictions, allergies, nutritional needs, and cultural needs
- Experience working with and serving food to marginalized populations (including people who use substances, Indigenous people and communities, and people who are unhoused)
- Willing and able to set professional boundaries in complex situations
- Creative thinking and problem solving abilities
- Experience maintaining a sanitary kitchen environment
- Understanding and nonjudgmental attitude towards substance use
- Ability to work collaboratively with a team
- Food Safety Certificate, Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) training, and Current Standard First Aid and CPR
- A valid driver’s license and clear driver’s abstract
- Willingness to work independently on weekends with adequate safety protocols in place
Preferred Qualifications:
- Training in harm reduction practice and principles, naloxone/overdose response, cultural safety, and trauma-informed care
Is Blood Ties right for you?
We have a friendly, community-oriented work environment with a great team passionate about a common goal: reducing health and social barriers for marginalized populations. We care about our community and we care about our team. We offer a starting wage at $33.65 per hour. . Learn more about Blood Ties: www.bloodties.ca
Please apply through YUWIN. Your cover letter and resume should highlight all relevant skills and experience.
Preference will be given to candidates with lived and living experience of substance use and Indigenous applicants. We encourage you to self-identify on your application if this is relevant to you.