Cook
As we serve vulnerable youth, all employees working for Covenant House Vancouver must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Proof of vaccination status will be required prior to your start date.
About Covenant House Vancouver
Since 1997, Covenant House Vancouver has provided relentless support for youth experiencing, or at-risk of experiencing, homelessness. We provide support to young people age 16 to 24 who have experienced a wide range of early life and ongoing, complex trauma; including physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect. Our purpose is to serve all youth, with absolute respect and unconditional love, to help youth experiencing homelessness, and provide a safe and supportive environment for all youth in need.
Working at Covenant House will be one of the most meaningful things that you’ll do in your life. However, you will be confronted with significant issues in this work and frankly, this work is not for everyone. In the course of doing your work, particularly for those doing frontline work, you will be exposed to the trauma of others. The youth we serve may also experience overdose, physical harm perpetuated by self or others and even death. Because we provide a relational model of care, the harms our youth experience can impact us in varying degrees.
While we provide training for youth workers on avoiding what we call vicarious trauma (namely, the trauma you can experience or take on by hearing other’s traumatic stories), and a generous allowance for counselling, it is still difficult work that can and does take its toll on many employees. Self-awareness and self-care are key. Some candidates and employees decide during the recruiting and probationary periods that this work isn’t for them, and that is totally fair.
We will provide more information on vicarious trauma during recruiting and on-boarding, to help you decide if Covenant House is the place for you.
The Impact a Cook with the Food Services Team can make:
The Cook will prepare meals for youth and staff. Assisting with menu planning, you will ensure nutritious and delicious foods are being served daily. You will make sure the food service areas are kept to a high standard of cleanliness and order.
How You Will Contribute:
- Cook meals for vulnerable young people
- Serve meals to residents in a cafeteria setting
- Prepare meals for special dietary needs of residents
- Provide immediate food needs of at-risk youth
- Prepare meals in a sanitary manner within the VCH guidelines
- Decide on best use of resources, rescued food and donations to minimize cost and food waste
- Assist in menu planning and preparation
- Catering for agency and youth events
- Other duties as required
Who We Are Looking For?
Education and Experience:
- 3 to 5 years’ experience as a Cook in an institutional kitchen environment (e.g. healthcare facility, hospitality, non-profit organizations, schools, shelters)
- Capacity and knowledge to execute medium to large volume food production
- Experience in working with vulnerable individuals, youth and marginalized population an asset
- Culinary education background/certifications an asset
- Catering background an asset
- Current Food Safe Level 1 Certification
- Must be able to work on Weekends, Stat Holidays
Competencies:
- Excellent organizational skills
- Strong knowledge in different methods of cooking
- Capacity to process rescued food from food donor organizations
- Self-Starter, Team Player
- Works independently and collaboratively with kitchen team and volunteers
- Strong communication skills
- Basic Computer skills
- Ability to stand for long periods of time
- Clean kitchen and work areas
- Ability to maintain professional boundaries with the Youth
Compensation
The successful candidate can expect a starting hourly rate of between $18.54 and $23.17 depending on factors such as internally equity, experience, competencies, and education. Once hired, the hourly rates are reviewed annually following the annual performance review and successful employees have the opportunity for their hourly rate to increase, over time, up to the maximum of the pay band, currently $27.80.
Total Rewards
This position has excellent extended health and dental benefits for you and your spouse & children, including generous counselling benefits. During the first year, employees receive three weeks’ paid vacation, increasing to four in the second year; we have paid sick and personal leave and a matching Registered Pension Plan, investment in professional development, and more. If you’d like more information on what we offer, please ask!
We have been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers for 2024!
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Covenant House Vancouver is a secular organization that welcomes and serves young people from all backgrounds. While the international federation to which we belong was founded in the 1970s by members of the Catholic Church, we are not aligned with any specific faith traditions.
CHV is committed to upholding diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workplace. We actively encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to equity, including, but not limited to:
- Persons from groups marginalized due to race, ancestry, colour, religion/spiritual beliefs, or place of origin;
- Persons with visible (physical) and/or invisible (mental) disabilities;
- Persons who identify as women;
- Persons of marginalized sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions; and
- Indigenous persons.
We recognize that many of these identities intersect and that therefore, diversity, equity, and inclusion can be complex. We value the contributions that each person brings and are committed to ensuring full and equal participation for all at Covenant House Vancouver.
We love what we do and try to make a difference every day. Covenant House Vancouver offers a competitive salary with a great benefits package and excellent opportunity for training and career advancement. If you are looking to join a place where we have a purpose and aim to achieve positive outcomes, please join us by applying.
If our recruitment process does not work for you, let us know. Let’s see how we can work together to get to know you and see what might be a great fit!