Search Homelessness Services Association of BC

Job Description / Duties

Job Summary
The Cook is responsible for providing a nutritious meal within a busy and chaotic drop-in center and/or emergency shelter including meal planning and preparation, serving, cleaning and maintenance, customer service skills, stock taking, and ordering. She will participate in supporting the training program for community volunteers in all aspects of kitchen operations.

Reporting directly to the Kitchen Manager, she will work in collaboration with other DEWC staff to promote integrated services to women. She will work from a feminist perspective and within an anti-oppression framework.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:
• Ensures the provision of the meal program within the Drop-In and/or Shelter including the planning, preparation, serving, cleaning, stock-taking, and ordering
• Ensures maintenance and repair needs are reported to the appropriate staff
• Supports community volunteers in all aspects of the kitchen including in the planning, preparation, and serving of meals.
• Works with the Kitchen Manager to develop and grow the food program at the DEWC with the goal of integrating a “health through nutrition” strategy.
• Manages crises between, within, and among community volunteers and/or DEWC members including mentoring a variety of stress-coping skills.
• Maintains a culture of ‘people helping people help themselves.
• Communicates effectively with women in crises and refers to appropriate in-center staff.
• Ensures effective communication and team approach in the smooth operation of the DEWC.
• Act as an ambassador for DEWC by representing and modeling DEWC mission and values
• Other related duties not specified that may be assigned from time to time

Qualifications / Required Skills

Required Qualifications:
• At least 2 years of related experience preferably within a nonprofit drop-in or shelter environment
• Ability to lift 40 pounds
• Food Safe level 1 is required
• Experience working in a busy, chaotic, high-turnover kitchen
• Must have an understanding of “health through nutrition”
• Must have a strong working knowledge and analysis of the issues impacting women in the duties, including gender-based violence, mental health, homelessness, and addictions
• Candidate must work from strong feminist analysis and within an anti-oppression framework
• Strong conflict resolution skills and practice
• Demonstrated crises intervention training and experience
• Excellent communication skills required, including the ability to work in a respectful and cooperative manner with co-workers, volunteers, and center members
• Ability to work within a chaotic environment and with a diverse community of women
• A First Aid certificate and NVCI is required
• Candidate must undergo a criminal record check
• Women with addiction issues need to be at least 2 years clean and sober

Position reports to: Kitchen Services Manager

Contact Information

careers@dewc.ca

Employer Profile

DEWC is a membership-driven organization where all women accessing our services are given a vote and a voice to steer our services and programs. We believe women are the experts in their own lives. Every woman is entitled to the basic necessities of life, including safety, autonomy, nutrition, stable housing, clothing, education, and other practical needs.

DEWC has an anti-racism and anti-poverty mandate. We understand that poverty is systemic, not the problem of an individual. We are a feminist organization with feminism as our guiding philosophy. We respect and welcome cultural diversity; each woman’s strengths and experiences are valued and respected. We believe every woman is entitled to self-determination, self-respect, self-esteem and safety. We define “woman” as anyone who identifies and lives as a woman including cis and transgender women.