Our ideal candidate is an enthusiastic, self-driven and a collaborative individual who is passionate and highly experienced in leading daily operations of preparing and delivering hundreds of meals to multiple locations. This is a dynamic leadership opportunity for a chef who shares our passion for healthy kids, climate-friendly meal planning, and community development.
Position Overview
As the Head Chef, you will lead the planning and execution of a new school meal program providing breakfast items and lunches to students across participating schools in Squamish. The goal of this program is to ensure all students have access to nourishing food in a stigma-free manner at school. You will manage menu development, kitchen operations, sourcing, and staff supervision while aligning meals with Squamish CAN’s food values: nutritious, climate-smart, integration of seasonal, and locally sourcing ingredients. In addition, you will also provide additional catering services to key groups and community partners.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead a kitchen team to prepare and deliver nutritious, child-friendly breakfasts and lunches to local schools.
- Design seasonal menus featuring whole, minimally processed ingredients aligned with and program , while ensuring meals and overall program expenses are produced within a budget.
- Oversee all aspects of kitchen operations: food production, inventory, menu costing, ordering, and sanitation.
- Develop and implement food safety and sanitation plans in compliance with Vancouver Coastal Health regulations, ensuring all Food Safe requirements are met, critical control points are consistently monitored, and accurate documentation is maintained.
- Train, supervise, and schedule kitchen staff and volunteers.
- Coordinate with local farmers, suppliers, and food hubs to source sustainably grown, culturally inclusive ingredients.
- Maintain kitchen systems for food prep, storage, waste reduction, and efficiency.
- Support planning, reporting, and budget development in collaboration with program staff.
- Contribute to the broader mission of Squamish CAN through education, storytelling, and collaboration with partner organizations.
Qualifications & Skills
- Minimum three years of experience in large-scale food service or catering in a commercial or institutional kitchen.
- Strong knowledge of nutrition, menu planning, and food safety (Food Safe Level 1 required and/or willingness to get Food Safe Level 2).
- Red Seal Cook certification is an asset.
- Passion for sustainable food systems and healthy child development.
- Excellent organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
- Proven ability to manage kitchen budgets, inventory, and purchasing systems.
- Experience working with diverse populations and dietary needs.
- Tech-savvy with basic computer skills (Excel, Outlook, inventory platforms).
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team-oriented, mission-driven environment.
Eligibility
Applicants must have:
- A clean criminal record check for working with vulnerable populations (children/youth)
- Be legally eligible to work in Canada
- Valid driver’s license
Job details
- Term: Onboarding will start ideally mid July - early August and can be flexible summer hours depending on the successful applicants preferences.
- Hour per week: 40 hours per week, eight hours per day that is somewhat flexible, but will need to be there on the majority of school days. Hours worked can be flexible depending on the program needs and successful applicant’s preferences.
- Wage: $34-$38 per hour, based on experience.
- Vacation: Five weeks of vacation annually, aligned with the school calendar, including winter, spring, summer breaks and pro-d days.
- Benefits: We currently offer a 2% wellness benefit paid out bi-weekly to support employee health and well-being. As a growing organization, we are committed to expanding our benefits package over time to better support our team.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Statement
The Squamish Climate Action Network is committed to strengthening and contributing to an inclusive community. This requires that we address the structural conditions that underlie unequal access to resources and engage multiple ways of knowing and being. Indigenous persons, women, people of colour, all genders, L2SLGBTQIA+ and persons with disabilities are encouraged to participate in our climate action in ways that matter most to them. We aim to design our programs, services and recruitment processes through the lens of diversity, equity and inclusion for all.
How to Apply
Email a resume and cover letter or questions to Krystle tenBrink, Executive Director at [email protected] by Sunday, June 15th by 11:59 PM . Included in the subject “Head Chef Application”.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $66,300.00-$74,100.00 per year
Benefits:
- Wellness program
Flexible language requirement:
- French not required
Schedule:
- 8 hour shift
- Day shift
- Monday to Friday
- No weekends
Work Location: In person
Application deadline: 2025-06-15
Expected start date: 2025-07-14
