Job Opportunity

Position: First Cook (Part-Time)
Organization: Fred Victor
Location: Toronto ON

INTERNAL/EXTERNAL

• Job Title: First Cook
• Position Type: Bargaining Unit, Part-Time, Permanent
• Number of Positions: 1
• Reason for Posting: New Position
• Rate: $24.14 per hour
• Vacation: 8% Vacation Pay
• Hours: 15 hours per week (Saturday, Sunday)
• Supervisor: Chef Manager
• Posting Date: June 15, 2026
• Application Deadline: June 25, 2026
• Location: 145 Queen St. E and 40 Oak St.

Why Fred Victor?

For 130 years, Fred Victor has been a leader in helping people rebuild their lives in Toronto. Our mission is to improve the health, income and housing stability of people experiencing poverty and homelessness. We are committed to ending homelessness, one person at a time.

The Community Services (CS) department at Fred Victor is a multi-service, multi-site structure that encompasses the 40 Oak Community HUB and community programs, Consumption and Treatment Services, Employment and Training Services, Drop-Ins, Warming and Keep Cool Programs and Food Services. Additionally, it operates a social purpose enterprise with catering services and spearheads a significant Peer Training Initiative that prioritizes the involvement of individuals with lived experience.

Fred’s Kitchen is deeply committed to addressing food security while providing opportunities for skills development, training, and employment placements within the food services sector. We focus on empowering individuals with lived experience to gain valuable skills and access employment opportunities in the culinary and hospitality fields. Through our program, participants are equipped with the tools and support needed to succeed in the food services industry while contributing to our mission of ensuring access to nutritious meals and fostering community well-being.

Under the direction of the Chef Manager, the First Cook is responsible for preparing food for Fred’s Kitchen Social Purpose Enterprise and Community Meals. During busier periods of the year, the First Cook may be responsible for supporting a catering service that provides 1,000 meals daily. The First Cook prepares daily meals and contributes to events catering using standard recipes. The First Cook makes good quality meals in accordance with pre-planned menus designed to meet nutritional needs, while monitoring food inventory and adhering to Fred Victor Food Services quality standards, Food Safety Guidelines and HACCP Principles.

Does this sound like work you want to be a part of?

We offer a high-energy and collaborative environment, an opportunity to join a diverse team of caring professionals and a chance to make a difference. With over 75 programs and 25 sites, there are lots of opportunities to grow your career with us. Many members of the management team started in relief and front-line roles.

What You Will Do:

• Ensure consistency standards are applied to uphold conditions of catering contracts, uphold brand standards and meet quality assurance requirements.
• Safely and hygienically prepare food from its raw to cooked state while maintaining its nutritional content and palatability.
• Effectively collaborate with a diverse kitchen team including Chef Manager, Senior Community Chefs, Peers and Drivers to ensure high quality service.
• Provide feedback on menu items to ensure cultural responsiveness and alignment to community preferences.
• Follow Fred Victor’s Food Safety Plan and Food-Borne Illness Complaints Policy in line with HACCP Principles.
• Obtain donated items and make decisions on selection of quality produce based on knowledge of menus and receipts.
• Uphold high standards for customer service with catering customers and community restaurant clients, ensuring that all interactions are professional, friendly, and responsive to their needs.
• Identify any safety or quality concerns during food expediting process and work with Senior Community Chefs to provide immediate solution and communicate impact to customers.
• Adhere to all health and safety standards including proper food handling and storage procedures.
• Oversee meal program service as needed and respond to community needs, ensuring that service users receive their meals in a timely and respectful manner.
• Support with client deescalation as necessary during meal program.
• Provide guidance and support to food service trainees and peers in the kitchen.
• Ensure that food is cooked, prepared, stored, and served at proper temperatures as required.
• Complete food preparation, storage, temperature, donation, and health & safety checklists.
• Oversee tasks to ensure high cleanliness standards of the commercial kitchen, providing guidance and support to food service peers in maintaining standards.
• Maintain a comprehensive knowledge of all recipes and a variety of cooking techniques.
• Ensure appropriate portion sizes are prepared and served based on Canada Food Guide and Toronto Shelter Standards.
• Check purchased food deliveries for quantity and quality standards.
• Follow proper procedures for opening and closing the kitchen, providing guidance and support to food service trainees.
• Report any equipment that needs repairs to the Chef Manager.
• Attend staff meetings as required.
• Performs other related work as assigned.

What You Bring to the Team:

• 2+ years in food handling and cooking for large groups in a community setting.
• Graduate of a 2-year college cooking program from a recognized institution and/or the equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
• Food Handlers Certificate an asset.

Compensation and Benefits:

• For the First Cook, Fred Victor offers an hourly rate of $24.14
• 8% vacation pay
• Access to employee and family assistance plan

How You Can Apply:

Send your resume and an email describing why you want to be part of the Fred Victor Team by June 25, 2026, to CommunityServicesHiring@fredvictor.org with ‘First Cook (PT-P)’ in the subject line.

A Police Record Check is required by the final candidate prior to hiring.

Accessibility & Accommodation

Fred Victor is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible environment where employees feel valued and respected, and where every employee has the opportunity to realize their potential. As such, we welcome and encourage applicants who identify as racialized persons, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons across the spectrum of sexual orientation and gender identities and have lived-experience.

If you are a person with a disability and require accommodation and/or assistance during the application process, please contact us in advance. We strive to provide reasonable accommodations whenever requested. Information received relating to accommodation requests will be treated with confidentiality.

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