First Cook - UBC, Vancouver

About this opportunity

Join UBC Food Services in Vancouver as a First Cook, playing a pivotal role in residence dining and catering. This opportunity involves overseeing and actively participating in the day-to-day operations of a commercial kitchen, leading designated areas of food preparation, food production, and catering production. You will report to a Commissary Cook, Unit Supervisor, or Manager, and be responsible for supervising a dedicated staff team, contributing to the vibrant UBC Vancouver Campus.

What you'll do

As a First Cook at UBC, you will be central to delivering exceptional food services, coordinating daily operations, and ensuring high-quality culinary production. Your responsibilities will include:

• Coordinate food preparation, food production, and catering production to meet daily unit and catering requirements.
• Supervise up to ten (10) employees, including second cooks, assistant cooks, and food service workers, coordinating workload and providing training and direction to the staff team.
• Communicate effectively with kitchen staff on a daily basis through one-on-one conversations as well as daily shift meetings, supporting direction given by the Commissary Chef.
• Implement new menu plans, keeping with the principles of being creative and artistic; and providing an upscale dining and catering experience to clients and customers, following UBC Food Services Food Vision and Values statement.
• Execute sophisticated menu plans that include West Coast cuisine and other ethnic cookery; and handcrafted canapés and hors d'oeuvres to meet the service standards of the department.
• Execute recipes including reading, understanding, and following recipes as well as providing direction to food service personnel on assembly and/or execution.
• Oversee and participate in specialty production to ensure daily volume requirements are met in accordance with menu plans.
• Assess and ensure quality and consistency of finished food products prior to shipping out.
• Participate in the implementation of special food related events, themes, and promotions.
• Recommend appropriate inventory levels of products and assist with maintaining inventory; assist with counting, ordering and reconciliation of food inventory levels of management.
• Maintain high standards of sanitation and safety; ensuring work is performed in compliance with Foodsafe, UBC policy and UBC Food Services safety guidelines, including organizing and cleaning kitchen and equipment. Maintain adherence to the UBC Food Services dress code.
• Communicate effectively with guests to discuss dietary concerns, provide menu information and solicit feedback, adhering to UBC Food Services customer service standards.
• Maintain a fundamental working knowledge of allergens, ingredients and substitutions to address allergy concerns, providing guidance and direction to kitchen staff.
• Carry out any other related duties as required in keeping with the qualifications and requirements of positions in this classification.

Qualifications

To excel in this First Cook role at UBC, candidates should possess a strong culinary background and leadership capabilities. We are looking for individuals with proven experience in a dynamic kitchen environment, contributing to the high standards of UBC Food Services.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Completion of a certified cooking program at a recognized college.
• Red Seal Cook certification.
• FoodSafe Level 1 certificate.
• Minimum three years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own.
• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Most recent three years of experience to be in an upscale trendy dining and catering environment, including experience with corporate catering and off-site events.
• Five years post-Red Seal experience in upscale catering and dining environment.
• Knowledge and experience with West Coast cuisine and other ethnic cuisines, flavours and ingredients.
• Experience creating handcrafted high-end canapés and hors d'oeuvres and baking.
• Excellent knife skills and good butchery skills.
• Knowledge of food safety and HACCP (Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points) including Food Safe Certification.
• Strong interest in self-improvement and further education in culinary arts.
• Demonstrated supervisory experience, preferably in a unionized environment.
• The ability to coordinate, train, and motivate a diverse staff team.
• The ability to work with a high degree of accuracy in a fast-paced environment.
• Effective oral and written communication, leadership, interpersonal and time management skills.

Why you'll love it here

At UBC, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where every staff member can thrive. This role offers the chance to contribute to a vibrant university community, working within a supportive team environment in UBC Food Services. You'll be part of an institution that values excellence in research, innovation, and learning, providing a rewarding career path and opportunities for professional growth.