First Cook, Valemount

Position Title: First Cook, Valemount 

Company Name: CMH Heli-Skiing & Summer Adventures

Reports To: Lodge Manager and Culinary Management Team

Location of Work: Valemount, BC

Employee Type: Full-time, seasonal from mid-November to late-April

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Number of Positions: 2

Last Date of Review: July 22, 2022

Desired Start Date: mid-November

Company Overview

With 50+ years of experience, CMH Heli-Skiing & Summer Adventures has evolved into the world's largest Heli-Skiing and Heli-Hiking company, operating 12 lodges in the winter and 3 in the summer throughout British Columbia, Canada. The business's central office is in Banff, Alberta, Canada.

CMH Heli-Skiing & Summer Adventures is privileged to operate in the traditional territories of the Ktunaxa, Secwépemc, Syilx, and Stoney Nakoda Nations.

The CMH Mission is to guide our staff and guests through life changing mountain experiences.

Our Vision is to be recognized as the world leader of guided mountain experiences – by our guests, our employees, our partners, and our communities.

Our Principles:

• Safety as a cornerstone.
• Share our passion – every day.
• Always act with integrity.
• We work as a team.
• Aim for
• Balance our social, fiscal, and environmental responsibilities.

Position Overview

At CMH Valemount, it is all in the details. We pride ourselves on providing a welcoming, high-end yet personalized guest experience that our guests look forward to every year. Our culinary team goes the extra mile to ensure our guests are nourished with incredible food, so they can enjoy their ski vacation to the fullest. 

The First Cook is responsible for assisting the chef(s) in preparing daily food components for guests and staff. While the position of First Cook offers great exposure to the food experience, the role is heavily cleaning based. A portion of the shift goes towards scheduled dish-washing duties as well as daily and weekly deep-cleaning tasks. The First Cook is a food-oriented individual dedicated to quality, creativity, and consistency.

In our environment, personality and work ethic is key; we are creative, dynamic, and forward-thinking. To provide each guest with a life-changing mountain experience, we rely on the hard work and dedication of our team. This is a highly rewarding experience for the right candidate.

This position works a total of 11 hours per day, performed as a split shift. A typical schedule consists of 2 weeks on and 1 week off.  Accommodation is available while on shift at no extra cost for staff joining our team from out of town.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Prepare and package lunches for the field program and for the staff and guests remaining at the lodge.
• Participate in menu planning, ordering, and receiving, as required.
• Plan and prepare staff lunch and staff dinner.
• Attend all staff and department meetings, as required, including pre-service line-ups.
• Safe and efficient food handling, knife handling, and food plating.
• Understand and maintain accurate kitchen stocking and dry storage rotation.
• Dishes, dishes, and more dishes throughout each shift.
• Daily deep cleaning tasks in and around the kitchen area.
• Perform radio duty, as required, to support field operations.
• Willingness to assist other members of the lodge team, as needed.
• Follow OH&S, food safe, and WHMIS best-practices.

Minimum Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in hospitality field, preferred.
• Food Safe Certificate.
• 2+ years' experience preparing sauces, dips, soups, sandwiches, charcuterie boards, etc.
• 2+ years' experience in a fast-paced kitchen environment.
• Background in luxury hospitality or fine dining, preferred.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Qualities

• Demonstrates integrity, discretion, and problem solving.
• Has clear attention-to-detail with a strong work ethic.
• Willingness to work long days and flexible to assist in other roles at the lodge as needed.
• Able to communicate in an effective and timely manner, and openly receive and act on feedback.
• Able to work as a cohesive, high-functioning team to achieve goals.
• A passion for customer service excellence and providing a high-end guest experience.
• Take pride in hard work, strive for excellence, and anticipate guest needs.
• Proven ability to maintain professional working relationships with peers.
• Able to prioritize tasks in a complex and fast-paced environment with changing priorities.
• Demonstrate tidy grooming and professional appearance.
• Trustworthy and self-directed in completing the core functions of the role.
• Sees tasks through to completion including follow-up on any identified issues.
• Support guests in the field program, as needed.

Working Conditions

This type of culinary work is challenging and demanding.  Successful staff are intrinsically motivated by a passion for food service and creating memorable experiences with our guests.

Working Environment:

• This job is in a remote area of British Columbia. Employees are required to find their own way to and from the lodge or helicopter staging area for work shifts.
• Able to lift, carry, or otherwise move and position up to 20 pounds on an occasional basis.
• Manual dexterity to operate job-specific equipment on a constant basis.
• Able to work evenings, weekends, and holidays based on the needs of the business.
• CMH is committed to developing a rich culture, a diverse workforce, and a healthy work environment in which every employee is treated fairly and respected. Each employee will contribute to the company's success while also having the opportunity to achieve their full potential as individuals.
• Staff housing is on-site and will be available for seasonal employees. A driver's license and the ability to get themselves to and from the lodge for shifts is required (public transportation is not available in this urban/remote community).

Other Duties as Assigned

This position description is an overview of the scope of responsibilities for the role described above.  With the evolution of CMH, the responsibilities of this position may change as may the details associated with many of the tasks. During these times of change, this position requires the flexibility and willingness to accept new responsibilities and potentially transfer others. It will also be the responsibility of any employee of CMH to be a positive influence on the transformation of our products and associated lines of business.

Compensation

A competitive daily rate will be provided, along with 4% vacation pay and potential opportunities to heli-ski, as available.

Benefits and Perks:

• Medical and dental benefit eligibility after 160 days worked.
• Food and accommodation provided while on work shifts.

**CMH is an equal opportunity employer**