First Cook

Position Overview

Reporting to the Kitchen Managers / Supervisors, the First Cook is responsible for assisting in leading a small team of cooks and ensuring high-quality standards in food production, taste, presentation, and safety. The First Cook must possess a passion for great food and take pride in the finished product. Strong organizational and prioritization skills with professional dedication are essential. The First Cook will demonstrate careful attention to detail and commitment to working both independently and in a team environment while maintaining and enhancing our clients' service expectations.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide mentorship to more junior cooks and staff within the department.
• Inspect food preparation and serving areas to ensure observance of safe, sanitary food-handling practices.
• Daily ordering of produce and other products from suppliers when needed
• Season and cook food according to recipes or personal judgment and experience
• Observe and test foods to determine if they have been cooked sufficiently
• Analyze portion control and arrange and garnish food for serving
• Regulate temperature of ovens, broilers, grills and roasters
• Substitute for or assist other Cook(s) during emergencies, rush periods, or as otherwise needed
• Prioritize and estimate expected food consumption; then requisition or purchase supplies or procure food from storage
• Create daily and weekly food preparation lists, and ensure food preparation is done in a timely manner
• Coordinate and check the progress of kitchen staff for food quality and consistency
• Consult with management to plan menus, taking into consideration factors such as costs and special event needs
• Assist management in the day-to-day oversight of servers, dishwashers, and cooks.
• Maintain a safe, secure and healthy work environment by following and enforcing standards and procedures and complying with safety regulations.
• Perform several kitchen cleaning duties, including sanitizing, wiping, sweeping, cleaning, washing, dusting, mopping, distributing, and stocking supplies.
• Communicate with various departments to ensure clients' needs are met
• Assist with additional tasks as and when needed or assigned by management both within and outside roles and departments to support Larga operations

Minimum Qualifications

• Culinary accreditation or education
• Red Seal certified or working towards certification OR Five to Seven years of culinary experience with at least 1-2 years of experience supervising a small team
• Previous kitchen experience in a hospital or industrial-type (buffet-style cooking) setting, which includes public interaction
• Must provide a recent Criminal Reference Check

Skills & Abilities

• Ability to supervise staff with varying schedules
• Demonstrate above-average communication skills (both written and spoken)
• Demonstrate a strong orientation for customer service; show patience and maturity to tactfully and diplomatically interact with clients, visitors and staff
• Strong organizational/decision-making skills and an aptitude for problem-solving
• Strong knowledge of operating and maintaining equipment in a commercial kitchen
• Knowledge and experience with proper sanitation procedures and food-safe guidelines
• Ability to lift/carry supplies, etc., up and down stairs and perform repetitive physical tasks such as standing for extended periods, bending, crouching
• Ability to organize and prioritize work assignments to completion
• Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) trained (or willing to learn)
• First Aid/CPR/AED and WHMIS certified (or willingness to learn)
• Positive attitude and a consistent display of professionalism
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Thrive in a high-energy workplace
• Promote professional work habits and encourage fellow staff to work with integrity.
• Ability to work without direct supervision
• Ability to make accurate observations, exercise independent judgement, and calmly take action in a variety of situations, including emergency situations

Preferred Qualifications

• Beneficiary status with the ability to speak Inuktitut
• Previous experience working in a multicultural environment is an asset

Salary and Benefits

• Larga Baffin offers a competitive total compensation package. Employees are provided with an exceptional benefits plan which includes major medical and dental coverage for the employee and their dependents, and employee life insurance.
• Larga Baffin also offers a Group RRSP benefit plan for eligible staff.
• Larga Baffin provides paid sickness, personal leave days, and a 24/7 confidential Employee and Family Assistance Plan.
• Vacation (earn 2 weeks/year).

Larga Baffin welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

The successful candidate must be able to obtain a recent police records check (for the vulnerable sector) with results acceptable to Larga Baffin as a mandatory condition of employment.

Priority will be given to qualified Nunavut Beneficiaries. Larga Baffin does not provide housing and is not responsible for re-location costs.