JOB POSTING
Food Services Lead
FH2026-25- FSW- 12 months contract
Fife House Foundation
Vacancy Disclosure: This is a currently existing vacancy
Location: 490 Sherbourne St, Toronto
Shift Rotation: 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday
Contract: Temporary, Full Time – 12-month contract
Salary: $24.90 per hour
Union/Non-Union: Unionized
Reports to: Program Manager, Sherbourne Apartments & Transitional Housing Program
Fife House is an innovative, client-focused provider of secure and supportive affordable housing and services to people living with HIV/AIDS in the Greater Toronto Area. With approximately 110 staff working across 6 locations, in 2020-2021, Fife House served more than 850 residents and clients by providing supportive and transitional housing programs as well as outreach programs to homeless clients and their families.
Fife House understands that historically marginalized groups in our communities often encounter particular barriers to full access and participation. We, therefore, commit to actively dismantling all forms of racism and systemic oppression with GIPA/MEPA at the forefront, including in our own organization and across governance structures. As a settler agency, Fife House stands in solidarity with Indigenous and Black Peoples across Turtle Island and recognizes our role in reconciliation and healing.
Fife House is seeking a dedicated individual to serve as Food Services Lead across its programs. The Food Services Lead is responsible for overseeing the planning, coordination, and delivery of safe, high-quality, and nutritious meals across multiple service locations, including menu development, production scheduling, and daily food preparation for residents and community meal programs.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Menu Development and Meal Preparation:
- Creates, in consultation with the Manager, cyclical weekly menus and daily production schedules, while maintaining a high standard of food safety, preparation accuracy, service and cleanliness. All community meals will be created on-site at 9 Huntley. Specifically, this position will oversee:
- the production of 3 meals/day, served 7 days/week for 20 residents with consideration to their nutritional needs at the 9 Huntley site;
- weekly meals for the 490 Sherbourne site (atm: 3-4 lunches/week for 85 ppl – subject to change*);
- 1 Wednesday meal/week for 20 ppl at 330 Jarvis site (subject to change*);
- Potential to create 2 meals/week for 490 Sherbourne THP site (subject to change*), and
- 3 meals/week for up to 5 ppl at the 70 Denison Avenue site. (*Note – Denison site will be the satellite location for ensuring deliveries for scattered sites).
- This position oversees all required prep of food for the next day/weekends.
Client Life Skills Development & Supports:
- Contributes to the home-like atmosphere by interacting with residents of all sites.
- Collaborates with other program departments to develop workshops and individual teaching plans on nutrition, making simple meals, budgeting, menu planning, etc. for Fife House clients/residents. Includes providing shared cooking opportunities that helps residents prepare small, easily managed meals as well at workshops in either the Huntley 2nd Floor kitchen or the 490 Community Kitchen.
- Keeps up to date on residents’ situations by reading both the Staff Log and residents’ files. Includes proposing improvements to the provision of food services for residents and helping residents set goals around building food security and life skills.
- Addresses emotional, practical, and health-related issues of volunteers, peers, and residents to their Manager with an intention to improve their quality of life by supporting them to problem solve, navigate complex systems, reduce isolation and barriers, increase confidence and to seek health services, when needed.
Social Enterprise Catering Service:
- Leads Fife House’s social enterprise catering team which contributes to marginalized communities by providing employment skills to people living with HIV who have cooking and baking skills and training to fulfil available catering orders.
- Oversees the registration, preparation, and creation of catering jobs internal and external to Fife House.
- Ensures that peer caterers are scheduled and up-to-date with requirements.
- Responsible for development and maintenance of the Catering Menu, as appropriate.
- Oversees all external community partners’/organizations’ bookings of 490 Sherbourne’s rentable community spaces – priority on Community Kitchen and/or Community Room, following the policies and procedures outlined in the Room Booking Contract. (subject to change*)
- Ensures that all catering invoices are completed and provided at the end of the month to their Manager. Invoices should be approved by Manager and distributed within 2 weeks.
Human Resource Management:
- Coordinates with staff and volunteers any and all Sunday Brunches, Holidays Meals, Breakfast Clubs, and Coffee Clubs for residents happening at the food service locations. Includes supporting and training staff/volunteers when needed. Holiday Meals need to be approved prior by their Manager.
- Assists the Manager with recruiting caterers as needed for the social enterprise catering service.
- Ensures that all volunteers, peers, staff connected to Food Services, and placement students are properly trained by the Food Services Workers when on shift/needed.
- Coordinates with Manager and Social Activities Worker on hosting Food Services related training for staff, peers, volunteers and students.
- Oversees the supervision of Food Services Workers, volunteers, caterers, and placement students, as needed.
- Assists staff, peers and volunteers with cooperatively settling conflicts and disputes and finding practical solutions to personal issues.
Logistics and Supply Chain Management:
- Ensures that all groceries, supplies, donations, and meal deliveries/pick-ups happen for the various food service locations.
- Ensures that various food service locations place a weekly requisition form to the Program Manager, Sherbourne Apts & THP for any supplies/ingredients/household products for programming. Including having staff track what items they are using.
- Ensures that all food service programs have standard supplies and ingredients to perform basic programming.
- Coordinates weekly Gordon’s Food Services (GFS) orders and any monthly Uline Canada orders (household products) for all Fife House food service locations as all food items will be purchased by the Food Services Coordinator for the preparation of community meals and special events with the Community Programs’ petty cash, accounts, and credit card.
- The position will work in conjunction with the Community Engagement and Volunteer Program Manager regarding the delivery of Fife House’s food service program, including the Uline Canada (and related household supplies) orders, Cobbs Bread Delivery program, and Second Harvest donations. This includes but is not limited to receiving, organizing, and arranging the distribution of food. And when/where needed, provide directions to the volunteers working with the bread program.
- Responsible for stocking and maintaining the 2nd floor staff kitchen at 490 Sherbourne with: coffee, tea, sugar, milk products, salt and pepper, coffee filters, paper towels/jay cloths and dishwasher products. Fridge gets emptied once a month/ end of the month.
- Responsible for conducting monthly inventory audits to monitor pantries, emergency boxes, household supplies/products and assets to ensure needs are met at service delivery site.
- Assists Manager with maintaining community partner relationships with Second Harvest, Not Far from the Tree, and catering contracts, as needed. Also includes engaging community partners in opportunities, as needed.
- Collaborates with the Manager on monitoring and managing all food and catering program budgets, personal petty cash, receipts, credit card use, and financial procedures.
- Oversees the collection and counting of lunch money and breakfast club donations from Sherbourne Community Meal Programs.
Marketing and Promotion:
- Work with Community Engagement Team and the Development & Communications Team to create flyers and sign-up sheets for internal/external events and meals, as needed.
- Supports the development and implementation of a marketing plan to grow the social enterprise catering service to meet, or exceed, annual performance targets
Quality and Workplace Health and Safety:
- Oversees the implementation and adherence to health and safety regulations at all food service locations, and can appoint a lead at each site if needed.
- Ensures staff are cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing all kitchen equipment, appliances and Food Services related spaces.
- Facilitates all food services’ related appliance issues and repairs with Office Manager. Includes fridges, freezers, BBQs, stoves, dishwashers, washing machines/dryers, etc.
- Ensures deep-clean of fridges, freezers and kitchens across food service locations as per maintenance schedule.
Data Management and Reporting:
- Ensures that staff of all food service programs monitor and complete volunteer and resident tracking forms for OCASE/Raiser’s Edge entries monthly.
- Enters collected OCASE and Pirouette statistical data monthly. (subject to change potentially*)
- Records applicable data related to catering services and community meals.
- Assists caterers with accurate completion of timesheets as needed.
- Assists the Manager with developing reports detailing portfolio activities as requested.
Administrative Expectations:
- Attends staff meetings, when possible.
- Attends bi/tri-monthly Food Services Portfolio meetings.
- Support Senior Housing Manager with mandatory participation in scheduled monthly supervisions and annual performance reviews with Manager to receive debriefing, guidance, and support around boundary setting and professional behaviour.
- Sets annual performance goals with the Manager.
- May attend conferences and workshops as resources and time permits and as arranged with the Manager.
- Mandatory participation in Fife House’s Peer HIV 101 and Harm Reduction 101 Trainings.
- Mandatory participation in Fife House’s monthly GIPA/MEPA Governance Committee for team engagement, greater involvement and additional training. (subject to change*)
- Performs other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
· Minimum 2 years’ experience working with larger-scale food preparation, management of food services operations as a Lead Chef or Kitchen (Back of the House) Manager, and creating healthy and nutritious meals.
· Demonstrated experience working in catering and/or food services serving people living with HIV and/or concurrent disorders and episodic disabilities.
· Experience with time management, record-keeping, budgeting and electronic filing.
· Ability to modify menus for therapeutic/nutritional-based diets.
· Ability to work effectively in independent settings as well as within a team.
· Ability to follow through on commitments and deadlines.
· Ability to maintain professional boundaries with community members, peers, residents and volunteers while working in a peer capacity.
· Valid Food Handler’s Certificate, First Aid/CPR Training (able to obtain within 3 months).
· Excellent interpersonal and communication skills as a leader. Ability to listen effectively and empathetically and able to promote and maintain a harmonious working environment.
· Good working knowledge and commitment to harm reduction, risk reduction, equity and diversity, anti-racism and anti-oppression principles and practices.
· Experience working with marginalized individuals, including individuals who use substances, individuals involved with sex work, and individuals who experience violence and crisis.
· Knowledge of Non-Violent Crisis Intervention and skill training.
ASSET:
· Knowledge of food safety standards and regulations, including safe food handling, sanitation practices, and HACCP principles
· Experience in food preparation and service within institutional, catering, or residential settings, including kitchen operations and meal planning
· Experience working with diverse populations, including individuals with varying dietary needs, cultural food preferences, and complex social circumstances; trauma-informed approach considered an asset
· Knowledge of de-escalation techniques and ability to respond appropriately in high-pressure or supportive housing environments
· Comfort with kitchen cleaning, sanitation duties, light maintenance tasks, and inventory/stock management processes
· Naloxone training is considered an asset in supportive housing or community-based settings
FIFE HOUSE is committed to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion in our living and work environments. We know that diversity underpins excellence and that we all share responsibility for creating an equitable, diverse and inclusive community. In pursuit of our values, we seek members who will work respectfully and constructively with differences and across levels of power.
We actively encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to equity, including, but not limited to:
· Persons living with HIV/AIDS
· First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, and all other Indigenous peoples;
· Members of groups that commonly experience discrimination due to race, ancestry, colour, religion and/or spiritual beliefs, or place of origin;
· Persons with visible and/or invisible (physical and/or mental) disabilities;
· Persons who identify as women; and
· Persons of marginalized sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions.
We recognize that many of these identities intersect and that therefore, equity, diversity and inclusion can be complex. We value the contributions that each person brings, and are committed to ensuring full and equal participation for all in our community.
Fife House is an equal opportunity employer committed to being a diverse and inclusive workplace. We are committed to providing employment in accordance with the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. Any assessment and selection materials or processes used during the recruitment process will be available in an accessible format to applicants with disabilities, upon request. If contacted for an interview, please advise the Recruiter if you require disability-related accommodation.
Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of selection
Process, by emailing [email protected].
TO APPLY:
· Only applications sent that are sent through Indeed will be reviewed by the hiring manager/committee.
· Applications will be accepted until 11th June, 2026
Fife House Head Office
490 Sherbourne St, 2nd Fl
Toronto ON M4Y 1K9
Fax: (416) 205-9919
Pay: $23.33 per hour
Work Location: In person
