Community Meal Coordinator

Alexandra Comm Hlth Ctr • Calgary, AB

16h • Onsite

About The Position

The Alex Community Food Centre (CFC) is seeking a talented Community Meals Coordinator to provide leadership to its food access programming. This role involves using a community development approach and high standards of food handling and kitchen safety to lead volunteers and peers in delivering high-volume meal services. The coordinator will be passionate about good food, aiming to create healthy, culturally appropriate meals that support community well-being, build social ties, and support local farmers. The ideal candidate will have knowledge of the local food system, large-volume meal service, circular economy practices, and experience facilitating learning opportunities for diverse community members. This is a permanent, full-time position.

Requirements

• Diploma in a related field of study (culinary, nutrition, social work).
• Three years of experience with large-scale food preparation and kitchen management.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and prepare healthy, delicious meals for 150-250 people
• Experience with budgeting, sourcing food, and working with suppliers.
• Experience working with marginalized people and people of diverse cultures and abilities in a community-based setting.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and conflict resolution skills.
• Demonstrated experience working with volunteers.
• Food Safe Certificate is required.
• Class 5 driver’s license, personal vehicle for business use, and a clean 3-year driver’s abstract are required.
• Must be at least 21 years of age and have a minimum of three (3) years of driving experience to drive an Alex fleet vehicle.
• Standard First Aid – Level C CPR & AED within 30 days of hire date; certification must be valid for a minimum of 6 months upon hire.
• Satisfactory vulnerable sector police clearance and child welfare intervention check are required.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated knowledge, understanding and commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to Community Meal program; work collaboratively with staff to integrate seasonal, locally grown ingredients and ethno-cultural flavours into the CFC’s food stream, in accordance to the CFC’s Good Food Rules and Principles.
• Promote food literacy by collaborating with key staff to identify and implement menus that reinforce the goals of the Fresh and Fare Community Market, food and garden skills programs, circular economy practices and land-based learning.
• Supervise a large and divers team of volunteers to effectively complete duties required to deliver a high-volume food meal service.
• Provide training, instruction and ongoing support to volunteers from a diverse range of lived experience, skills, learning needs, communication styles, languages and capacities.
• Set and oversee a high standard of health and safety in the kitchen space and dining hall; train new staff and volunteers on safe food handling and kitchen safety protocols. Ensure compliance with provincial regulations.
• Collaborate with the Community Market Coordinator and other key staff to source, order, and manage inventory of food for Community Meals, food skills programs and basic kitchen supplies.
• Support other program areas as needed (food, skills and knowledge swap, engagement and education).
• Occasionally facilitate food skills classes and food demonstrations.
• Oversee maintenance of equipment and resources in the kitchen and dining hall.
• Liaise with other users of our kitchen space to ensure standards and best practices are shared.
• Support team functions and responsibilities including engaging community members during drop-in programs, assisting other staff with their programs as needed, and responding to critical incidents.
• Network with other agencies and individuals to offer programs and services in conjunction with other CFC programs.
• Participate in broader activities at the CFC: planning, evaluation, fundraising and public relations, communications, special events and team activities.
• Develop and implement opportunities for input and feedback on community meals.
• Track program statistics in appropriate databases.
• Support Annual Program Survey and other evaluation processes as required.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Benefits

• 3-weeks’ vacation
• Medical and Dental Coverage
• Health / Wellness Spending Accounts
• RRSP, Student Loan Repayment Program, and/or Mortgage Accelerator Payment Program (up to 5% match)
• Personal Days
• Floating Holiday
• Sick/Wellness Days
• Employee Family Assistance Plan (EFAP)
• Professional Development

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree