Daycare Cook / Kitchen Assistant
Little Friends Child Care Toronto Inc.
Location: 9 Tallpines Court, Scarborough, ON
Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Pay: $20.00–$22.00 per hour, depending on experience and qualifications.
Schedule: Monday to Friday, Day Shift
No evenings | No weekends
IMPORTANT EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT
A minimum of 1 year of previous kitchen/cooking experience working specifically in a licensed child care centre or daycare setting is REQUIRED for this position.
Please apply only if you have at least one year of hands-on daycare kitchen experience, including experience preparing and serving meals and snacks for young children.
Restaurant or general commercial kitchen experience alone does not meet this requirement.
About Little Friends Child Care
Little Friends Child Care Toronto Inc. is a brand-new licensed child care centre in Scarborough providing care for toddlers and preschool-aged children.
We are looking for a reliable, caring, organized, and experienced Daycare Cook / Kitchen Assistant to join our team.
This is an important role within our centre. Our cook will be responsible for preparing nutritious meals and snacks for young children while maintaining excellent standards of food safety, cleanliness, organization, and allergy awareness.
About the Role
As our Daycare Cook / Kitchen Assistant, you will be responsible for the daily operation and organization of the centre's kitchen.
You will prepare and serve nutritious meals and snacks while following planned menus, food safety requirements, and the dietary needs of the children in our care.
The successful candidate should already be familiar with the unique responsibilities of working in a child care kitchen, including allergy management, portioning meals for young children, kitchen sanitation, meal schedules, food storage, and communicating with educators and centre management.
Key Responsibilities
- Prepare and serve nutritious meals and snacks for toddler and preschool-aged children in accordance with Canada's Food Guide.
- Follow the centre's planned menus and standardized recipes.
- Prepare food according to appropriate portions for young children.
- Ensure meals and snacks support children's nutritional needs.
- Carefully manage and accommodate food allergies, dietary restrictions, medical diets, and food sensitivities.
- Follow established procedures to prevent cross-contamination and allergen exposure.
- Maintain a clean, organized, and sanitary kitchen throughout the day.
- Follow all applicable food safety and Toronto Public Health requirements.
- Properly label, date, store, rotate, and dispose of food.
- Monitor refrigerator and food storage temperatures as required.
- Receive and inspect grocery and food deliveries.
- Maintain appropriate food inventory and communicate ordering needs to management.
- Assist with grocery and kitchen supply organization.
- Wash and sanitize dishes, utensils, cookware, preparation surfaces, and kitchen equipment.
- Complete daily kitchen cleaning and sanitation duties.
- Maintain required kitchen, food safety, and cleaning records.
- Coordinate meal and snack service with classroom educators.
- Communicate effectively with management regarding allergies, menu changes, inventory, and kitchen needs.
- Maintain a safe kitchen environment appropriate for a licensed child care centre.
- Perform other kitchen-related duties as required.
QualificationsRequired
- Minimum 1 year of kitchen/cooking experience in a licensed daycare or child care centre.
- Previous experience preparing meals and snacks for groups of young children.
- Food Handler Certificate, or ability to obtain one before commencing employment.
- Good understanding of food allergies, dietary restrictions, and cross-contamination prevention.
- Knowledge of food safety, sanitation, and proper food storage practices.
- Ability to independently organize and operate a daycare kitchen.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills.
- Ability to prepare and serve meals according to a daycare's daily schedule.
- Dependable, punctual, professional, and able to work effectively as part of a child care team.
- Ability to communicate effectively with educators and management.
- Vulnerable Sector Check may be required before employment.
What We're Looking For
We are looking for someone who understands that working in a daycare kitchen is different from working in a traditional restaurant kitchen.
Our ideal candidate is someone who is comfortable preparing food for young children, understands the importance of allergy management and food safety, and can keep the kitchen organized while ensuring meals and snacks are ready according to the centre's daily schedule.
We are especially interested in someone who takes pride in maintaining a clean, safe, organized, and welcoming kitchen.
What We Offer
- Competitive compensation
- Full-time, permanent position
- Monday to Friday schedule
- No evening shifts
- No weekend shifts
- Paid vacation and statutory holidays
- Supportive and respectful work environment
- Stable, year-round employment
- Opportunity to grow with a brand-new child care centre
- Opportunity to help establish and organize the kitchen operations of a new centre
How to Apply
We would love to hear from experienced daycare kitchen professionals.
Please submit your resume and ensure that your previous daycare/child care kitchen experience is clearly identified on your resume.
Please note: Applicants without a minimum of one year of daycare/child care kitchen experience will not be considered for this position.
We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
Little Friends Child Care Toronto Inc. is committed to creating an inclusive and respectful workplace. We welcome applications from qualified candidates of all backgrounds and are committed to providing accommodations throughout the hiring process in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code.
Work Location: In person
Pay: $20.00-$22.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
