About Us
Rooks to Cooks is the GTA’s leading culinary school for children, offering a wide variety of hands-on cooking programs for youth ages 6–14 — from our popular summer culinary camps to in-school workshops, community activations, and special events. Our mission is to empower children to become more independent, self-sufficient, and confident while discovering the joy of cooking and baking.
We are looking for reliable on-call substitute Kitchen Assistants with strong dishwashing and prep skills to join our summer camp team!
The on-call role offers flexibility while helping us maintain excellent program quality across all of our locations. You'll let us know your availability and the locations you're willing to work at, and we'll add you to our roster of on-call staff. When a permanent team member is absent or additional coverage is needed, we'll reach out to available on-call staff to offer the shift.
While you are called into work, you will support the onsite team in preparing and executing daily culinary activities, maintaining kitchen cleanliness, organizing inventory, and assisting with mise en place. You will also help supervise and support campers, ensuring a safe, fun, and engaging environment.
This position is perfect for individuals with a passion for cooking, experience in fast-paced kitchen operations, and a desire to try something new and work with kids in an energetic and educational setting.
The typical hours of work for this position are:
- Monday: 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
- Tuesday through Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
- Friday: 9:00 a.m. until close (approximately 8:00 p.m.).
Please note that these hours may vary based on operational requirements.
Duties & Responsibilities:
1. Dish Pit & Kitchen Cleanliness
- Wash, dry, and put away dishes efficiently and safely, maintaining high cleanliness standards.
- Take out garbage to designated locations and ensure proper waste management.
- Sweep, mop, and sanitize floors and surfaces daily.
- Assist with kitchen cleaning during the Friday night Pop-Up Restaurant and other special events.
- Execute and maintain all cleanliness and hygiene standards as prescribed by the head office.
2. Equipment, Mise en Place & Inventory Support
- Assist with organizing inventory of food and supplies, keeping fridges, freezers, and pantry clean and orderly.
- Conduct mise en place preparation for campers and support lead chef and sous chef as needed.
- Receive and properly store inventory, checking order forms and reporting discrepancies to the sous chef.
- Support sous chef in the oversight and guidance of Counsellors-in-Training (CITs) and volunteers.
3. Camper Supervision & Support
- Support the Lead Chef in building and maintaining a physically and emotionally safe environment for campers and staff.
- Supervise campers during cooking activities to ensure safety, engagement, and adherence to rules.
- Assist camp counsellors with break-time activities, games, and exercises as outlined in the camp manual.
- Help define and reinforce camp rules and expectations to maintain a positive camp culture.
4. Recipe Execution Support
- Assist in finishing camper recipes using ovens, stovetops, and other kitchen equipment.
- Ensure recipes are completed accurately according to curriculum packages provided by head office.
- Monitor and support cooking processes to maintain consistency, safety, and quality.
Qualifications / Experience
- 2+ years of experience working in the culinary industry
- 1+ years of professional dishwashing experience
- 1+ years inventory management experience
- Legally entitled to work in Canada
- Can speak fluent English
- All employees will be required to obtain and demonstrate proof of completion of the following documents before the start date of their training and employment: First Aid & CPR, Food Handlers Certification and a clear Vulnerable Sector Screening
Benefits of working for Rooks to Cooks
- Competitive compensation
- Rewarding and meaningful work
- Complimentary staff lunch & demo products to enjoy.
- Amazing work-life balance with weekday evenings and weekends off all summer long!
- Work with like-minded people in a healthy work environment
- Welcoming and family-oriented culture
- It's fun teaching kids to cook
- Rapidly growing company with opportunities for growth & learning.
About Rooks to Cooks:
Website:www.rookstocooks.ca
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/rookstocooks.ca/
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/rooks2cooks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rookstocooks/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rooks-to-cooks/
Rooks to Cooks is committed to employment equity. We thank all applicants, however, only those considered for an interview will be contacted. We welcome and encourage applications from all people including disabled, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIA+ people and BIPOC. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.
Job Types: Full-time, Contract
Pay: $18.50-$22.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Discounted or free food
- On-site parking
Application question(s):
- What attracts you to the Rooks to Cooks Programs we run? Why are you interested in joining our team?
- Have you been convicted of a criminal offense for which you have not been pardoned? Yes or No
- Why do you think you would be a great fit for this role? Why do you believe you would make an excellent Kitchen Assistant.
- A significant portion of this job involves dishwashing, cleanup, and mise en place prep. Are you fully comfortable with this, and what makes you feel you can handle this workload successfully?
- Please specify which of the following locations you are available to work:
Mississauga - Heartland
Roncesvalles
Thornhill
- This is an on-call position. Shifts are not guaranteed and will only be offered when coverage is required or when scheduled in advance based on operational needs. Please explain why a position of this nature is of interest to you.
Experience:
- Management : 1 year (required)
- Professional culinary : 3 years (required)
- Inventory management: 2 years (required)
Language:
Licence/Certification:
- First Aid Certification (preferred)
- Food Handler Certification (preferred)
Work Location: In person
