Role overview

The Lead Cafeteria Worker will oversee the management and food preparation in the school cafeteria within the guidelines of the School Food and Nutrition Policy. The Lead will interact daily with students and pre-primary children of various backgrounds and will ensure equitable access to healthy foods in a non stigmatizing manner. The Lead Cafeteria Worker is responsible for financial reporting, procurement, invoicing, menu planning and distribution, food preparation, marketing, communication, service, ordering and receiving, safety, and staff scheduling. The Lead Cafeteria Worker will be committed to promoting healthy eating, food equity and local, minimally processed foods in the school cafeteria. The Lead Cafeteria Worker will work effectively in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and reports to the HRCE School Food Lead.

Key Responsibilities

Manage the food preparation and food service for the school community including financial management of the school cafeteria.
In conjunction with the School Food Lead and principal, follow the School Food and Nutrition Policy for Nova Scotia Public Schools in all aspects of food services.
Procurement of all food and supplies through approved vendors, including the provision of substitutions.
Adhere to procurement guidelines when acquiring good and services to ensure the most cost-effective results.
Maintain the integrity of School Lunch Program (SLP) menus and standards.
Oversee the staffing, supervision, training and scheduling of Cafeteria Workers, including volunteers.
Act as the primary contact regarding SLP, food and equipment inquiries.
Manage day-to-day problems and needs concerning equipment and food supplies.
Continually evaluate work processes and use opportunities to improve the quality of service and efficient utilization of resources.
Create and support a positive, professional work environment. Build and maintain strong, cooperative relationships and open communication with Cafeteria Workers, the Principal, school staff, students, parents/guardians, and the HRCE School Food Lead.
Ensure food safety standards are followed at all times by self and all staff.
Serve students in fast, efficient and friendly manner while maintaining dignity, respect and confidentiality for all students and pre-primary children.
Promote cafeteria and menu items to staff, students, and parents/guardians.
As required: Food preparation and service, taking orders and payments, and kitchen duties such as dishes, clean-up, garbage removal.
Co-ordinate catering as required.
Support of the school recycling program.
Other duties as required.

Qualifications

High School Diploma (or equivalent)

Three (3) years experience directly related to food service, including experience managing people and leading tasks.
Basic Food Safety Training is required, and can be provided as part of job training.
Understanding of food allergies and food-related conditions.
Physical capabilities to perform duties of the position including heavy lifting, walking and standing during most of the day, and working in an environment with heat fluctuations. May require lifting of up to 50 lb.
Excellent communication skills including the ability to provide leadership to others.
Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to responsive to the diverse backgrounds and personalities of students of various ages while in a busy, fast paced environment.

Reporting Relationships

This Job Reports to:

School Food Lead

Job Types & Number of Incumbents Reporting Directly to This Job:

Cafeteria Workers: 1-5 (number varies by location)

This position is classified on the Education Entities Non-Union Compensation Framework at Band 3 with a salary range between $45,822 - $57,278.

The Cafeteria Worker shall have the following competencies:

Commitment to food equity and equitable access to foods in a non-stigmatizing manner.
A demonstrated commitment to client service and the ability to provide quality front-line customer service;
The ability to apply knowledge, experience and commitment in the areas of race relations, cross cultural understanding, human rights and diversity;
The ability to work and communicate effectively within the Halifax Regional Centre for Education including parents, staff, students, community members and external groups such as government agencies;
The ability to work effectively as part of a team;
The ability to promote and maintain confidentiality;

Please apply to all positions you are interested in and able to travel to. You will have the option to rank the locations according to your preferences once you apply for the positions.

Employment with the Halifax Regional Centre for Education is contingent upon providing a satisfactory Criminal Records Check with a Vulnerable Sector Search and Child Abuse Registry Search.

Thank you for your interest. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Applicants invited to participate in the hiring process (such as an interview or testing) and who require accommodation, should discuss their request for accommodation when invited to the assessment process.

HRCE has a Recruitment, Selection and Hiring of Staff Policy and we actively encourage applications from under-represented groups, particularly people of African Nova Scotian, African Canadian and African ancestry and Mi’kmaw/Indigenous ancestry, in compliance with the applicable collective agreements or terms and conditions of employment. Applicants are encouraged to complete the Diversity Management section under the Questionnaire heading in the online resume.

The Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE) is actively working to hire individuals from under-represented groups, particularly people of African Nova Scotian, African Canadian and African ancestry and Mi’kmaw/Indigenous ancestry, to work toward equitable representation within all employee groups. Equitable hiring strengthens the knowledge and expertise in our schools, and supports our public education system in establishing schools as safe, caring, and accessible learning spaces that support all students. This will provide opportunities for students to see themselves reflected throughout their schools, learning resources, and within their learning experiences.

Nova Scotia’s Regional Centres for Education and the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial (CSAP) are committed to an inclusive education system that supports the well-being and achievement of every student and is high-quality, culturally and linguistically responsive.