Community Kitchen Coordinator (Part-Time: 16 hours/week)

Hogan's Alley Society; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

A community support organization in Vancouver seeks a Community Kitchen Coordinator. The role involves preparing meals, managing kitchen operations, and teaching cooking to residents, while ensuring a clean and compliant kitchen environment. Ideal candidates will possess a diploma in relevant fields, have food safety certification, and experience with culturally relevant cooking. The organization aims to strengthen community ties and support residents facing food insecurity within a supportive, harm-reduction framework.

Qualifications

• Minimum three years of experience in a related field.
• Lived experience in the community is invaluable.
• Must complete a Criminal Record and Vulnerable Sector Search.

Responsibilities

• Prepare two meals per day for residents.
• Maintain a clean kitchen according to health guidelines.
• Manage food inventory and budgets.
• Support kitchen volunteers and coordinate food orders.
• Teach residents basic cooking and budgeting skills.

Skills

Knowledge in food safety

Healthy cooking

Experience with culturally relevant food

Communication skills

Relationship building

Education

Diploma or certificate in relevant discipline

Food safe certification

Job description

Community Kitchen Coordinator (Part-Time: 16 hours/week)

About Hogan's Alley Society

Hogan’s Alley Society (HAS) is a Black-led non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the social, political, economic, and cultural well-being of people of African descent in Metro Vancouver. Our work centers on three strategic pillars: culturally informed housing, nonprofit housing development, and community engagement. We lead in developing Afrocentric, affordable housing, particularly through our Hogan's Alley Block initiative, a catalyst for enrichment and belonging grounded in one of Canada's few Black-led Community Land Trusts, to ensure long-term affordability, and prevent further displacement.

Nora Hendrix Place is a 52-unit temporary modular social housing facility located in the heart of Hogan’s Alley Block. It is specifically designed to accommodate Black and Indigenous individuals at risk of homelessness. These units serve as temporary housing until residents can secure a more permanent housing solution. Each unit is self-contained, featuring a private bathroom and kitchen facilities. Additionally, a minimum of 10% of the units are wheelchair accessible.

Since its establishment in 2019, Nora Hendrix Place has been operated in partnership with Hogan’s Alley Society (HAS), with a focus on developing internal capacity as a culturally informed housing provider. Recently, HAS has assumed full operational responsibility for Nora Hendrix Place, taking over from its previous co-operator, Atira. As part of this transition, HAS is actively recruiting new staff members for Nora Hendrix Place and has introduced additional positions within the facility. These efforts are aimed at enhancing the support services offered and improving the overall wellbeing of residents.

This transition marks an important milestone for HAS as it moves towards becoming a culturally informed housing operator. It aligns with the broader vision for Hogan’s Alley Block, which aims to develop an asset-based model that empowers racialized communities to actively contribute to city-building efforts and address longstanding economic, social, and political disparities.

Scope of Role

Reporting to the Building Manager, the Community Kitchen Coordinator will develop, facilitate and implement a Community Kitchen Program that supports & encourages residents to actively attend and participate. The Community Kitchen Coordinator will ensure that kitchen has all necessary supplies, will maintain a clean and sanitary kitchen that meets all health and safety guidelines, prepare two meals independently for residents daily, and will have strong budgeting and organizational skills to effectively maintain weekly menus and food supply orders while working within the constraints the residents themselves experience (i.e. limited food budgets, lack of access to transportation, lack of proper equipment etc.). In addition, the role will include providing support and supervision to kitchen volunteers, coordinating and distributing Food Bank orders, and will provide support to residents, teaching basic cooking skills, nutrition and budgeting.

Primary Responsibilities

• Prepare two meals per day for residents at Nora Hendrix Place
• Maintain a clean and sanitary kitchen that meets all health and safety guidelines
• Keep inventory of all supplies needed and make orders as needed, while managing a budget
• Working with residents and management team to develop and communicate weekly menus
• Communicate, coordinate and collaborate with other food service providers in the care and support of residents
• Support the creation and implementation of a food/life skills program for residents. Aims at teaching basic cooking skills, preparing cultural meals, nutrition, and budgeting skills
• Actively participate in building a skilled, cohesive, collaborative staff team, including demonstrating commitment to organization and building policies; resolving conflict and negativity as they arise; assisting in orienting, training and mentoring to all staff
• Administer basic first aid and/or CPR
• Performs other related duties as assigned by the management team.

Skills/Knowledge/Experience

• Knowledge and skills in food safety, healthy cooking, and nutrition
• Experience cooking food that is culturally relevant to Black and First Nations, Metis and Inuk people is a significant asset.
• Experience and knowledge about mental health diagnosis, medications, treatment and support resources.
• Knowledge of Indigenous communities and health resources.
• Understanding of the ongoing impact of colonialism and the residential school system.
• Have a clear understanding of Black history in Canada, and experience working with immigrants and refugees.
• Have an understanding and analysis of the impacts of anti-Blackness and anti-Indigeneity
• Have knowledge of the legacies of so-called urban renewal, residential displacement, and the attempted erasure of the people of African Descent in Metro Vancouver from Vancouver’s historical narrative.
• Basic sound knowledge of relevant physical health issues (e.g. HIV and Hepatitis C), including diagnosis, treatment, and support resources.
• Create and construct effective relationships with the neighborhood and the community to ensure the program is maximally integrated into the community.
• Must demonstrate clear, direct, and sensitive verbal communication skills.
• Must be able to work collaboratively with community resources and within a team setting.

Training/Education Required

• Minimum, a diploma or certificate in a relevant discipline, with a minimum of three years of experience (depending on education) working in a related field. The equivalent combination of relevant experience and applicable skill-based training may be considered.
• Lived experience is invaluable, as is living in the community in which you work. HAS strives to hire staff who reflect the people we serve.
• Food safe certification is required
• Must complete an acceptable Criminal Record and Vulnerable Sector Search report.
• Must hold a current Standard First Aid and CPR certificate.
• A current Crisis Prevention Institute certificate or Non-violent crisis intervention training is an asset.
• Mental Health First Aid is an asset but not required.
• Harm reduction and Naloxone training.

Personal Attributes:

• Flexible - able to adapt to an ever-changing environment and open to taking on diverse tasks whenever needed.
• A quick thinker who can make decisions without agonizing and who knows when to reach out to others for guidance and support.
• Committed to working with people struggling with substance use and comfortable working in a harm reduction environment.
• Strong consultative and relationship building skills.
• Embraces the mission, vision, values, and philosophy of Hogan’s Alley Society
• Ability to de-escalate conflict and crisis situations.
• Put clients first and work to include them in all decisions that affect their lives.
• Well-developed understanding of and commitment to anti-oppression work and intersectionality.
• Committed to working with tenants who may be struggling with substance use, brain trauma and cognitive impairment, and/or mental illness.
• Understands and is comfortable working within a harm reduction environment and while you support tenants who choose abstinence, you understand abstinence is just one option for those struggling with substance use.
• Sound knowledge and understanding of the risks associated with programs that serve vulnerable populations.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.
• Understanding of trauma informed care and support.

The pay range for this role is: