Concessions Line Cook - Seasonal - CZ

Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo; Calgary; On-site; CAD 23,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounts on food and merchandise

Staff Pass Benefit plan

Fun, rewarding work environment

Job summary

The Wilder Institute's Calgary Zoo is hiring seasonal Concessions Line Cooks to prepare, cook, and present food within zoo outlets, delivering restaurant-quality results in a fast-paced concession setting. You will set up stations, maintain food safety, supervise junior staff, and collaborate with BOH/FOH to ensure smooth service across multiple outlets during peak season.

Availability on days, weekends, and holidays required.

Qualifications

• 1–2 years of experience in a commercial kitchen, restaurant, or high-volume concession environment.
• Experience on a grill, fryer, or hot line station.
• Ability to multitask and prioritize in a fast-paced environment.
• Understanding of food safety and sanitation practices.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and cook menu items according to recipes, guidelines, and presentation standards.
• Set up, stock, and maintain cooking stations before and during service.
• Provide shift-based direction to kitchen team to maintain workflow and speed.
• Assist with station assignments and prep prioritization during peak times.
• Ensure food safety, sanitation, and storage standards per Alberta Health regulations.

Job description

Take the next step in your culinary journey and help visitors create incredible shared memories through delicious food! The Wilder Institute's Calgary is seeking seasonal Concessions Line Cooks who will be responsible for preparing, cooking, and presenting food items within Zoo concession outlets while maintaining restaurant-level quality standards in a high-volume environment. In addition to culinary execution, this role provides on-shift guidance and support to kitchen team members to ensure consistent food quality, station organization, work flow efficiency, and adherence to food safety standards.
Working as a hands-on lead within the kitchen, the Line Cook supports prep coordination, reinforces recipe standards, assists with task delegation during peak service, and helps maintain operational flow. This position combines traditional restaurant line cook responsibilities with concession-based speed and service demands.

Our Purpose

We act for wildlife; saving species and inspiring people to join us.

Our Core Values

Drive impact, nurture connection, cultivate hope, and be bold.

Contract

• Start Date: late October to early November
• End Date: January 2027

What you will do

• Prepare and cook menu items according to standardized recipes, portion guidelines, and presentation standards.
• Set up, stock, and maintain assigned cooking stations prior to and during service.
• Ensure consistent food quality, taste, temperature, and presentation during high-volume service periods.
• Provide shift-based direction to kitchen team members to maintain work flow efficiency and service speed.
• Assist with station assignments and prep prioritization during peak and non-peak periods.
• Reinforce adherence to food safety, sanitation, and storage standards in compliance with Alberta Health regulations.
• Monitor product levels and communicate shortages or quality concerns promptly to leadership.
• Support proper inventory rotation (FIFO), labeling, and storage procedures.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe workstation at all times.
• Operate kitchen equipment safely and efficiently (grills, fryers, ovens, prep equipment).
• Provide real-time coaching to junior cooks and prep staff to ensure consistency and adherence to standards.
• Assist in training new kitchen team members on recipes, equipment use, and operational procedures.
• Communicate effectively with BOH & FOH team members to support smooth guest service flow.
• Support waste-reduction and portion-control initiatives.
• Adhere to Calgary Zoo operational standards, food safety protocols, and emergency procedures.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support overall Concessions operations

What you will bring

• Minimum 1–2 years of experience in a commercial kitchen, restaurant, or high-volume concession environment.
• Demonstrated experience working on a grill, fryer, or hot line station.
• Experience in maintaining food quality and consistency during peak service periods.
• Familiarity with standardized recipes and portion control
• Experience working in a fast-paced, high-volume food service environment.
• Experience supporting or guiding other kitchen staff during service is preferred.
• Ability to multitask and prioritize in a dynamic operational environment.
• Demonstrated understanding of food safety and sanitation practices.

Working Conditions

• Primarily based within Concessions operations across multiple Zoo outlets, including two café locations and seasonal food service kiosks.
• Work may occur in both indoor and outdoor environments depending on outlet assignment.
• Exposure to varying temperatures, including outdoor weather conditions and indoor kitchen heat.
• Fast-paced, high-volume food service environment, particularly during peak season, special events, and weekends.
• Regular exposure to commercial kitchen equipment including grills, fryers, ovens, and refrigeration units.
• Standing and walking for extended periods of time.
• Frequent bending, lifting, reaching, and repetitive motion.
• Ability to lift up to 30 lbs.
• Flexible availability is required, including days, evenings, weekends, and holidays, particularly during peak operating season and special events.
• Occasional schedule adjustments required based on operational needs and seasonal fluctuations.

The Wilder Institute's Calgary Zoo is an outdoor facility and all staff working at the zoo must be comfortable working in a large variety of outdoor conditions. The Wilder Institute's Calgary Zoo follows the advice of Environment Canada when responding to temperature and air quality issues.

What the Zoo Offers

• Discounts on food, beverage, and merchandise
• Participation in the Staff Pass Benefit plan
• A fun, rewarding work environment and the opportunity to work in a park full of wild animals

Are you ready to join one of Canada’s leaders in wildlife conservation? If this position suits your skills, experience and personal attributes, we want to talk to you.

Applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada.

If this position is a fit for you, we encourage you to apply with a resume and cover letter online by October 1 , 2026.

The Wilder Institute's Calgary Zoo strives to cultivate a workplace in which everyone feels welcome and empowered to bring their authentic selvesto work. As a conservation organization, we respect and value the diversity of all life and come together as individuals and teammates to achieve the organization’s mission and vision. We recognize the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and work to advance our culture to ensure diverse viewpoints are heard and everyone has an equitable chance to succeed and thrive.

This position is an existing vacancy within our organization. The Wilder Institute uses basic knockout questions in application to support screening; applications are otherwise assessed and selected by real humans.

All candidates are thanked for their applications and advised that they will be contacted once applications have been reviewed and a final decision has been made.