Concessions Short Order Cook - Seasonal - CZ

Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo; Calgary; On-site; CAD 22,000 - 30,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounts on food

Staff Pass Benefit

Wildlife park environment

Job summary

Wilder Institute's Calgary Zoo is seeking a Seasonal Concessions Short Order Cook (SOC) to prepare and serve food items in a fast-paced setting. You may step into a Team Lead role during shifts, overseeing staff and ensuring service quality and safety.

Start dates range from late October to early November with an end date in January 2027; candidates must have a Food Safety Certificate and be comfortable working outdoors in varied weather. Apply with a resume and cover letter.

Qualifications

• Experience preparing concessions-type or short order foods preferred.
• Food Safety Certificate required.
• Reliable, punctual, and strong work ethic with customer service focus.

Responsibilities

• Prepare salads, sandwiches, and concession items such as burgers, hot dogs, fries, and pizza following recipes and portion standards.
• Operate grills, fryers, warmers, and ovens and maintain clean, organized workstations.
• Support peak service periods and assist front-of-house teams as needed.
• Monitor stock, rotate items, and minimize waste while ensuring freshness.
• Provide leadership duties when acting as Team Lead, including task delegation and accountability.
• Adhere to food safety regulations and Calgary Zoo policies.

Skills

Concessions experience

Customer service

Time management

Teamwork

Dependability

Outdoor work

Education

Food Safety Certificate

Job description

Concessions Short Order Cook - Seasonal - CZ

Seasonal Entry Calgary, AB, CA

4 days ago Requisition ID: 1170

Join our team at the Wilder Institute's Calgary Zoo and grow your experience at one of the most unique sites in Calgary! The Wilder Institute's Calgary Zoo is seeking seasonal Concessions Short Order Cooks (SOC) who will be responsible for preparing and serving concession food items in a fast-paced, high-volume environment while maintaining food safety, quality, and service standards.

Based on operational requirement and performance, SOCs may be asked to step into the role of Team Lead during their shifts.

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: Available start dates late October to early November
• End Date: January 2027

What you will do

• Prepare salads, sandwiches, prep items into this area- Prepare, cook, and assemble concession food items (e.g., burgers, hot dogs, fries, pizza) in accordance with established recipes and portion standards
• Operate kitchen equipment, including grills, fryers, warmers, and ovens
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of workstations in compliance with food safety and sanitation standards
• Support efficient service during peak and event-driven periods
• Monitor, restock, and rotate food products to ensure freshness and minimize food waste
• Work corroboratively with kitchen and help with front-of-house teams to support overall operations
• All other duties as assigned

When acting as a Team Lead, SOCs will take on the following additional responsibilities of:

• Provide clear, concise direction to hourly staff regarding operational requirements and service expectations.
• Delegate tasks effectively and monitor execution to ensure standards are consistently met.
• Follow up on assigned duties to ensure accountability and completion.
• Support crew members in maintaining adherence to cash handling, food safety, storage, and cleaning standards as appropriate
• Operational Oversight
  • Ensure timely, friendly, and accurate service in assigned concession locations.
  • Monitor menu availability and assist in resolving service bottlenecks.
  • Direct customer flow to maintain efficiency during peak service periods.
  • Maintain high standards of cleanliness and organization throughout each shift.
• Quality & Guest Experience
  • Ensure customer service exceeds applicable standards for quality, value, and cleanliness.
  • Address minor guest concerns and elevate significant issues to management promptly.
  • Promote a positive guest and team experience through leadership presence.
• Communication & Reporting
  • Inform Concessions Management promptly of operational challenges, shortages, equipment issues, or matters of significance.
  • Complete daily shift report outlining service issues, equipment concerns, inventory shortages, and staff observations.
  • Maintain awareness of and adherence to Calgary Zoo operational standards and emergency procedures.
• Compliance & Policy Adherence
  • Ensure all Zoo policies, procedures, and safety standards are followed by staff.
  • Support compliance with food safety regulations and internal operational standards.

What you will bring

• At least 1 year of experience in preparing concessions-type or short order foods is preferred.
• Food Safety Certificate is required
• Responsible, productive, punctual and reliable with a strong work ethic
• Superior customer service skills and time management in fast-paced environments
• Ability to work as part of a team as well as unsupervised
• Ability to work outdoors

Working Conditions

• Standing during whole shift
• Weekday, weekend, holiday and evening hours (during Zoolights)
• Working in a variety of indoor and outdoor conditions (heat, sun, pollen, cold, smoke)
• Pushing, pulling, lifting up to 30 lbs

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.