Dietary Aide

Region of Waterloo; Southwestern Ontario; Hybrid; CAD 33,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Sunnyside Home in Waterloo Region seeks a dedicated kitchen helper. You will portion meals, clear and clean, handle food prep, and assist with catering for activities and events. You’ll operate the café, maintain cash handling, and support a multimember team focused on resident well-being.

Qualifications include Grade 12, Safe Food Handling, and immunizations. Flexibility for shifts and weekend work is required to support a caring, home-like environment.

Qualifications

• Grade 12 education, completion/enrollment in a food services program (e.g., food service worker certificate, cook certificate, food and nutrition diploma), plus related experience.
• Must hold a current Safe Food Handling Certificate.
• Must have a tuberculosis (TB) test and required immunization(s).
• Knowledge of and ability to comply with policies, procedures, guidelines, and related legislation (e.g., privacy, health and safety).
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions in English.
• Ability to demonstrate compassion, validate emotions, support dignity, and promote understanding of those who we serve.
• Communication and interpersonal skills to respond pleasantly and professionally to demands; demonstrate a customer care/service approach; communicate effectively with staff, residents, and families; and participate as an effective team member.
• Ability to read menu modifications (instructions for special diets), policies and procedures manuals, and work assignment sheets. Ability to write notes, audit forms, tuck shop orders, requisitions, and temperature survey sheets.
• Ability to work shifts, weekend hours, and statutory holidays as scheduled.
• Must provide an acceptable vulnerable sector police check.
• Ability to support and demonstrate the Region’s values.

Responsibilities

• Portions entrees, soup, cereal, beverages, and desserts for staff, outreach programs, and other meal services.
• Clears tables, disassembles trays, and places soiled dishes in rack and sends through the dishwasher.
• Cleans and sanitizes tables, tray wagons, and delivery carts.
• Cleans and sanitizes equipment (e.g., juice dispensers, coffee urns, teapots, convection ovens, steam tables, walk-in refrigerators) per cleaning assignments on daily worksheets.
• Transports food, dishes, and other supplies required for special activities, outreach programs, and meetings to appropriate locations.
• Transports supply carts to and from the central kitchen to serving sites.
• Monitors and reports to supervisor on supply needs for bulk food carts and cafés, and orders supplies from main kitchen.
• Prepares pureed and minced soup, desserts, snacks, and beverages.
• Prepares daily supply carts for each kitchenette and program areas/outreach per production and order forms.
• Prepares supplies for catering and special functions following requisitions and serves meals.
• Serves customers purchasing meals in the café and cafeteria dining room (e.g., staff, visitors, residents). Operates a cash register in the café and maintains a daily cash float.
• Operates and maintains kitchen and food preparation equipment appropriately and in good working condition. Contacts Facilities for repairs. Reports safety issues/risks immediately and takes appropriate action.
• Interacts with staff, residents, families, and visitors to respond to general questions, discuss operational needs/logistics, and request supplies or services. Contacts appropriate staff for assistance as needed.
• Keeps knowledge current through in-service training and communications.
• Demonstrates/explains work procedures to help train volunteers and/or new staff as directed.
• Participates in team meetings and provides input to improve work procedures.
• Participates in internal audits and inspections as required.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Skills

Safe Food Handling

Reading & Writing

Math

Food Preparation

Customer Service

English Proficiency

Compassion

Communication

Teamwork

Attention to Detail

Education

Grade 12 education

Food services program certificate/cook certificate

TB test and required immunizations

Job description

Job Number: 4884
Job Type:Full-Time
Vacancy Reason: Backfill
Location: 247 Franklin St N - Sunnyside Home
Number of Positions:1
Division: Community Services
Hours of Work: 77.5 hours biweekly, 0630-1430
Work Schedule:

• Week 1: Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sat
• Week 1: Sun, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri

Union: Unifor 1106
Grade: Unifor 1106 Grade 002
Salary Range: $24.02 - $25.49 per hour

Join the Team at Sunnyside Home

At Sunnyside Home, care is personal.

As the first long-term care home in Waterloo Region certified in The Butterfly Approach, we are recognized for creating a warm, home-like environment where relationships, emotional well-being, and resident choice come first.

Here, you’ll be part of a compassionate and innovative team that is committed to meaningful connections, person-centred, and making every day matter for residents and families.

If you’re looking for more than just a job, and want to be part of a workplace where kindness, collaboration, and dignity are at the heart of the work, we’d love to hear from you.

The Region of Waterloo is a diverse and growing community committed to creating opportunities for current and future generations.

Waterloo Region is part of the Dish With One Spoon wampum, a treaty grounded in sharing, sustainability, and respect:

• Take only what we need
• Leave some for others
• Keep the dish clean

These principles continue to guide our commitment to reconciliation, inclusion, and community well-being.

Additional Information

Internal employees transferring from one bargaining unit to another bargaining unit, or into a Management/Management Support position, are not eligible for payout of unused sick leave credits upon resignation, retirement, or termination, in accordance with the applicable collective agreement or HR Policy III-16 (Sick Leave).

Portions food, assists cooks, serves customers, stocks supply carts, counts supplies, assists with large catering functions, sets/clears tables, and cleans and sanitize dishes, equipment, and facilities.

Works as part of a multi-disciplinary team to create a caring, person-centred, homelike environment where residents feel listened to and cared about.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Portions entrees, soup, cereal, beverages, and desserts for staff, outreach programs, and other meal services.
• Clears tables, disassembles trays, and places soiled dishes in rack and sends through the dishwasher.
• Cleans and sanitizes tables, tray wagons, and delivery carts.
• Cleans and sanitizes equipment (e.g., juice dispensers, coffee urns, teapots, convection ovens, steam tables, walk-in refrigerators) per cleaning assignments on daily worksheets.
• Transports food, dishes, and other supplies required for special activities, outreach programs, and meetings to appropriate locations.
• Transports supply carts to and from the central kitchen to serving sites.
• Monitors and reports to supervisor on supply needs for bulk food carts and cafés, and orders supplies from main kitchen.
• Prepares pureed and minced soup, desserts, snacks, and beverages.
• Prepares daily supply carts for each kitchenette and program areas/outreach per production and order forms.
• Prepares supplies for catering and special functions following requisitions and serves meals.
• Serves customers purchasing meals in the café and cafeteria dining room (e.g., staff, visitors, residents). Operates a cash register in the café and maintains a daily cash float.
• Operates and maintains kitchen and food preparation equipment appropriately and in good working condition. Contacts Facilities for repairs. Reports safety issues/risks immediately and takes appropriate action.
• Interacts with staff, residents, families, and visitors to respond to general questions, discuss operational needs/logistics, and request supplies or services. Contacts appropriate staff for assistance as needed.
• Keeps knowledge current through in-service training and communications.
• Demonstrates/explains work procedures to help train volunteers and/or new staff as directed.
• Participates in team meetings and provides input to improve work procedures.
• Participates in internal audits and inspections as required.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of reading, writing, math, food preparation skills, and safe food handling practices, acquired through a Grade 12 education, completion/enrollment in a food services program (e.g., food service worker certificate, cook certificate, food and nutrition diploma), plus related experience.
• Must hold a current Safe Food Handling Certificate.
• Must have a tuberculosis (TB) test and required immunization(s).
• Knowledge of and ability to comply with policies, procedures, guidelines, and related legislation (e.g., privacy, health and safety).
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions in English.
• Ability to demonstrate compassion, validate emotions, support dignity, and promote understanding of those who we serve.
• Communication and interpersonal skills to respond pleasantly and professionally to demands; demonstrate a customer care/service approach; communicate effectively with staff, residents, and families; and participate as an effective team member.
• Ability to read menu modifications (instructions for special diets), policies and procedures manuals, and work assignment sheets. Ability to write notes, audit forms, tuck shop orders, requisitions, and temperature survey sheets.
• Ability to work shifts, weekend hours, and statutory holidays as scheduled.
• Must provide an acceptable vulnerable sector police check.
• Ability to support and demonstrate the Region’s values.

Additional Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Region of Waterloo is committed to building a workforce through fair, equitable, and accessible hiring practices that allow us to hire qualified staff who reflect the diversity of the community we serve and to promote a respectful, inclusive, and equitable workplace.

For questions or to request accommodations during your recruitment, onboarding or employment, please [e-mail] , or by calling our Service First Contact Centre at phone number [phone].
Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Hiring Process: Region of Waterloo may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to enhance efficiency during the recruitment process. However, applications will also be reviewed by a member of our Talent Acquisition team to ensure a fair and thorough assessment. AI does not make final hiring decisions.
Candidates who are asked to obtain a Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) as part of the due diligence process are required to do so in support of our obligations under the Long-Term Care Act and our commitment to maintaining a safe environment for residents. If police services are unable to process a VSC, candidates will then be asked to provide a Criminal Record & Judicial Matters Check ( CRJMC ) so that we can complete appropriate due diligence.
Please note: candidates will be provided an update on their application. Please check your spam or junk folder occasionally as some candidates have noticed our emails in those folders (Gmail and Hotmail in particular).