Food Service Helper (irregular, on-call)

Environment, Conservation and Parks | Environnement, Protection de la nature et Parcs; Milton; On-site; CAD 34,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Ontario Public Service is seeking a Food Service Helper (irregular, on-call) at the Maplehurst Correctional Complex in Milton. The role involves preparing meals for inmates, maintaining kitchen safety and cleanliness, and coordinating delivery of meals with supervisory duties over inmate helpers.

Applicants must have Food Handler and First Aid/Heartsaver certificates and be willing to work varied shifts including evenings, weekends and holidays. Training is provided where needed.

Qualifications

• Experience using kitchen equipment and tools to prepare snacks and meals.
• Knowledge of various diets (lifestyle, medical, religious).
• Experience with cook‑chill/re‑thermalization safety methods and volume cooking.
• Experience following food, health and safety standards and practices.
• Ability to supervise inmate helpers and report their conduct (training provided).

Skills

Food service experience

Supervising inmate helpers

Hazard recognition

Safety and sanitation

Education

Food Handler Certificate

First Aid and Heartsaver Certificates

Job description

Apply By: Tuesday, November 10, 2026 11:59 pm EST

Food Service Helper (irregular, on-call)

5 Temporary Irregular, on-call (6 months with possible extension)

$24.40 - $26.23 Per hour*

*Indicates the salary listed as per the OPSEU Collective Agreement.

Have you worked in a large, fast-paced food services operation? If so, join the Maplehurst Correctional Complex to showcase your skills and experience.

About the job

As part of the food service team, you will help prepare meals for inmates and keep the kitchen safe and clean.

The meal schedule is routine, but the menus are diverse and customized to dietary needs. Each shift may bring something a little different! While working in an institutional food service role, you can expect activities such as:

• Ensuring the safety and security of staff and inmates
• Supporting or leading the cook‑chill or re‑thermalization of food
• Maintaining and sanitizing the kitchen and equipment
• Keeping track of and safely storing ingredients, equipment, and dishware
• Coordinating the delivery of meals
• Receiving and completing documents for incoming goods and equipment
• Guiding and supporting inmate helpers

Please note: This position supervises inmate helpers for the majority of working time and the salary note for Custodial Responsibility Allowance applies. This work may require the incumbent to work evenings, weekends and holidays.

Mandatory requirements

You have these current certifications (or you are able to complete or re‑certify these upon hire): For a Food Service Helper (Assistant) position, you need:

• Food Handler Certificate
• First Aid and Heartsaver Certificates

For this position, you must be willing to work various shifts, including evenings, weekends and holidays. You will be able to provide your availability ahead of time and your manager will schedule you based on your availability.

Knowledge and Experience

You have:

• experience using kitchen equipment and tools to prepare snacks and meals
• knowledge of various diets (i.e. lifestyle, medical, religious)
• experience with cook‑chill/re‑thermalization safety methods as well as volume cooking
• experience following food, health and safety standards and practices
• the ability to know and follow policies and protocols
• the ability to supervise inmate helpers in close quarters and report their conduct (with appropriate training that will be provided)

Skills

You are able to:

• recognize and correct workplace hazards
• interact with staff as well as supervise and direct inmate helpers
• recognize and report problems (i.e, food quality, sanitation, or hygiene control)

Don’t meet every qualification?

If you have food service experience and you’re excited about this position and meet most, but not all, of the listed qualifications, please still consider applying. We recognize that no one person might have every qualification in this job ad, and you just might be the right candidate!

How we support diversity, inclusion and accessibility

We are building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We encourage everyone interested in working with us to apply, including people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black and racialized individuals, as well as people from all ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.

Our hiring process is accessible, consistent with Ontario’s Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. We are working to prevent and remove barriers in our hiring processes and can offer accommodation to address specific needs related to Code‑protected grounds such as disability, family status and religion. For more information about accommodation during the hiring process please contact us.

Learn more about the work the OPS is doing to create an inclusive, anti‑racist, accessible and diverse workplace:

• diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
• accessibility
• Anti‑Racism Policy

What we offer

The Ontario Public Service is one of Ontario’s largest employers. Employees work for a wide range of ministries, with offices in more than 70 cities across the province. We offer:

• a career that can grow across ministries and job functions
• flexible learning and developmental opportunities, including education and mentorship programs
• a comprehensive compensation and benefits package
• base salary that aligns to market trends with performance‑based pay and scheduled salary progression
• tailored work arrangements, including opportunities like flex hours, self‑funded leave and more
• a modern, friendly and accessible physical work environment

Additional information

• 5 English Temporary - Irregular On-Call, duration up to 6 months, 661 Martin St, Milton, Central Region, Enhanced - CPIC, VSS, PIP, Credit Check
• About security checks:
  A criminal or other federal offence record does not automatically disqualify you from the position. We consider each situation based on the position’s responsibilities.
  If a check is needed and you’ve lived outside of Canada in the past 5 years for 6 or more months in a row, or if you are not a Canadian resident, you’ll need to provide an out‑of‑country police clearance certificate from the country you lived in.
  Employment screening checks are only reviewed and evaluated by the Transition and Security Office, which also maintains them and keeps them strictly confidential.

Language requirements and assessment

All external Ontario Public Service (OPS) job ads are posted in English and French. Check the "position(s) language" section at the top of each job ad for the language requirements. For all roles, candidates are assessed in English, the business language of the OPS. If the position is bilingual (English/French), you’ll also need to pass a French‑language proficiency test.

Apply By: Tuesday, November 10, 2026 11:59 pm EST