Food Services Officer (Irregular On-Call)

Environment, Conservation and Parks | Environnement, Protection de la nature et Parcs; Northwestern Ontario; On-site; CAD 73,564,000 - 79,350,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Custodial Responsibility Allowance

Job summary

The Ontario Public Service, Kenora Jail, is seeking a Food Services Officer (Irregular On-Call) to prepare, cook and serve meals for an offender population of about 220 and staff on assigned shifts.

This role requires a Journeyman Chef's Certificate or equivalent volume cooking experience, First Aid/Heartsaver, strict food safety, and the ability to guide inmate helpers; it features irregular hours with no guaranteed minimum and a custodial responsibility allowance.

Qualifications

• Journeyman Chef's Certificate or equivalent volume cooking experience.
• Knowledge of general and volume cooking/baking methods.
• Experience with food preparation and storage procedures.
• Understanding of portion control standards.
• Familiarity with health and safety acts and sanitation codes.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, cook and serve meals for about 220 offender population and staff on an assigned shift.
• Check temperatures and ensure equipment is functioning properly.
• Maintain safety, security and sanitary conditions in the kitchen.
• Maintain inventory of supplies.

Skills

Volume cooking

Food safety practices

Health & safety knowledge

Instructional leadership

Team communication

Analytical problem-solving

Education

Journeyman Chef's Certificate

Job description

Apply By: Wednesday, October 28, 2026 11:59 pm EDT

Food Services Officer (Irregular On-Call)

2 Temporary (irregular, on-call up to 12 months with possible extension)

Job code:

C50214 - Cook 2 (COR)

$25.62 - $27.70 Per hour*
*Indicates the salary listed as per the OPSEU Collective Agreement.

Are you an experienced food service professional ready to apply your skills in a large volume cooking operation? If so, bring your culinary expertise to this position at the Kenora Jail with the Ministry of the Solicitor General.

Please note:

• This position is irregularly scheduled, on-call working from 0 to 40 hours per week with no guaranteed minimum amount of hours per week
• This position requires working with and providing direction to inmate helpers (and will be eligible for an Custodial Responsibility Allowance)

About the job

• Prepare, cook and serve meals for an offender population of approximately 220 and staff on an assigned shift
• Check temperatures and ensure equipment is functioning properly
• Ensure safety and security of the kitchen
• Maintain an inventory of supplies
• Maintain proper sanitary conditions in the kitchen area

Discover more about our work locations and opportunities by clicking Opportunity Overview. Although the meal schedule is consistent, our menus are diverse and tailored to meet various dietary needs.

Mandatory requirements

• You have a Journeyman Chef's Certificate as issued by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, or sufficient acceptable experience in volume cooking
• You have a valid First Aid and Heartsaver Certificate or the ability to obtain

Food Services Knowledge and Skills

• You have knowledge of general and volume cooking/baking methods and procedures
• You have experience with food preparation and storage procedures/methods
• You have knowledge of portion control standards
• You have experience preparing a variety of foods and restricted diets
• You know food safety practices and proper use of kitchen equipment
• You understand and can apply health and safety practices and standards (such as Occupational Health and Safety Act, WHMIS, Public Health Act, Health Protection and Promotion Act, Sanitation Code for Canada's Food Industry, etc.)
• You have demonstrated ability to understand and follow organizational policies/protocols in order to acquire knowledge of institutional policies and maintain safety and security of kitchen

Communication Skills

• You can provide instruction and direction to kitchen helpers and inmate helpers in cooking methods and kitchen cleanliness and appraise performance
• You have demonstrated tact and diplomacy to work with staff, inmate helpers, and service providers to address issues
• You have written communication skills to prepare various reports

Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills

• You have analytical and problem-solving skills to identify, assess, and resolve workplace hazards, equipment malfunctions, and food service issues

Don't meet every qualification?

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:

• 2 English Temporary - Irregular On-Call, duration up to 12 months, 1430 River Dr, Kenora, North Region, Vulnerable Sector Check, Credit History Check, Local Police Databases Search
• 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.
• The information that you provide for the purpose of this competition and the results from this competition may be used to fill other positions. These positions may be of various tenures including short-term assignments. Your information and the results from this competition will be retained for the purpose of filling vacancies in accordance with the applicable collective agreement or policy provisions.
• Employees working in congregate living settings may be required to provide proof they are fully vaccinated, meaning they are fully vaccinated as defined by the Ministry of Health (refer to: COVID-19 Fully Vaccinated Status in Ontario ), including 14 calendar days have passed since receiving their final dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Furthermore, employees working in congregate living settings may be required to undergo regular rapid antigen testing, regardless of vaccination status, as determined by the Employer.
• OPS employees are required to quote their WIN EMPLOYEE ID number when applying.
• If you require a disability related accommodation in order to participate in therecruitment process, please ContactUs to provide your contact information. Recruitment services team willcontact you within 48 hours.

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.