Food Services Worker - Casual

The Mustard Seed; Red Deer; Hybrid; CAD 37,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

The Mustard Seed in Red Deer, AB is seeking a Food Services Worker to support kitchen operations for clients in programs and community events that may include meals. This on-site, full-time role involves preparing meals and coordinating with the Food Services Supervisor to deliver a nutritious meal program.

You will manage food preparation, cook from scratch with fresh ingredients, oversee volunteers, maintain inventory, and enforce health and safety guidelines.

Qualifications

• Formal training in food services or a minimum of three (3) years experience in a commercial kitchen
• Valid Alberta Health Services Food Safe certificate
• Experience supervising volunteers in kitchen is a strong asset
• Good organizational skills for menu planning
• Ability to resolve conflicts as they arise
• Willingness to participate in essential training (e.g., NVCI, First Aid)

Responsibilities

• Support a healthy meal program within budget and available donations
• Carry out food preparation and cook meals from scratch
• Keep cooler and freezer organized and maintain inventory of kitchen equipment
• Provide direction to volunteers and schedule activities when the Food Services Team Lead is absent
• Interact with donors, serving groups, and volunteers with appropriate reception and encouragement
• Enforce health and safety policies and EH guidelines in food prep and handling
• Cover day-to-day Food Services operations when needed
• Collaborate with Volunteer department to involve volunteers in Food Services
• Assist in program evaluation and kitchen improvements
• Communicate kitchen renovations or equipment maintenance needs
• Identify areas to improve overall kitchen operations
• Attend required meetings and training
• Maintain guest confidentiality and data security
• Perform other duties as assigned

Skills

Food safety

Volunteer supervision

Menu planning

Conflict resolution

Staff training

Education

Food Safe certificate

Job description

Job Category: Community Impact and Programs

Requisition Number: FOODS002097

• Posted : August 25, 2026
• Full-Time
• On-site

Locations

Showing 1 location

Description

Employment Type: Casual
Schedule: Hours vary, typically Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with occasional weekends required; flexibility and availability are essential.
Reporting to: Food Services Supervisor
City: Red Deer
Number of Positions to Fill: 1
RFR #: 2206

The Mustard Seed is committed to helping people who are homeless transition toward and maintain sustainable and healthy lifestyles. The Food Services Worker position supports the operation of the kitchen at the Red Deer location and is responsible for providing meal service for clients who are actively participating in programs and community events that may include meals.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Support the delivery of a healthy and nutritious meal program including researching nutritional information and creating menus that fit the budget and available donations
• Carry out necessary food preparation and cooking
• Cook all meals from scratch with a lot of fresh food prep
• Ensure the cooler and freezer are kept organized
• Keep a current inventory of all kitchen equipment
• Provide direction to volunteers and create corresponding activities schedules, in the absence of the Food Services Team Lead
• Provide the appropriate reception, acknowledgement, and encouragement for donors, serving groups, and volunteers
• Implement health and safety policies and procedures to ensure a safe working environment
• Clean all Food Services areas to ensure health and safety standards are met
• Implement the procedures, standards, and policies of the Environmental Health Services Guidelines regarding how food is prepared, handled, and stored
• Provide coverage when Food Services Team Lead is away, to assist with the day-to-day management of Food Services
• In conjunction with Volunteer department, implement strategy to involve volunteers within Food Services
• Provide input to and assist in the implementation of program evaluation
• Provide information to the Food Services Team Lead regarding kitchen renovations or improvements and the repair or maintenance of equipment
• Identify problem areas and suggest methods to improve overall operations of the kitchen
• Attend required meetings and training
• Keep guests’ information confidential, updated, and secure
• Other duties as assigned

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

• Formal training in Food Services and/or a minimum of three (3) years experience working in a commercial kitchen environment
• Valid certificate from the Alberta Health Services Food Safe course
• Experience overseeing Volunteers in kitchen considered a strong asset
• Good organizational skills necessity for menu planning
• Ability to resolve conflicts as they arise
• Willingness to participate in any essential training required by The Mustard Seed such as NVCI and First Aid etc.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• This is a "hands on" position requiring moderate to significant physical effort such as extended periods of standing, walking, sitting, climbing, lifting, reaching, carrying. Must be able to lift 25 to 50 pounds.
• Position is often fast paced requiring substantial mental effort to analyze information and problem solve. Intense work environment where the ability to adapt and find creative solutions is essential
• Working closely with staff and volunteers required
• Working in hot and cold temperatures/work environment required
• Daily interactions with colleagues and guests required
• Employees are to be aware that many of our clients may experience difficulties or impairment at times, which could result in them uttering threats, discriminatory statements, and other insults at your person. This may be in a raised voice, or in seeing unpredictable behaviour up to and including the possibility of them becoming aggressive.
• Training on how to respond is provided, but this is to be considered typical working conditions. Many of our clients are unaware of the impact of these comments.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• An Employment Background Check is required for all positions at The Mustard Seed
• As The Mustard Seed is a Christian ministry, we require our employees to agree to respect and not detract from The Mustard Seed’s Employment Values during their employment at The Mustard Seed.
• Must have legal authorization to work in Canada on a full-time basis for anyone other than current employer

This position requires the use of a personal vehicle for company use and the use of a company vehicle. The candidate must have a valid driver’s licence and maintain $2M Vehicle Liability insurance on the vehicle being used and will need to consent to a driver’s abstract request.

NOTE

• Your privacy is important to us. The information we collect is used solely for consideration for employment.
• We thank all candidates for their interest, however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. The Mustard Seed reserves the right to amend job advertisements. No phone calls please.
• Please visit our careers page to see more job opportunities.