Head Cook

GoodWork.ca; Trent Lakes; On-site; CAD 49,920 - 54,080; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Extended health benefits

Dental benefits

Job summary

The Seasoned Spoon Café, a nonprofit vegetarian cooperative located at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario, is hiring a Head Cook for an eight-month contract. The role oversees kitchen operations, budgeting, and staff, with compensation of $24.00–$26.00 per hour and extended health and dental benefits.

Start date late August 2026, 35–40 hours per week, including a 3-week unpaid break from mid-December to early January. The café is part of the Seasoned Spoon cooperative community.

Qualifications

• Kitchen management experience and understanding of kitchen operations.
• Fostering an inclusive environment.
• Knowledge of preserving, storing, and preparing seasonal food.
• Interest in equitable food politics and regenerative agriculture.
• Experience costing food when preparing a menu.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Good organizational skills, punctuality, and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a dynamic environment.
• Food Handlers Certificate or willingness/ability to renew.
• Access to a vehicle.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operations and maintenance of the café.
• Devise weekly menus in compliance with the Cooperative’s mandate, while minimizing food waste.
• Coordinate catering activities.
• Ensure compliance with relevant health and safety requirements.
• Oversee and ensure café opening and morning schedule.
• Maintain regular communications with the other managers to ensure the efficiency and solvency of café operations.
• Coordinating food purchases and orders, including bi-weekly farmers’ market shops.
• Supervising, training and directing kitchen staff and volunteers.
• Participating in staff hiring, feedback, evaluation and discipline.
• Providing feedback to the Executive Director in the area of food pricing, menu options, and catering rates.
• Advising the Executive Director of any issues related to the purchase, repair, or replacement of café equipment.

Skills

Kitchen management

Inclusive environment

Seasonal food knowledge

Equitable food politics

Costing food

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Multi-project management

Food handlers certificate

Vehicle access

Job description

Hiring:

Head Cook

Restaurant:

The Seasoned Spoon Cafe

Location:

Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario

The Seasoned Spoon is Hiring!

The Seasoned Spoon is a non-profit, vegetarian, cooperative café located at Trent University.

In addition to serving delicious, affordable, local, and organic food, we also provide a number of educational initiatives through volunteer opportunities, workshops, community meals and special events.

The Seasoned Spoon offers employment opportunities to students and we are proud of our strong ties to the local community, including with producers, businesses and community organizations. We seek to provide a collegial space where we build community through food.

Job Description

The Seasoned Spoon Café is looking to hire a Head Cook for an 8-month recurring contract position at 35-40 hours/week, over 32 weeks, starting the week of August 31st, 2026 until late April 2027, please note this includes a 3-week unpaid break from mid-December to early January while the café is closed. We are seeking a self-directed individual to work in a leadership role in the cafe.

Compensation: $24.00-26.00/hour depending on experience, including Extended Health and Dental Benefits

The Head Cook is responsible for running all aspects of the Spoon kitchen, including financial over-sight, inventory, staff support and menu creation. This is one of four management positions at the Seasoned Spoon.

You will be working alongside an Executive Director, Kitchen Manager, Program Director, as well as a large student staff. In particular, the Head Cook works closely with the Kitchen Manager, who oversees staff scheduling, food orders and the operation of the kitchen in the afternoon.

An awareness of the challenges and opportunities that are inherent with local food sourcing and food sourcing outside mainstream channels of commercial food production will be an important part of this position.

Understanding the Spoon’s role as a cooperative, social enterprise and keeping a commitment to the Spoon’s mandate is necessary.

The Head Cook Is Responsible For

• Overseeing the day-to-day operations & maintenance of the café
• Devising weekly menus in compliance with the Cooperative’s mandate, while minimizing food waste
• Coordinating catering activities
• Ensuring compliance with relevant health and safety requirements
• Oversee and ensure café opening and morning schedule
• Maintaining regular communications with the other managers to ensure the efficiency and solvency of café operations
• Coordinating food purchases and orders, including bi-weekly farmers’ market shops
• Supervising, training and directing kitchen staff and volunteers
• Participating in staff hiring, feedback, evaluation and discipline
• Providing feedback to the Executive Director in the area of food pricing, menu options, and catering rates
• Advising the Executive Director of any issues related to the purchase, repair, or replacement of café equipment

Required Skills And Qualifications

• Kitchen management experience and a thorough understanding of kitchen operations
• Fostering an inclusive environment
• Knowledge of how to preserve, store, and prepare seasonal food
• Knowledge and interest in the politics of equitable food and regenerative agriculture
• Experience costing food when preparing a menu
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Good organizational skills, punctuality, and attention to detail
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a dynamic environment
• Food Handlers Certificate or willingness / ability to renew
• Access to a vehicle

Additional Considerations

• This position is physically demanding and can involve many hours spent standing. The ability to lift up to 50lbs is required.
• While the shifts are typically early morning to early afternoon, Monday to Friday, plus a bi-weekly Saturday market shop, the Head Cook may be required to work outside of normal work hours such as evenings and/or weekends.

The Seasoned Spoon is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace. We encourage applications from persons with disabilities, women, LGBTQIA2S+ individuals, and BIPOC community members.

Start Date: Late August 2026.

Application Deadline: this posting will remain open until filled

The Seasoned Spoon is located in Nogojiwanong (Peterborough ON). We recognize that this is the traditional territory and ongoing treaty lands of the Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg including the First Nations of Alderville, Hiawatha, Scugog Island, and Curve Lake, the Métis of Burleigh Falls, as well as the Chippewas of Beausoleil, Georgina Island, and Rama, all of whom are collectively known as the Williams Treaties First Nations. We strive to honour the principles of respect, reciprocity, relationality, responsibility, and restoration as we carry out our purpose as an organization.