Lead Cook

Aramark Canada; Toronto; On-site; CAD 31,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Aramark Canada in Toronto is seeking a Lead Cook to craft balanced, nutritious meals for boarding students, 50–70 servings daily, using local ingredients and varied global cuisines in a high-energy kitchen.

You will lead kitchen staff, ensure allergy safety, maintain food safety standards, and uphold a welcoming, inclusive workplace while delivering quality meals during full-time shifts.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in high-volume cooking or institutional dining.
• Experience or demonstrated capability in guidance, daily oversight, and onboarding to kitchen staff.
• Strong understanding of standard food preparation principles, diverse global techniques, and strict food safety handling/storage.
• Knowledge of food allergens, cross-contact prevention, and experience with a formal allergy plan.
• Valid Food Safety Certification (or ability to acquire on hire).

Responsibilities

• Cook and prepare balanced, high-quality lunch and dinner for 50–70 boarding students using fresh ingredients from local suppliers, following a 3-week recipe rotation.
• Set up workstations with ingredients and equipment; use proper knife skills and culinary equipment.
• Bake, roast, broil, steam, and employ diverse techniques across international cuisines.
• Provide daily oversight to kitchen staff during shifts; onboard and train new team members.
• Adhere to allergy management and cross-contamination protocols; clearly label allergen-free dishes.
• Promote professionalism, teamwork, and a positive, inclusive kitchen environment.
• Follow food safety guidelines and sanitation practices; maintain clean stations and equipment.

Skills

High-volume cooking

Kitchen leadership

Food safety

Allergen awareness

Knife skills

Job description

Job Description

Rate of Pay: $22.50 ? $24.50 / hour (Dependent on Experience)

Schedule: Full-Time | 40 hours per week | 8?9 hour shifts scheduled between 9:00 AM ? 7:00 PM

About The Role & Workplace

Do you love to cook and create nutritious, memorable meals for young people? As a Lead Cook on our team, you'll help bring recipes to life, flex your culinary creativity, and nourish 50?70 boarding students daily. Surrounded by fresh, high-quality ingredients sourced from local suppliers and modern equipment, you will experiment with a dynamic variety of global cuisines, flavors, and cooking styles in a supportive, high-energy environment.

Simply put, we are a high energy, supportive and compassionate team, and our kitchen is a truly warm and engaging place to spend 8 hours a day. We are deeply committed to fostering a welcoming, kind, inclusive, and professional workplace where every team member feels valued, supported, and empowered to succeed.

Job Responsibilities

• Cook and prepare balanced, high-quality lunch and dinner for 50?70 boarding students using fresh ingredients from local suppliers, following established production guidelines and a 3-week recipe rotation featuring diverse global cuisines.
• Set up workstations with necessary ingredients and equipment. Measure, chop, trim, and peel ingredients safely using proper knife skills and culinary equipment (ovens, stoves, slicers, mixers).
• Bake, roast, broil, steam, and execute diverse cooking techniques across various international cuisines. Arrange, garnish, and portion food consistent with portion-control standards.
• Provide daily oversight and guidance to kitchen support staff (e.g., prep cooks, dishwashers, servers) during shift operations. Foster a positive, supportive work environment, ensure tasks are completed efficiently, and help onboard or train new team members.
• Allergy Management & Menu Awareness:
• Strictly adhere to the school's allergy management plan and cross-contamination protocols.
• Identify major allergens in menu items, ingredients, and recipes to ensure safe preparation for students with specific dietary restrictions or food allergies.
• Clearly label allergen-free dishes and maintain transparent communication with the team regarding allergen safety.
• Model strong professionalism, a collaborative mindset, and bring contagious, positive energy to the culinary team and student body while promoting a kind and inclusive environment.
• Adhere to all food safety guidelines, proper food storage, and kitchen sanitation practices. Clean and sanitize workstations, tools, and equipment throughout and after service shifts.
• Assist team members during peak service hours, maintain excellent customer service toward students and staff, and safeguard kitchen assets.

Qualifications

• 3?5 years of experience in high-volume cooking, institutional dining, or a related culinary role.
• Experience or demonstrated capability in providing guidance, daily oversight, and onboarding to kitchen support staff.
• Strong understanding of standard food preparation principles, diverse global cooking techniques, and strict food safety handling/storage practices.
• Knowledge of food allergens, safe handling procedures to prevent cross-contact, and experience working within a formal food allergy plan.
• Valid Food Safety Certification (or ability to acquire upon hire).

Education

About Aramark

Our Mission

Rooted in service and united by our purpose, we strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and our planet.

At Aramark, we believe that every employee should enjoy equal employment opportunity and be free to participate in all aspects of the company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military status, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by applicable law.

About Aramark

The people of Aramark proudly serve millions of guests every day through food and facilities in 15 countries around the world. Rooted in service and united by our purpose, we strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and our planet. We believe a career should develop your talents, fuel your passions, and empower your professional growth. So, no matter what you're pursuing - a new challenge, a sense of belonging, or just a great place to work - our focus is helping you reach your full potential. Learn more about working here at http://www.aramarkcareers.com or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.