Opportunities Cook (Casual Relief)

Tyler Data & Insights; Dartmouth; On-site; Full time

Job summary

A correctional facility in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia is seeking a Cook to prepare and serve nutritional meals to offenders, staff, and visitors. Responsibilities include supervising kitchen workers, maintaining kitchen security, and ensuring compliance with safety and sanitation standards. Candidates must possess a Journeyman Certificate (Red Seal) and have significant culinary experience. A Food Handlers Course is required, and previous experience in a secure environment is advantageous. This position includes shift work and involves substantial standing and lifting.

Benefits

Defined Benefit Pension Plan

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Short and Long Term Disability

Qualifications

• Successful completion of a Journeyman Certificate (Red Seal) and at least four years of experience as a cook is required.
• A Food Handlers Course is required.
• Previous experience working in a secure environment would be an asset.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and deliver food services to offenders, staff, patients, and visitors.
• Maintain kitchen security and supervise inmates working in the kitchen.
• Adhere to sanitation and personal hygiene standards.

Skills

Culinary Experience

Food Handling

Sanitation

Knife Skills

Cooking

Education

Journeyman Certificate (Red Seal)

Food Handlers Course

Job description

Union Status: Exclusion - Non Union - NSPG

Closing Date: 31-Dec-25 (Applications accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

The Correctional Services division of the Department of Justice is responsible for the administration and operation of community and custody‑based programs and services for adults and young persons. Within the core business area there are two programs: community corrections and correctional facilities. Each program is broken down into activities that specifically impact their target group.

Community Corrections has 22 offices across the province and is responsible for supervising both adult and young persons serving community‑based sentences, including probation, conditional releases and intensive rehabilitative custody. Probation officers also prepare pre‑sentence investigations to assist the courts. Evidence‑based program facilitation and support to specialized courts in domestic violence, mental health and wellness are part of the role of a Probation Officer, as well as restorative justice casework and collaboration with community justice agencies.

Four adult correctional facilities and one youth centre provide safety and security for persons in custody while delivering programs that address dynamic criminogenic factors to assist successful reintegration into the community.

Nova Scotia Correctional Services utilizes an evidence‑based approach in both community corrections and custodial facilities. Core Correctional Practices (CCP) drive reintegration and rehabilitation practices throughout the organization.

About Our Opportunity

Under the supervision of the Nutritional Services Manager, the Cook is responsible for preparing and delivering food services to offenders, staff, patients and visitors of the correctional facility. The Cook operates within the food services program budget and supervises inmates working in the kitchen program, ensuring security, sanitary procedures, inspections, care control and storage of equipment and materials.

Primary Accountabilities

• Provide offenders, staff, patients and visitors with nutritional meals approved by the Dietitian/Nutritional Manager.
• Guide and instruct cooks’ helpers working in the kitchen.
• Maintain kitchen security, including regular equipment inspection, utensil counts and knife security.
• Follow a system of inspections and quality checks of food products, kitchen cleanliness and security procedures.
• Inspect the quality of food and supplies entering the production area.
• Adhere to a record‑keeping system, including daily menu plans, substitute meals served and reason for the number of meals served to offenders, staff, patients and visitors.
• Ensure compliance with waste and cost control policies and procedures.
• Ensure cleanliness of equipment and food prep area and safe/secure storage of food, including special temperature storage.
• Ensure kitchen workers adhere to safety, sanitation and personal hygiene standards.

Qualifications and Experience

Successful completion of a Journeyman Certificate (Red Seal) and at least four years of experience as a cook is required. Consideration may be given to an acceptable equivalent of training and experience. A Food Handlers Course is required. Previous experience working in a secure environment would be a definite asset.

During the interview the successful candidate will demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with staff members and offenders. Strong judgement and decision‑making abilities must also be displayed as the incumbent may face a variety of stressful situations.

Certification in First Aid & CPR would be an asset.

Equivalency

Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.

Benefits

Based on the employment status and union agreement the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as a Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Health, Dental, Life Insurance, General illness, Short and Long Term Disability, Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs.

Working Conditions

• Relief employees fill gaps in the schedule and replace full‑time employees when operational requirements demand.
• Shift work is mandatory for this position.
• Majority of work is performed while standing, walking and lifting heavy objects.
• Will be required to closely supervise the kitchen worker offenders and notify security staff of any potential risks for conflict or inappropriate behaviours.
• The kitchen preparation areas may be hot and noisy with hazards of cuts and burns present.
• Risk of physical or verbal abuse from a patient or offender.
• Must be constantly aware of your surroundings and ensure you have close proximity to other employees and/or a 2‑way radio in case of emergency.

Additional Information

A relief employee is an employee who is not regularly scheduled by the Employer but works relief assignments on an as‑needed basis as operational requirements demand. As such a relief employee does not have guaranteed hours of work.

Please note when competing for vacancies a successful Temporary Term or Permanent Relief Employee who is currently employed with the Province will maintain their bargaining unit status seniority and benefit level at the new workplace. This competition is seeking to fill positions on our Relief Roster.

Candidates are required to provide proof of all stated education and training.

The facility is a 24‑hour operation and is a tobacco‑free environment.

This position will require an enhanced level of security screening for external applicants.

What We Offer

• Career Development where you have access to career guidance tools, resources and ongoing training for every stage of your career.
• Engaging workplace. Our employees feel valued, respected, connected and tuned in. We have forward‑thinking policies and strategies.
• Countless career paths.
• Department Specific Flexible working schedules.

Pay Grade

ACC 03Hourly

Salary Range

$24.77- $29.05Hourly

Employment Equity Statement

Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative at all job levels of the citizens we serve. The Government of Nova Scotia has an Employment Equity Policy and we welcome applications from Indigenous People, African Nova Scotians and other racially visible persons, persons with disabilities and women in occupations or positions where they are under‑represented. If you are a member of one of these equity groups you are encouraged to self‑identify on your electronic application.

Accommodation Statement

We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Candidates may request accommodations based on any grounds protected by Human Rights. You may request an accommodation throughout the recruitment process; please contact us at the contact information provided on the government website.

Required Experience

IC

Key Skills

Culinary Experience, Food Handling, Restaurant Experience, Food Preparation Experience, Kitchen Experience, Hotel Experience, Taleo, Cake Decorating, Cooking, Baking, Sanitation, Knife Skills