Prep Cook

Verve Senior Living; West Kelowna; On-site; CAD 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Verve Senior Living is seeking a Prep Cook to join our dining team. You will prepare fresh foods, plate meals, and ensure high-quality nutrition and presentation for residents and guests.

Under the Dining Services Manager, you will assist with cooking, food prep, and inventory, while maintaining sanitation, safety, and infection-control standards in a fast-paced environment. English communication is essential.

Qualifications

• Grade 12 education is required.
• Experience in large volume food cooking, preparation, and plating techniques preferred.
• Graduate of a recognized college food preparation program is preferred and must have a regional safe food handler’s certificate.
• Must communicate effectively in English, both written and verbal.
• Strong knife and preparation skills and baking skills.
• Dependable, responsible, and able to work well in a team and independently.
• Capable of working in a fast-paced environment.
• Attention to detail and high standards for food presentation.

Responsibilities

• Participates in and adheres to continuous quality improvement standards.
• Assists with cooking and preparing food for residents and guests and plating meals, ensuring nutrition quality and appearance.
• Baking, cutting, preparing foods, and plating meals throughout the dining service.
• Receives and stores orders, and manages inventory to ensure necessary products are available.
• Assists dining room service as required by the Dining Services Manager.
• Forecasts food production needs and plans for efficient use of leftovers.
• Maintains kitchen cleanliness and reports deficiencies; follows infection control and safety regulations.
• Completes food temperature checks and proper documentation.
• Contributes to positive resident and guest experiences.
• Supports dishwashing tasks and catering events as needed.
• Maintains effective communication with staff, residents, and guests.

Skills

Food preparation

Large volume cooking

Food plating

English language

Knife skills

Baking skills

Teamwork

Attention to detail

Education

Grade 12 education

College food preparation program

Tools

Safe food handler certificate

Job description

At Verve Senior Living, we’re driven by a shared commitment to creating meaningful experiences for the older adults we serve. Our teams bring passion, creativity, and heart to everything they do, and it shows in our culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement. We’re proud to have received Canada\'s Best Managed Award in 2023, 2024,2025, & 2026 reflecting our dedication to service, leadership, and care. What truly sets us apart are the people who choose to build their careers here. Whether you're supporting our residences or contributing within our corporate community, your work plays an important role in helping seniors live longer, better and you’ll be supported by a team that believes in growing together, celebrating success, and having fun along the way. If you’re looking for a place where your work has real impact, and where you can thrive personally and professionally, we’d love to meet you!

ACCOUNTABILITY OBJECTIVE:

Are you the type of person who is passionate about preparing fresh foods, innovating delicious cuisines, and presenting artfully crafted meals? Our Prep Cooks play a critical role in enriching the lives of our residents through a unique and welcoming dining experience. Under the direction of the Dining Services Manager or designate, the Prep Cook is responsible for food preparation and plating of attractive and nutritious meals and snacks. Maintains a clean and sanitary kitchen in accordance with Eco-Sure and health authority regulations.

BACKGROUND/QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of grade 12 education required.
• Prior experience in with large volume food cooking, preparation, and plating techniques.
• Graduate of a recognized college food preparation program is preferred. Must have a valid regional safe food handler’s certificate.
• Must be able to communicate effectively, both written and verbally, in the English language.
• Strong knife and preparation skills as well as fundamental baking skills
• Dependable, responsible and an ability to work well with others in a team environment and independently. Demonstrates a positive attitude necessary to meet the goals and standards of the residence.
• Must be capable of working in a fast-paced environment.
• Attention to detail and high standards for food presentation required.
• A resident-oriented individual, whose visions and values align with those of the residence.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Participates in and adheres to continuous quality improvement standards.

Assists with cooking and preparing food for residents and guests and plating meals in accordance with sanitation and safety regulations, the planned menu, and methods best suited for the nutritional quality and appearance of the food. Ensures dietary restrictions are being adhered to.

Baking, cutting, preparing foods, and plating meals throughout the dining service.

Responsible for receiving and putting away orders, as well as inventory control of ingredients to ensure necessary products are available to residents.

Assists dining room service as required and directed by the Dining Services Manager.

Assists in forecasting food production requirements and plans for effective utilization of left-over bulk foods. Follows consistent portion control during meal service.

Maintains the cleanliness of the food preparation area and kitchen equipment and reporting deficiencies to Dining Services Manager.

Complies with infection control processes and protocols as directed, e.g. outbreak management.

Completion of food temperature checks and proper documentation as assigned.

Committed to excellence and the establishing a positive resident and guest experience.

Assists with dishwashing duties, as required.

Prepares snack trays for daily functions and assists with catering events.

Maintains effective communication, both written and verbal with co-workers, residents and guests including addressing resident concerns during dining service. Uses the appropriate lines of communication with supervisory staff.

Performs other duties as assigned by Dining Services Manager or delegate.

Complies with all corporate policies and procedures.

Completes all required mandatory training/education.

Complies with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, and Workplace Hazardous Material Information System/Globally Harmonized System. This includes recognizing health and safety hazards, reporting incidents, fulfilling responsibilities under the applicable legislation, as well as participating in in-services and fire drills. Participates in the ongoing Fire Prevention, and Pest Control programs and any other programs as required.