Wage: $28.01 per hour

Schedule:40 hours per week Generally Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM with some flexibility for occasional evenings and weekends

Location:2342 Rosewall Crescent, Courtenay (primarily) and North Island College Comox Valley Campus (as needed)

Posting Opens:February 11th, 2026Posting

Closes:February 25th, 2026 at end of dayStart date:March 23rd, 2026 (or ASAP)

Interviews:March 3rd & 4thBenefits: Benefits package, wellness spending and three weeks vacation

GENERAL OVERVIEW

LUSH Valley Food Action Society is a Comox Valley based non-profit organization. We envision a region where healthy, local food is at the heart of community wellbeing. We support the Comox Valley community to gain food-systems tools, engage in just and resilient local food systems and receive equitable access to nourishing food.

When you work with LUSH Valley, you become part of an energetic and passionate team making positive change in the Comox Valley. 

ROLE SUMMARY:

LUSH Valley is looking for a dynamic and experienced chef/cook to coordinate our Kitchen programs, which include the Hot Meal program, prep for North Island College Cafeteria and catering support.  Experience with baking is also an asset.   This role will support the smooth functioning of day-to-day operations in the kitchen and the delivery of programs, working under the supervision of the Kitchen Manager.

The Kitchen Coordinator will prepare batch lunches for the Hot Meal Program, develop fun, creative menus for catering events ranging from 25–300 guests, support food prep and baking for the North Island College Cafeteria, build on existing farm relationships to source local products and support other programs and staff as required.  The ideal candidate will have a depth of experience in professional cooking for groups, be passionate about serving low income people experiencing food insecurity, understand  local and seasonal food and be  skilled at developing creative menus and recipes, while working within a set budget and accurately tracking costs. They will be skilled at maximizing the use and shelf life of seasonal produce gluts, integrating ingredients into existing programs and developing value-added products. Candidates must be experienced in a production kitchen and on a line. Duties may include baking for the LUSH Valley Cafe, depending on the candidate’s skill set. 

This role requires someone who is self-directed and comfortable working independently, while confidently directing volunteers and seasonal or contract staff with minimal supervision: experience working with volunteers is an asset, strong kitchen leadership is essential.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Coordinate and work with volunteers to prepare and cook up to 150 meals a day for the Hot Meal Program

• Working compassionately to assist and accommodate community partners and volunteers in picking up their Hot Meals

• With the Kitchen Manager, prepare menus and food for LUSH Valley catering events

• Prepare standardized menu items highlighting local and seasonal foods

• Create diverse menus highlighting local and seasonal foods

• Understand and be guided by a budget

• Managing inventory: conducting weekly counts, receiving orders, rotating products, and monitoring quality and food safety

• With the Warehouse and Kitchen Managers, food/product ordering from farms and retailers 

• Shopping for ingredients and products from retailers as needed

• Tracking cross-program food sharing data 

• Keeping accurate records of donated product, volunteer engagement, labour hours and the value of local goods 

• Collecting and recording impact data in tracking platforms (including Google Sheets and Monday) in a timely way to support reporting

• Engage with and be sensitive and accommodating to a variety of LUSH Valley clients, including those with allergies or food sensitivities

• Collaborate with various staff, board, volunteers, farmers and community partners

• Candidate-dependent: baking for LUSH Valley Cafe

• Additional tasks as required to support the Kitchen Manager or other programs

• Meeting Food Safe requirements and keeping a clean and organized  kitchen and workspace

• Attending staff meetings and other organizational planning meetings, 

• Occasionally cooking and/or baking for organizational  meetings, lunches or celebrations 

• Supporting other program and organizational tasks as needed, particularly when other staff are sick or on vacation. 

SKILLS and ABILITIES

• Ability to take a leadership role in the kitchen, and to maintain calm under pressure

• Understanding of one’s capacity to complete tasks at a high quality under a timeline and communicating clearly when additional help is needed. 

• Having proven systems in place to keep kitchens and workspaces organized and efficient 

• Ability to use spreadsheets and the google suite and to learn and consistently use new digital programs and systems for tracking data and organizing work plans and to keep self  updated with the latest organizational tools and systems. 

• Ability to adapt to dynamic responsibilities and a workload that shifts seasonally

• Ability to organize, multitask, problem-solve, and be self-directed to prioritize and complete tasks to a high standard

• A positive, collaborative attitude- and an interest in working with a team towards a shared vision

• Strong English language written and verbal communication skills

• Ability to receive and provide feedback in a way that focuses on improving skills and program outcomes

• Ability to work independently and/or part of a team

• Comfortable lifting up to 50 pounds and dealing with physically demanding and repetitive tasks. 

• Proven record of positive working relationships with co-workers, partners and clients.

• Excellent customer service skills and experience

• Ability to develop training materials and train other staff on daily operations

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• 3+ years of culinary experience

• Formal culinary training 

• Valid FoodSafe Certification

• Criminal record clearance

• Class 5 driver’s license with a clear driver’s abstract

• Working knowledge of Google Workspace (including Google Drive, Google Docs, and Google Sheets)

• Experience with online tracking systems, spreadsheets and sales platforms an asset

• Food security, and food systems knowledge and experience an asset

• Basic first aid an asset

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

LUSH Valley’s cooking programs operate out of the LUSH Valley kitchen at our building in Tin Town.  On occasion, the Kitchen Coordinator will also work out of the North Island College (NIC) Comox Valley Campus Kitchen and  The Farmer’s Kitchen (TFK) food truck.  

The LUSH Valley, NIC and TFK facility includes a large walk-in cooler,  walk-in freezer, a small deep fryer, a six burner stove, two commercial ovens and a flat-top grill, induction burners and a large processing space with necessary equipment. The ideal candidate will have experience using, cleaning and maintaining these pieces of equipment, working in close quarters with others in varying temperatures. The kitchen also requires the ability to work in small spaces and use stairs with ease. Some heavy lifting is required in this role. Business-casual attire may be required for certain events. 

TO APPLY:

Please submit your resume and cover letter to Natasha at support@lushvalley.org.

LUSH Valley is grateful to receive all applications, but we can only contact shortlisted candidates.

LUSH Valley believes in diversity, employment equity and social justice. We encourage applications from all community members, and would be especially interested in receiving them from Indigenous peoples, visible minorities, persons with disability, LGBTQIA2S+ people and members of marginalized communities.

Job Opportunity – Front of House / Barista

Location: 5th Street Café

Contact: Mignon & Kie — mignon.kie@gmail.com

About the Role:

We’re looking for two enthusiastic part-time Front of House / Barista team members to join our busy café on 5th Street. This position is ideal for hospitality students or anyone eager to gain hands-on experience in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.

What You’ll Do:

• Prepare and serve beverages, including espresso-based drinks

• Provide friendly and efficient customer service

• Work closely with the kitchen team to ensure smooth operations

• Assist with basic prep work during slower periods

• Maintain cleanliness and organization in the café

Schedule & Hours:

• Approximately 20 hours per week

• Flexible scheduling, including weekends

Compensation:

• Starting at minimum wage with room for growth

• Shared tip pool

Why Join Us:

This is a great opportunity for anyone pursuing a career in hospitality or culinary arts. You’ll gain valuable experience in a dynamic, real-world setting — learning teamwork, multitasking, and customer interaction in a supportive environment.

How to Apply:

Please email your resume or a short introduction to mignon.kie@gmail.com.

JOB DETAILS

More Details:

School District 71 is an inclusive learning community that embraces diversity, fosters relationships and empowers all learners to have a positive impact on the world. Our mission is to work with our educational partners to inspire engaged, compassionate, resilient lifelong learners and cultivate a collaborative community together.

We invite applications for the position of:

• We invite applications for the position of Program Worker - Food Services, 30 hours per week. The current rate of pay is $28.29 per hour plus 16.3% in lieu of benefits.

Qualifications:

Grade 12 education and valid Food Safe Level 2 certification; knowledge of nutrition, health and safety standards relative to food service sanitation; minimum of one year current work experience in food services; experience in working effectively with students, staff and parents, and ability to liaise with suppliers; valid Class 5 B.C. driver's license and a personal vehicle available to use on the job; meets the physical requirements of the position; ability to work independently and as a member of a team; excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Duties are performed under the supervision of the school Principal or Vice Principal; recommends a nutrient dense, seasonally inspired menu for the program with adaptations for home use to promote healthy eating at home; establishes and maintains effective relationships with students to inspire, educate and empower them to eat a healthy diet by encouraging participation in the kitchen and garden; facilitates the Healthy Food Program and activities according to established procedures; ensures appropriate inventory levels of supplies; orders and arranges delivery of necessary items from suppliers as required while supporting local purchasing as much as possible; follows proper health and safety standards relative to food service sanitation, handling and storing of food supplies, and provides leadership and orientation to ensure parent volunteers and/or student helpers abide by the same standards; collects cash from concession sales and provides daily tally report and cash to office staff for processing; provides suggestions to improve the cost effectiveness of the food services program; maintains appropriate concession records and ensures confidentiality of student information; follows proper work procedures, observes all regulations pertinent to the work, maintains a good working relationship with other employees, and cooperates in maintaining a healthy learning and working environment; performs other related duties as assigned by the Supervisor; student supervision as required by the Principal or Vice Principal.

To Apply:

School District 71 welcomes diverse candidates and encourages applications from members of groups experiencing barriers to equity.  As an inclusive learning community we are committed to actively creating and fostering a culture of inclusivity where voices are heard, people are seen, and values are respected. We care about the uniqueness of our applicants, employees, students and community, and we do so in a safe space fueled by curiosity and acceptance. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application and hiring process may contact: hr@sd71.bc.ca and we will work with you to meet your needs. 

Qualified candidates are invited to apply in confidence by submitting a cover letter, resume with supporting documentation and three (3) professional references through www.makeafuture.ca/comox-valley. Only applicants with a complete application package may be considered.

We sincerely thank all applicants for considering us an employer of choice. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. The successful applicant will be subject to the terms of the Criminal Review Act.

Thank you for your interest in School District 71 (Comox Valley)