Women’s and Children’s Emergency Shelter

Employment Opportunity for DTFN Members

Cook

Location: Dene Tha’ First Nation Women’s and Children’s Emergency Shelter
Reports to: Facility Manager
Available Position Types: Full-Time and 1 Casual Position
Schedule: Monday to Friday, daytime hours, with flexibility required to support shelter operations

Position Overview

The Cook is responsible for the planning, preparation, and service of nutritious, safe, and culturally appropriate meals for residents and staff of Dene Tha’ First Nation’s Women’s and Children’s Emergency Shelter. This role supports a trauma-informed, family-focused, and operational shelter kitchen and ensures that meals are consistently available, food supplies are adequately stocked, and kitchen standards are maintained at all times.

Working within a women’s and children’s emergency shelter, the Cook must carry out all duties with professionalism, discretion, and cultural sensitivity, recognizing that residents may be experiencing trauma, stress, or crisis. The Cook is responsible not only for meal preparation within on site, but also for ensuring that the kitchen remains stocked, organized, and ready for use during periods when the Cook is not present.

Core Responsibilities

Meal Planning, Preparation, and Service

• Plan, prepare, and serve meals and snacks in accordance with shelter schedules, nutritional guidelines, and food safety standards.
• Develop meal plans that consider nutritional balance, cultural preferences, allergies, and special dietary needs of women and children.
• Ensure meals are prepared and served in a respectful, welcoming, and trauma-informed manner.
• Coordinate meal service timing to support shelter routines, programming, and family needs.

Kitchen Operations, Sanitation, and Food Safety

• Maintain full responsibility for the cleanliness, organization, safe operation, and overall functioning of the shelter kitchen.
• Ensure all kitchen equipment, appliances, tools, and utensils are used, stored, cleaned, and maintained in accordance with manufacturer guidelines, public health requirements, and shelter policies.
• Ensure all kitchen surfaces, appliances, dishes, cookware, and food preparation areas are cleaned and sanitized daily.
• Practice safe food handling, portioning, storage, temperature control, and equipment use practices in compliance with public health regulations and shelter standards.
• Monitor food quality, expiry dates, and storage conditions to prevent spoilage, waste, or food safety risks.

Food Inventory, Purchasing, and Supply Coordination

• Conduct regular grocery shopping and manage food purchasing in accordance with approved budgets and shelter procedures.
• Coordinate with food suppliers, vendors, and local providers to ensure consistent and reliable access to food and kitchen supplies.
• Maintain responsibility for ensuring pantry shelves, refrigerators, and freezers are fully stocked at all operational times.
• Proactively plan inventory levels to ensure food availability during weekends, holidays, and unanticipated periods when the Cook is not on site.
• Track food usage and inventory levels and communicate supply needs, shortages, or concerns to the Facility Manager in a timely manner.

Coordination, Continuity, and Professional Conduct

• Work collaboratively with shelter staff to align meal preparation and kitchen operations with daily shelter activities.
• Provide clear guidance or instructions related to kitchen use, food storage, or meal preparation to designated staff when required.
• Support continuity of kitchen operations during staff absences by ensuring clear organization, labeling, and food availability.
• Maintain respectful, professional, and culturally appropriate interactions with residents, staff, and visitors within shared spaces.
• Support general shelter operations related to kitchen services as requested by management within the scope of role.

Shared Shelter-Wide Responsibilities

All employees of the DTFN Women’s and Children’s Emergency Shelter work within the context of a 24/7 emergency shelter environment and share responsibility for upholding the safety, dignity, confidentiality, and well-being of all clients, children, families, staff, and the facility. While not all positions are shift-based or client-facing, all staff are expected to contribute to the effective and professional operation of the shelter by responding appropriately to safety concerns within the scope of their role, communicating concerns promptly to on-shift staff or management, and supporting colleagues during high-volume or critical situations as reasonably required.

All staff are expected to maintain ongoing compliance with confidentiality and privacy obligations and to participate in required trauma-informed, cultural safety, and role-specific training throughout their employment. These obligations are fundamental conditions of continued employment within the shelter.

Qualifications

• Food Safety Certification or ability to obtain prior to hire.
• WHMIS, First Aid, CPR certification (or willingness to obtain).
• Demonstrated experience in food preparation, cooking, or kitchen operations, preferably in a commercial, institutional, or community-based setting.
• Strong knowledge of food safety standards, safe food handling practices, and kitchen sanitation.
• Demonstrated ability to manage food inventory and work independently with accountability.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to cleanliness, consistency, and detail.
• High level of discretion and respect for confidentiality in a trauma-informed environment.
• Familiarity with Indigenous culture, traditional foods, and community values is a strong asset.
• Valid Class 5 Driver’s Licence and ability to travel as required.
• Successful completion of a Criminal Record Check and Child Intervention Check

Work Environment and Conditions

• Daytime kitchen role operating Monday to Friday within a women’s and children’s emergency shelter
• Physical work environment involving standing, lifting, bending, and use of kitchen equipment
• Trauma-exposed environment requiring professionalism, emotional awareness, discretion and respectful conduct

Closing Date: September 28, 2026

Send resume with a Criminal Record and Child Intervention checks to:

Human Resources Manager
Dene Tha’ First Nation
Box 958 High Level, AB T0H 1Z0
Phone: 780 926-2786 or Fax: (780) 926-5730
Email: DoreenA@denetha.ca

We thank all candidates in advance; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.