HEAD CHEF
COMPANY: Fresh Start Health Retreat, 4384 South Island Hwy, Oyster Bay, BC, V9H 1E8
PAY: during probation $30; then goes to $32. Plus tips. Top pay per position $35.
STARTING DATE: TBD
POSITION SUMMARY:
We are looking for a leader who is excited about the opportunity to heal people through nutrition, to guide our small and close-knit kitchen/housekeeping team of 6 (it will grow over time) and is an outstanding hands-on chef who does not see any job below him/her. You are healing through food and therefore it needs to meet certain requirements (we will teach), such as a high level of digestibility, no food preservatives of any kind, each meal is freshly made from scratch and is organic, specific healthy ways of preparation of certain dishes etc. You need to be open-minded and open to the guidance in this regard. Additionally, many guests have allergies and food sensitivities, and you will need to develop special menus (ex. soy-free, tamoxifen diet, diabetes diet) - there are already some menus created, but more of this work needs to be done.
Note: We are not a typical kitchen with the same type of dishes on the menu each day. We serve 60+ non-repeating gourmet plated meals within 21 days for a group of up to 30 guests. The meals are organic, vegan and gourmet, and we plan to add fish to the menu. In addition to the meals, there are various supplements and health drinks served. You need to be detail-oriented as we need to deliver accurately to each guest. You have a great team to work with and those people are detail-oriented, very hard-working and dedicated. The management is also constantly working on automation and systemization of company processes to streamline them.
Due to the small team size, you will not only have management tasks but also will work various shifts yourself.
MAIN SKILLS REQUIRED:
Experience of leading a team of 10-20 employees
Team Building and Retention - you are a relationship builder and a people's person
Performance Reviews, Development Plans, Training
Some office and documentation management skills: custom menu planning, food safety plans creation/ updates
Ability to express thoughts clearly (will be needed for food demo presentations)
You are an excellent hands-on chef
High cleanliness standards
CHEF SKILLS
As a chef, you learn new recipes quickly, know well how to create a balanced flavour and have a great sense of aesthetic appeal of a meal. You also have a conscientious attitude to work and are highly efficient.
PERSONALITY
Great social skills and a nurturing personality, being a team player, an excellent sense of humour and adaptability are some of the main requirements for a successful candidate! The Fresh Start kitchen team is incredibly positive, high-standard and has a "let's get it done attitude." You are adaptable, have a calm demeanour and do not get stressed in a changing environment.
You are a people person who enjoys connecting and nurturing others. You believe in each team member's ability to grow, know how to train effectively and gently, and love seeing your people's progress.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
You appreciate our natural health philosophy
Humble and happy to do any duties needed
Flexible with hours and working days (can work weekends and ok with intermittent nature of this position - see explanation below).
An asset: experience in the creation of video procedures/ other online/ paper training materials; processes and procedure improvement skills
WORK HOURS
The nature of this position is intermittent: We run eight 21-day programs. You work F/T during those 3 weeks and P/T between. There is a longer break/ layoff in November and December. Please see program dates on our website at www.healthretreat.ca.
Typically, you work four to five 7-8 hr days per week for three weeks, alternating with three weeks off the program, during which you do some additional managerial tasks such as shift scheduling, hiring, and team training. Plus custom menu planning. Based on the need and budget available, additional hours may be allotted between programs for those tasks as well as for other projects, such as training materials development and documentation updates.
HOURS DURING PROGRAMS: Typically, you'll have 4-5 seven-to-eight hour shifts per week, but occasionally may be up to 6 work days during program.
Morning Shift 7:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Evening Shift 1:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Minus 30-min break. Most shifts are morning ones. There may be some shorter shifts.
Note: In spite of the described workload, sometimes your hours may be long, as you need to ensure the smoothness of operations.
HOURS BETWEEN PROGRAMS: Flexible. Min 3 days for shift scheduling, pre-program grocery planning/ shopping and custom meal planning. The rest of the additional tasks are based on the need and budget (will need to preplan/ preapprove in advance).
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES DURING PROGRAMS:
Ensure consistent quality service delivery (meals preparation, juices/ supplements, cleanliness of Spa/ Restaurant building)
Supervise set-up/ de-set-up before and after the programs - if other groups rent facility between our programs
Manage the small kitchen/ housekeeping team of another chef (later there will be one more) and 3-4 kitchen assistants (later there will be more)
Supplies planning, shopping and inventory - some or all of these are shared with another chef
Prepare plated meals for a group of up to 30 guests - the duty is shared with another chef
Team building and team retention, performance reviews
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES BETWEEN PROGRAMS (some aspects may be done during):
Create custom menus as per individual dietary needs.
Shift scheduling and training/ training plans development (Program Manager does the hiring, onboarding and offboarding)
Maintaining the integrity of the standardized menus without changes - unless the changes are approved
Menu improvement according to the current Fresh Start guests' dietary needs and Fresh Start health principles - as per guidance of/ in collaboration with the Program Manager.
Guest recipe book update.
Team training and occasional team building activities.
ADDITIONAL DUTIES:
Do Food Demo Classes - chefs educate guests on healthy meal preparation and teach several food demo classes throughout the program.
You may be requested to do some private food preparation classes (subject to the need and ability).
Process improvement in the kitchen department - various tasks and projects related to the improvement of operational efficiency.
Assist the Program Manager in hiring kitchen/ housekeeping staff, as needed.
OUR CULTURE: We are a small, close-knit team, and for the safety of operation, we cross-train the entire kitchen/ housekeeping team in various duties. Our kitchen assistants are trained to prepare meals, and our chefs, including the Head Chef, do cleaning and dishes. We are looking for a humble person who is not afraid of any work, including juicing, laundry, and cleaning, as well as being an assistant to another chef. Our goal is that everyone knows as many duties as possible and can step up and replace each other, as needed. You get paid your regular rate for all duties.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT:
- Food Safe BC and First Aid (if missing, will need to acquire)
- First Aid L1, Clean Driver's Abstract and Criminal Record Check, if hired (insurance company requirement)
ABOUT THE COMPANY
Founded in 2005, we specialize in 5-21-Day Detox and Recharge, Physical Health, Emotional Wellness, and Quit Smoking retreats. We professionally guide our guests through Individualized Healing to new levels of vibrancy and well-being.
The Fresh Start offers a unique, high-quality service focused on health and personalized client care and is the only business of such nature in Canada.
LOCATION AND FACILITIES PICTURES: https://healthretreat.box.com/s/myrmx5aju2sy4qlp95npuix0a1mhp760
DRINKS AND MEALS PICS: https://healthretreat.box.com/s/i6fa3y0z6djizwl0hwcbuunhhe0xws5b
OUR GUESTS' STORIES: the stories are long; please feel free to listen to the intro or the entire one
STORY 1 https://www.healthretreat.ca/testimonial-items/my-blood-sugar-has-normalized-completely-and-thats-with-zero-medication/
STORY 2 https://www.healthretreat.ca/testimonial-items/how-after-20-yrs-of-battling-with-hashimotos-i-lost-53-lbs/
STORY 3 https://www.healthretreat.ca/testimonial-items/i-overcame-resentment-towards-a-parent-and-love-and-grieve-that-parent-now/
ADVANTAGES OF WORKING WITH US:
A healthy kitchen, an opportunity to work with healthy, top-quality organic ingredients and various dishes, healthy free food. Seeing the guests' health transformation and making a difference! Small guest groups and predictable meal numbers, great positive vibe, incredible team, ability to interact with guests, beautiful facility and ocean-front location.
Management Benefit: one free 90-min massage per program, in total 8 per year (value $920 at a cost, or $1,520 at a full rate).
Free access to the fitness room. Free access to the infrared sauna and salt cocoon (on specific days). Access to the Fresh Start spa services at a cost. Opportunity to learn more about a healthy lifestyle.
If you would like to be part of a vibrant, transformational team, if you dream of making a difference in the lives and health of others, and if Fresh Start's purpose, passion and values align with yours, please get in touch ASAP!
HOW TO APPLY: please read the detailed description and apply on our online job board https://freshstart.bamboohr.com/jobs/view.php?id=59&source=healthretreat