Executive Chef & Culinary Training Lead - Full Time

Position Summary

The Executive Chef & Culinary Training Lead is responsible for leading kitchen operations, supporting food production, maintaining food quality standards, and providing hands-on culinary training to kitchen staff. This role supports the daily operation of Shelly's Indigenous Bistro, including restaurant service, takeout, delivery, catering, and special events.

The successful candidate will be an experienced kitchen professional with strong leadership, training, organization, and food preparation skills. This position plays an important role in building kitchen consistency, mentoring cooks and prep staff, maintaining food safety standards, and supporting a respectful, team-oriented kitchen environment.

Core Responsibilities - Kitchen Leadership & Food Production

• Lead daily kitchen operations during assigned shifts.
• Prepare, cook, and oversee the production of menu items, catering orders, and special event food.
• Ensure food is prepared according to recipes, portion standards, quality expectations, and presentation standards.
• Maintain consistency in taste, quality, portioning, and plating.
• Support menu execution for dine-in, takeout, delivery, catering, and community-based food services.
• Monitor food preparation timelines to support efficient service.
• Troubleshoot kitchen issues during service and adjust priorities as needed.
• Support food costing, waste reduction, and portion control practices.
• Assist with menu development, recipe refinement, and seasonal or special menu items as directed.

Core Responsibilities - Culinary Training & Staff Development

• Provide hands-on cooking and food preparation training to cooks, prep cooks, and kitchen staff.
• Teach safe knife skills, food preparation methods, cooking techniques, portioning, plating, and kitchen organization.
• Support new staff onboarding and kitchen orientation.
• Provide coaching, correction, and guidance in a respectful and professional manner.
• Help build confidence and skill development among kitchen team members.
• Promote teamwork, accountability, and safe work practices.
• Identify training needs and communicate staff development concerns to management.
• Lead by example through professionalism, reliability, cleanliness, and respectful communication.

Core Responsibilities - Food Safety, Cleanliness & Compliance

• Ensure all food is prepared, stored, labelled, and rotated according to food safety standards.
• Maintain compliance with Manitoba food safety requirements and workplace safety standards.
• Monitor kitchen cleanliness, sanitation, and organization.
• Ensure proper use, cleaning, and maintenance of kitchen equipment.
• Report equipment, maintenance, safety, or sanitation concerns promptly.
• Support proper inventory rotation using FIFO practices.
• Ensure staff follow workplace safety, food safety, and sanitation procedures.
• Maintain accurate records as required for food safety, inventory, or operational purposes.

Core Responsibilities - Inventory, Ordering & Operational Support

• Assist with inventory management, stock organization, and supply tracking.
• Communicate ingredient shortages, ordering needs, and stock concerns to management.
• Support catering preparation, packaging, transport coordination, and event production as required.
• Work collaboratively with front-of-house staff, drivers, catering staff, and management.
• Assist with scheduling input, kitchen planning, and workload organization as directed.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications & Experience

• Previous experience as a chef, sous chef, lead cook, kitchen supervisor, or senior cook is required.
• Previous experience training, mentoring, or supervising kitchen staff is strongly preferred.
• Strong cooking, food preparation, and knife skills.
• Experience working in a fast-paced commercial kitchen environment.
• Ability to follow and teach recipes, portion standards, and food preparation procedures.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, sanitation, storage, and kitchen organization.
• Ability to lead a team in a respectful, professional, and calm manner.
• Strong communication, time management, and problem-solving skills.
• Reliable attendance and punctuality.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, statutory holidays, and catering events as required.

Training & Certification Requirements

• Manitoba Food Handler Certification required, or willingness to obtain upon hire.
• WHMIS Certification required, or willingness to obtain upon hire.
• First Aid/CPR Certification is considered an asset.
• Must participate in all required workplace safety, food safety, and operational training.

What We Offer

• Competitive wages based on experience.
• Opportunities to support culinary training and staff development.
• Supportive team environment.
• Indigenous-owned and operated workplace.
• Employee meal and discount programs, where applicable.

Employment Requirements & Working Conditions

A three (3) month probationary period applies. Performance, reliability, teamwork, and compliance with workplace standards will be reviewed during this period.

Employment is conditional upon:

• Legal eligibility to work in Canada.
• Satisfactory Criminal Record Check, if required.
• Signing a Confidentiality Agreement.
• Signing the Code of Conduct.
• Compliance with the Respectful Workplace Policy.
• Compliance with company policies and procedures.
• Maintaining required food safety and workplace training.

Physical Requirements

This role requires extended standing and walking, frequent bending and reaching, repetitive hand and arm movements, working near heat and kitchen equipment, and lifting up to 50 lbs.

The position requires the ability to work in a fast-paced kitchen environment during busy service periods, catering production, evenings, weekends, statutory holidays, and operational peak times.

Indigenous Preference Statement

Shelly's Indigenous Bistro is proud to be an Indigenous-owned and operated business. Preference may be given to qualified Indigenous applicants, including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit applicants, in accordance with our commitment to supporting Indigenous employment, training, and economic participation.