In Restaurant jobs in Niagara Falls, ON

At Emerald Retirement Residence, we are redefining senior living through quality care, dignity, hospitality, and exceptional dining experiences.

Meals are one of the most important parts of our residents’ day. We are looking for a passionate and dependable Cook who can prepare fresh, nutritious, home-style food from scratch—not simply reheat or assemble pre-made meals.

If you take pride in cooking for others and want your work to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives, we would like to hear from you.

About the Position

The Cook is responsible for preparing and serving high-quality, nutritious meals for approximately 70–80 residents. The successful candidate must be comfortable with quantity cooking, modified diets, kitchen documentation, and supervising Dietary Aides during meal preparation, service, and cleanup.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare fresh, home-style meals from scratch, including soups, sauces, proteins, vegetables, side dishes, desserts, and baked items
• Prepare meals for approximately 70–100 residents
• Follow established menus, recipes, portion sizes, and production schedules
• Prepare therapeutic, texture-modified, and other special diets accurately
• Ensure meals are served on time, at the correct temperature, and with consistent presentation
• Supervise and support Dietary Aides during food preparation, meal service, cleaning, and sanitation
• Maintain a clean, safe, organized, and inspection-ready kitchen
• Monitor and document food temperatures, deliveries, inventory, substitutions, and menu changes
• Order and receive food and kitchen supplies within established budget guidelines
• Monitor inventory, control food costs, and minimize waste
• Ensure proper food rotation, storage, labelling, and handling
• Follow Public Health requirements, RHRA standards, and Emerald’s policies and procedures
• Train and mentor dietary staff to provide consistent, respectful, and professional service
• Communicate effectively with management, care staff, residents, and other departments
• Help create seasonal meals, holiday menus, and special dining experiences
• Manage kitchen operations independently when required

Qualifications

• Previous experience cooking for large groups, ideally 50–100 or more people
• Strong demonstrated ability to cook meals from scratch
• Experience with quantity food preparation in a retirement residence, long-term care home, healthcare setting, hotel, restaurant, banquet facility, or similar environment
• Knowledge of Canada’s Food Guide
• Knowledge of therapeutic, texture-modified, and special diets
• Valid Food Handler Certification
• Strong organizational and time-management skills
• Clear written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to lead staff respectfully and effectively
• Ability to work independently and make sound decisions in a busy kitchen
• Strong attention to cleanliness, food safety, consistency, and detail
• Culinary education or Red Seal certification is an asset but not required

Employment Requirements

The successful candidate must be able to:

• Obtain a satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Check
• Provide required health and employment documentation, including TB clearance
• Meet applicable vaccination requirements in accordance with organizational policy and current law
• Work weekdays, weekends, holidays, and varying shifts as scheduled

Physical Requirements

This position requires the ability to:

• Stand and work for extended periods, potentially up to 10 hours
• Safely lift, push, or pull up to 50 pounds
• Work in a warm, fast-paced kitchen environment
• Perform repetitive food-preparation duties, including cutting, chopping, peeling, stirring, and portioning
• Move efficiently through kitchen, storage, and service areas

Who We Are Looking For

We are looking for:

• A Cook who cares about people—not only food
• Someone who understands that meals are central to residents’ health, comfort, and happiness
• A professional who takes pride in fresh ingredients and home-style cooking
• A calm, organized leader who can guide a dietary team respectfully
• Someone who leads by example in cleanliness, safety, reliability, and attention to detail
• A team player who treats residents and colleagues with dignity and respect

Why Join Emerald?

At Emerald Retirement Residence, your cooking has a direct impact on residents’ daily lives. You will have the opportunity to create meals that bring comfort, encourage connection, and give residents something to look forward to every day.

To apply, please submit your résumé and briefly describe your experience preparing meals from scratch for large groups.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent, Casual

Pay: $18.00-$22.00 per hour

Work Location: In person