Food Service Associate

Job Description

About Spark The purpose of Calgary’s science centre (“Spark”) is unwavering. Spark exists to make lives — and the world — better through an affinity for science. Through visits to Spark, and encounters with Spark in the community and online around the world, people are lifted up by the positive power of curiosity, experimentation and creativity. Spark is a registered charity. The outcome is profound. Spark helps people of all ages fuel up for the future because at Spark, science, technology and invention are embedded in cultural experiences. This creates new points of access to the disciplines at the core of innovation. The goal of the Spark team is to transform lives and inspire the future. Position Overview The Chef, Food Services reports directly to the Manager, Food and Beverage. Chef, Food Services is responsible for planning and directing food preparation for daily operations and special events through Spark’s internal catering program – Spark Catering. Areas of responsibility include menu design and optimization, supporting the hiring process, culinary staff management, scheduling and training, inventory and cost controls. The Chef, Food Services will work directly with the Manager, Food and Beverage, while achieving the required outcomes with periods of up to 1 year. Key Responsibilities Maintain a strong team of employees focused on high professional service and guest satisfaction. Work closely and collaboratively with the Manager, Food and Beverage, to meet objectives, anticipate challenges, and ensure health and safety standards are adhered to. Champion food safety and cleanliness standards to exceed local regulations. Day-to-day management of the kitchen operation for Spark Food Services and Spark Catering, including providing direction and leadership. Collecting feedback from staff, guests and suppliers, providing input regarding ongoing plans, directions, sales goals, targets and strategies for food services. Ensure the delivery of optimal results against appropriate financial and associated performance metrics. Understand food costs and effective inventory control, ensuring high quality and value of food products are readily available within budgeted guidelines Maintain targeted food costs and labour costs, ensure effective utilization of staff productivity Ongoing menu development, planning and costing for Eatery and catering events in relation to industry trends and guest feedback. Ensure personal and team activities are aligned with the business and strategic goals of Spark as a whole. Model high performance, flexibility and kindness in a rapidly changing growth environment. Other duties as required and assigned. Qualifications & Knowledge A minimum of 10 years experience in culinary, food and beverage, or related professional operation with high volume food production and banquet background A minimum of 5 years experience in a supervisory position. A holistic understanding of food safety standards, previously certified in food safety. A solid understanding of sales, budgets, labour and inventory controls. An active listener who is also a confident, articulate, concise, factual and intuitive communicator able to communicate at multiple levels as needed, both internally and externally. Ability to maintain professionalism, control, and composure in difficult and stressful situations. Demonstrated the ability to organize efficient work schedules, delegate tasks and work effectively under pressure to achieve objectives. Flexible work schedule, requiring attendance to events and functions after normal business hours on occasion. An inspiring and compassionate leader who cultivates a high-performance culture around them. Strong ethics and ability to manage confidential data. A proven track record of adding value to an organization’s culture and initiatives. A positive attitude! Desire to work on a high-performing team with a continuous upgrading culture to achieve high-impact results. Fluidity and a desire to work hard and grow are essential. A high degree of creativity with the ability to leave your ego at the door. Willingness to learn and adapt to change. A clear criminal background check is required. Culture at Spark Spark’s goal is to become one of the top 10 most-worth-visiting science centres in the world. Through skilled and confident programming, Spark will attract visitors from around the city, province and globe, and immerse them in emotive experiences as they explore ever-evolving, quirky and thought-provoking galleries. The skilled programming at this level of success will only be possible with an organization-wide commitment to effective performance. High performance at Spark is both defined and experienced by diverse cultures and proactively advances equity among all human beings as part of the definition of effectiveness. Spark’s high-performance culture is driven by a shared purpose. Team members are united by values and proud of the reputation we are building together. What does high performance look like at Spark? Commitment to Purpose . Everyone at Spark is a purpose-driven leader. You are passionate about entertaining people of all ages in creative encounters with science, technology and engineering, and the output of your work reflects our values: collaboration, curiosity, courage, commitment, and creativity. Why? Because it makes the world a kinder, safer and better place. Culture of Philanthropy. Spark is a registered educational charity that relies on the support of sponsors and donors to ensure it can do this work to make the world a better place. Commitment to Continuous Learning. Your individual growth is driven by a desire to be a part of the team that makes Spark one of the best science centres in the world. Every day is a professional development day at Spark. You are expected to seek out learning opportunities and pursue professional growth. At times the growth may be uncomfortable, and you embrace it as part of the journey. Agents of Change. We are a culture of experimentalists. It is expected and encouraged for staff to make suggestions that can improve a program, presentation, process or service. It is also expected and encouraged for suggestions to be accepted and tried with a thank you for helping each other get even stronger. Coaching Mindset. Sparklers are committed to helping each other become even stronger in our roles. Upgrading each other’s work is enjoyable and rewarding because teams are built on trust. Supervisor feedback feels like coaching, not criticism or punishment. Remember, you can say anything if you are kind, clear, and non-judgmental. This is how high-performance teams are built. Winning and Losing as a Team. We work together to drive action and results that are aligned with Spark’s mission in the outside world. We encourage healthy debate and science-based decision-making. Our relationships allow us to make big asks of each other and get big things done together with a sense of urgency and excellence. If someone appears to fail, you ask, “What did I do or not do to contribute to that, as it is my failure too.” Achieving Results. Spark is dedicated to excellence in all aspects of communicating science and we carry that dedication to excellence in every aspect of Spark’s work. We encourage each other to set stretch goals and work together across all departments to exceed them. Salary Range: $45,000 - $55,000 We thank all applicants for their interest. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women, people of colour, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Spark, we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace so if you are excited about this role please apply! An excitement and passion for science can go a long way here so you may be just the right candidate for this or other roles at Spark. Job Types: Full-time, Permanent Salary: $45,000.00-$50,000.00 per year Benefits: Dental care Discounted or free food Extended health care On-site parking Paid time off RRSP match Flexible Language Requirement: French not required Experience: Cooking: 1 year (required) Licence/Certification: Food Handler Certification (preferred) Work Location: In person