FOOD SERVICES WORKER

• Job ID: 62463
• Job Category:
• Division & Section: Toronto Shelter & Support Services, Homelessness Init & Prevention Svcs
• Work Location: Various locations, please see below for location details. 
• Job Type & Duration: Part-time, Indefinite 
• Hourly Rate and Wage Grade: $28.21 – $30.74
• Shift Information: On an as required basis. Shifts range from 5:30am to 8:00pm including weekends.
• Affiliation: L79 Part-time
• Number of Positions Open: 5+
• Posting Period: 16-Jun-2026 to 30-Jun-2026

Job Description 

Through the Toronto Shelter and Support Services (TSSS) Division, the City of Toronto provides emergency accommodation and support to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The TSSS dietary department provides meals for eight directly operated shelters and programs.

As a member of the shelter staff team and guided by established Shelter Standards, Food Services Workers play a critical role by providing high-quality customer service and nutritious meals and snacks to residents throughout their stay.

Major Responsibilities:

• Receives, checks, records, sorts, stores, issues and retrieves food, cleaning, paper and other supplies to and from proper storage areas. Lifts and carries items.
• Maintains storage areas and monitors refrigerator and freezer temperatures, reporting any readings outside the required range.

• Rotates food according to expiry dates and FIFO (First In, First Out) principles.
• Informs supervisor of low stock items and expired items. 

• Prepares food and beverages by cleaning, peeling, mincing, cutting, chopping, mixing, portioning, measuring ingredients, packaging and labelling, etc.
• Fills steam tables. Steams, boils, deep fries and re-thermalizes food.
• Loads carts with dishes, utensils, containers and trays necessary for service and delivers to dining and service areas.
• Delivers food and supplies to preparation and serving units. Collects and properly disposes of or saves leftovers and waste.
• Serves food according to portion control guidelines. Checks food for temperature, quality and correct dietary application.
• Prepares dining areas by filling condiment containers, cutlery, napkins, refilling juice and beverage machines and delivering food to tables as necessary.

• Takes direction from Food Service Supervisor/Cook regarding plating presentation and portioning.

• Clears tables at completion of meals and removes all dirty dishes and flatware, pots and pans to washing area.
• Cleans and sanitizes kitchen equipment and appliances such as meat slicers, food processors, choppers, mixers, ovens, deep fryers, steamers, skillets, etc.
• Washes, cleans, and sanitizes kitchen counters, tables, bins, refrigerators, freezers, and garbage containers. This includes cleaning dining room furniture, shelves, windows, walls, carts, trolleys, coffee machines, and all food preparation and service equipment.
• Selects and mixes all required cleaning solutions according to WHMIS Legislation and the Health and Safety Code.

• Washes all dishes, flatware, pots and pans using dishwashers, pot washers and/or the three-sink method. Checks and documents temperatures and tests for correct chemical levels to ensure they are within appropriate ranges.

• Sorts and disposes of garbage according to the recycling program. Bags and transports waste to disposal areas while maintaining garbage cans and bins in a clean and sanitary condition.
• Cleans floors by sweeping, wet and dry mopping, or any other appropriate procedure for specific type of floor surface, operates floor cleaning equipment as needed.
• Notifies the supervisor of any necessary maintenance repairs or unsafe conditions.
• Moves furniture to acquire access to areas or to arrange areas for special functions.
• Locks doors, windows, and rooms to ensure all areas remain secure.

• Answers telephones and takes messages in accordance with established City communication practices.
• Assists in monitoring client activities and provides information to and collaborates with appropriate staff members to support the well-being of residents.
• Attends staff meetings, committee meetings and in-service training as required.

Key Qualifications:
Your application must describe your qualifications as they relate to:

1. Considerable experience in preparing and serving food for large groups within a large-scale food service environment.
2. Successful completion of the Food Handler/Safety Awareness Program offered by the Local Board of Health. Completion of 1 year Food Service Worker certificate is considered an asset.

You must also have:

• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to resolve conflicts and de-escalate situations.
• Ability to operate and clean various pieces of food service equipment.
• Ability to read, write and follow verbal and written instructions in English.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with staff and clients.
• Fundamental knowledge of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, WHMIS, the Sanitation Code and related legislation.
• Knowledge of the shelter system, homelessness issues and long-term care issues.
• Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations.
• Ability to lift heavy items.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Ability to perform various cleaning duties.
• Willingness to participate in in-service educational programs.
• Ability to travel to alternate work locations.
• Ability and willingness to work weekends, shifts and holidays as assigned.
• Commitment to providing service that upholds the dignity and respects the cultural and racial diversity of shelter clients and staff.

Shift Information

• Part-time employees must be available for day, afternoon, and evening shifts across four (4) days per week, including a minimum of two (2) weekend days (Saturday and Sunday).
• Scheduling is determined by operational needs; there are no guaranteed minimum hours per pay period.
• All shifts are on an as-needed, part-time basis (Sunday–Saturday), ranging from approximately 3 to 8 hours in length.
• Shifts may be scheduled in advance or assigned same-day or on-call.
• Training may be scheduled during days, evenings, or weekends.
• The Dietary Program operates seven days a week from 5:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Work Location

• Shifts are assigned based on portfolio and may take place across multiple sites within that portfolio.
• Portfolio assignments are determined by operational requirements and site needs, and may involve travel between locations.

Locations may include the following:

• Seaton House Portfolio
• Robertson House Portfolio
• Women's Residence Portfolio
• Birkdale Residence Portfolio
• Family Residence Portfolio
• Scarborough Women's Shelter
• Four Points Isolation & Recovery Site
• Streets to Homes Assessment & Referral Centre (SHARC)
• 129 Peter Progress Portfolio
• Other temporary shelter or motel programs operated by the division.

A Vulnerable Sector Police Reference Check will be required as a condition of employment.

• For more information on Shelter Services, please visit our website at http://www.toronto.ca/housing.
• A Police Reference Check program brochure is available at http://www.toronto.ca/housing/employment.htm.

NOTE TO INTERNAL FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME CITY OF TORONTO EMPLOYEES:

City of Toronto employees must apply to full-time or part-time employment opportunities posted on the City's Internal Job Posting Portal.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The City is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness that reflects the diverse residents that we serve. Learn more about the City’s commitment to employment equity.

Accommodation

The City of Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We are committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Should you require Code-protected accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please make them known when contacted and we will work with you to meet your needs. Disability-related accommodation during the application process is available upon request. Learn more about the City’s Hiring Policies and Accommodation Process.