UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY

Interested? Know someone who might be a good fit for this unique opportunity?

Please contact the Dharma Centre at info@dharmacentre.org for all inquiries.

Retreat Cooks - Contract Position

The Dharma Centre of Canada is looking for contract cooks to oversee the kitchen, prepare and serve meals during group retreats.   Retreats can vary in length from 2 to 7 days and occasionally longer.   The kitchen is the heart of any retreat.  The taste of the food, as well as the overall kitchen environment is integral to retreatants’ experience at the Dharma Centre. As such, we expect our cooks to be well-organized, service-oriented individuals who can work well under pressure and maintain a stable and quiet presence in the kitchen to support a positive retreat environment.  The cook should be flexible, have a good knowledge of how to prepare food for special diets such as gluten free or dairy free, and can work well within a budget.

Principal Responsibilities

  • Prepare and serve three meals a day on time as set out by our Practitioner in Residence Operations Co-Ordinator’s menu plan

  • acquire and store food for the retreat timely;

  • Maintain an orderly, efficient and clean kitchen;

  • Ensure work environment meets or surpasses hygiene and safety standards set by regulations, including the Food Handling protocols during the COVID 19 pandemic

  • Oversee retreatants who are assigned kitchen duty in consultation with the Retreat Co-Ordinator

Qualifications/Experience

  • Good organizational skills with the ability to multitask in a kitchen environment

  • Has a valid Food Handler Certificate (Ontario province)

  • A solid work ethic with a capacity to self-direct

  • Must be able to create efficient and creative meals for a variety of diets such as gluten free, vegan, dairy free, vegetarian and non-vegetarian

  • Ability and commitment to work as part of a team

  • Must be able to work within a budget

  • A customer service orientation with good communication skills

  • Professional experience cooking for groups of varying sizes is strongly preferred

  • A sincere interest in meditation practice and a commitment to integrate ethical principles into daily life

  • Valid Driver’s License, with own vehicle is preferred

Physical Demands

The position involves standing for long periods and requires physical labour, including lifting heavy items