Kitchen, Food Recovery & Meal Production (Vancouver)

Work Experience Participant - Kitchen, Food Recovery & Meal Production Cook Program: FOOD Works: Food-Based Opportunities for Occupational Development Status: Temporary paid work experience placement Wage: $20/hour, part-timeHours: 200 hours total Location: A Better Life Foundation / Save On Meats, Vancouver Downtown Eastside Reports to: Kitchen and Food Operations staff About the Opportunity A Better Life Foundation is offering paid work experience placements for people who want to build kitchen skills, gain confidence, and take a meaningful step into the workforce. This opportunity is designed for people facing barriers to employment, including people with lived experience of poverty, disability, recovery, housing instability, income assistance, or other life circumstances that have made steady work difficult. You do not need a perfect resume or years of kitchen experience. You do need a willingness to show up, learn, work safely, and be part of a team. At ABLF, food is how we build community. This placement offers steady pay, practical training, and the chance to contribute to meals that support people in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Who Can Apply This opportunity is available to people who meet WEOG eligibility requirements. Eligible participants may include people who receive or qualify for: - British Columbia Employment and Assistance - Disability assistance - Hardship Assistance - Person with Persistent Multiple Barriers to Employment benefits - Assistance from an eligible Treaty First Nation - Assistance from a First Nation Administering Authority What You’ll Do Participants may help with Preparing ingredients and simple recipes - Sorting, storing, and using recovered food - Packaging meals for community programs - Working in our Token Window, serving customers - Washing dishes and keeping work areas clean - Supporting daily meal production - Receiving and organizing food donations - Supporting food distribution to community partners - Helping with Indigenous food programming, where appropriate What You’ll Learn You will build practical skills that can support future work in kitchens, food service, hospitality, catering, food recovery, or community food programs. Training may include - Basic food preparation - Kitchen safety and cleanliness - FOODSAFE practices - Teamwork and communication - Time management and reliability - Food recovery basics - Following recipes, prep lists, and kitchen instructions - Receiving feedback and building confidence Additional supports may include FOODSAFE Level 1, de-escalation and naloxone training, kitchen gear, transit support, and wraparound support where needed. Who This Is For This may be a good fit if you: - Want to get back into the workforce or build first work experience - Are interested in cooking, food, kitchens, or food recovery - Can work respectfully with people from many backgrounds - Are open to learning and receiving support - Can follow basic instructions and safety practices - Want to build confidence, routine, and work habits Kitchen experience is helpful but not required. Lived experience is valued. Working Environment This is active, hands-on work. Participants may stand, move, lift light to moderate items, wash dishes, prepare food, and work around kitchen equipment. The kitchen can be busy, warm, noisy, and fast-moving. You will be supported by experienced staff who are used to working with people of all backgrounds and abilities. Success Looks Like By the end of the placement, success may look like: - Showing up consistently - Building confidence in a real kitchen workplace - Learning basic kitchen and food recovery skills - Working respectfully with staff, peers, volunteers, and guests - Completing training and work experience hours - Feeling more prepared for future employment How to Apply Please apply if this sounds like a good next step. We welcome applicants with lived experience and people who may not have had traditional access to employment opportunities. We especially encourage applications from Indigenous people, LGBTQ2S+ people, people with lived experience of poverty in all its forms, people receiving income or disability assistance, and people connected to the Downtown Eastside or other communities impacted by systemic barriers. Please email your interest to Pay: $20.00-$22.00 per hour Benefits - Casual dress - Discounted or free food - Adaptable schedule Work Location: In person Apply on Kit Job: kitjob.ca/job/2pbm4x