Location: Primarily Milton Safe Shelter, with occasional work at the Burlington Safe Shelter based on operational needs
Status: Temporary Part-Time Contract from September 2026 to September 2027
Hours: Approximately 15–20 hours per week; schedule to be determined with incumbent and Manager, Safe Shelter, and mainly include evenings and/or weekends
Classification: Union
Rate of Pay: $21.00/hour
Reports to: Safe Shelter Supervisor/ Manager, Safe Shelter Services
Position Summary
Halton Women’s Place is seeking a Part-Time Cook to support the preparation and service of nutritious, welcoming meals for women and children staying in our safe shelter.
Working primarily from our Milton Safe Shelter, the Part-Time Cook will work collaboratively with the full-time Food & Nutrition Worker to support meal preparation, food service, kitchen organization and safe food storage. From time to time, the position may also be required to work from our Burlington Safe Shelter to meet operational needs.
This is a hands-on role suited to someone who enjoys cooking, works well independently and as part of a team, and understands that food can be an important part of creating a welcoming and supportive shelter environment.
Key Responsibilities
Meal Preparation & Food Service
- Prepare nutritious meals and snacks for women and children residing in the shelter.
- Work collaboratively with the full-time Food & Nutrition Worker to support meal planning, preparation and service.
- Prepare meals that accommodate dietary needs, allergies, cultural preferences and religious food practices.
- Support the preparation of meals for special occasions and cultural celebrations.
- Follow established menus and meal plans while responding appropriately to changing shelter needs.
- Prepare food with consideration for quality, cost effectiveness and minimizing food waste.
- Ensure food is stored, labelled and handled safely and appropriately.
Kitchen Operations & Safety
- Maintain a clean, organized and sanitary kitchen, food preparation and food storage environment.
- Follow Halton Public Health requirements and all safe food handling practices.
- Monitor kitchen supplies and communicate food or supply needs to the Food & Nutrition Worker.
- Follow all Halton Women’s Place health and safety, infection prevention, and shelter safety and security policies.
- Complete routine kitchen duties and other food-related responsibilities as required.
- Contribute to a respectful, welcoming and trauma-informed environment for women and children accessing shelter services.
Qualifications & Skills
- Experience preparing meals for groups, ideally approximately 20–30 people.
- Experience working in a commercial, institutional, community, shelter or similar food-service environment is an asset.
- Knowledge of food preparation, safe food storage, sanitation and kitchen safety.
- Experience accommodating allergies, dietary restrictions, cultural food preferences and religious dietary requirements is an asset.
- Valid Safe Food Handling Certification, or willingness to obtain certification upon acceptance of the position.
- Ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively with the Food & Nutrition Worker and broader shelter team.
- Strong organization, time-management and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to adjust priorities and respond to the changing needs of a 24/7 shelter environment.
- Compassionate, respectful and non-judgmental approach when working around women and children who have experienced intimate partner violence.
- Understanding of trauma-informed practice is an asset; willingness to learn about intimate partner violence and its impacts is required.
Additional Requirements
- Availability to work approximately 12–15 hours per week, including evenings and weekends. Specific hours will be determined based on operational needs.
- Ability to work primarily at the Milton Safe Shelter, with occasional shifts at the Burlington Safe Shelter as required.
- Clear Police Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening.
- Clear Step One TB test.
- Valid First Aid certification.
- Occasional attendance at agency meetings, training or events outside regularly scheduled hours may be required with advance notice.
Equity, Accommodation & Wellness
Halton Women’s Place is committed to creating an inclusive, diverse and representative workforce and encourages applications from individuals with diverse experiences, backgrounds and perspectives.
As part of the recruitment and selection function, HWP will collect voluntary self-identification data from applicants in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, HWP Hiring Practices Administrative Procedure, HWP’s Employment Equity Policy and Ontario’s Anti Racism Data Standards:
Personal information is collected under the authority of the Anti-Racism Act, 2017, S.O. 2017, c. 15, in compliance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.56. In accordance with HWP’s Employment Equity Policy, personal information collected on this form will aim to achieve an inclusive, diverse and representative workforce. It works to intentionally identify and remove barriers for equity-deserving communities at each stage of the hiring process. Encouraging diversity of the workforce is vital because the workforce should be reflective and representative of the community.
Although hiring policies must adhere to the qualification requirements set out in applicable Regulations and any applicable collective agreement provisions, HWP recognizes the importance of the following when developing its selection and evaluation criteria:
- valuing applicants’ additional experience, lived experience, skills, backgrounds and perspectives; and
- granting first consideration, where the skills, ability, and qualifications of the applicants are relatively equal, to applicants who self-identify as members of historically under-represented communities.
We encourage you to respond to our voluntary applicant self-identification questions. This data will inform our understanding of the diversity of our applicant pool as well as the progress of applicants throughout the hiring process. This data will inform our goals, strategies and actions and our progress towards creating and sustaining an inclusive and equitable workforce.
The section includes questions from Ontario’s Anti-Racism Data Standards (Standards, 2017). The Standards were established to help identify and monitor systemic racism and racial disparities within the public sector. The Standards establish consistent, effective practices for producing reliable information to support evidence-based decision-making and public accountability to help eliminate systemic racism and promote racial equity (adapted from Ontario’s Anti-Racism Data Standards, 2017).
Accommodation: Upon request, we will provide reasonable accommodations for candidates who have temporary or permanent disability, or who otherwise require accommodations based on the protected grounds highlighted in the Ontario Human Rights Code in respect to the recruitment and selection process.
Wellness: HWP is committed to providing a respectful and healthy work environment.
Use of Artificial Intelligence in Recruitment
Halton Womens Place does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to screen, assess, or select applicants at any stage of this recruitment process. All applications submitted for this position are reviewed and evaluated by human members of our recruitment/hiring team.
This disclosure is provided in accordance with Ontario's Employment Standards Act, 2000, as amended by the Working for Workers Four Act, 2024.
