Cook & kitchen jobs, Local Food 

Hiring: Kitchen Assistant: LUSH Cafe
Organization: LUSH Valley Food Action Society
Location: NIC Cafeteria, Courtenay, BC

Wage: $24.36 per hour 
Plus holiday, benefits and wellness package

Schedule: 25 hours per week
Monday – Friday, 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM with some flexibility and occasional evenings and weekends

Posting Closes: January 5th, 2026
Interviews: January 7th and 8th, 2026
Start Date: February 2nd, 2026

GENERAL OVERVIEW

LUSH Valley Food Action Society is a Comox Valley based non-profit organization. We envision a region where healthy, local food is at the heart of community wellbeing. We support the Comox Valley community to gain food-systems tools, engage in just and resilient local food systems and receive equitable access to nourishing food.

When you work with LUSH Valley, you become part of an energetic and passionate team making positive change in the Comox Valley.

ROLE SUMMARY

LUSH Valley is looking for an experienced Kitchen Assistant to work with our Cafe Manager to prepare quick service, standardized menu items, hot breakfast, lunch and dinner items, and provide support for ongoing catering events ranging from 15 – 300 people.

The Kitchen Assistant will work under the supervision of the Cafeteria Kitchen Manager, but will be self-directed and often work alone

The ideal candidate is passionate about local and seasonal food, and able to prepare creative local menus efficiently.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Prepare and cook meals on a line using commercial equipment
• Manage inventory, cleaning and sanitation
• With support, prepare food for catering events
• Work with the Cafe Manager to purchase, prepare, cook, and serve meals
• Prepare standardized menu items highlighting local and seasonal foods
• Be sensitive and accommodating to a variety of allergies or food sensitivities
• Assist Front of House Manager with customer service, preparing coffee, operating the cash register, and taking orders as necessary
• Meeting Food Safe requirements and keeping a tidy kitchen and workspace
• Collaborate with various staff, board, volunteers, farmers, and community partners
• Additional tasks as required

SKILLS and ABILITIES

• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to work independently and/or part of a team
• Ability to take a leadership role in the kitchen
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
• Ability to greet and serve customers, including dealing with customer complaints, with compassion and efficiency
• The ability to maintain calm under pressure
• Collaborative, can-do attitude
• Good time-management and organizational skills
• Ability to organize, multitask and self-direct
• Ability to foster and maintain positive working relationships
• Ability to develop training materials and train other staff on daily operations

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 3+ years of customer service experience
• A relevant degree or diploma
• Experience handling cash, working a cash register, and performing daily cash reconciliation and reports
• Managerial experience an asset
• Valid FoodSafe Certification
• Criminal record clearance
• Class 5 driver's license with a clear driver's abstract
• Basic first aid an asset

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The position is based in the cafeteria at the North Island College, Courtenay campus.

The cafeteria kitchen includes a walk-in cooler, walk-in freezer, and dry storage area, along with commercial cooking equipment. The Front of House area includes a specialty drink machine, drip coffee machine, and display case with hot and cold grab-and-go food items.

Some heavy lifting is required in this role. Business-casual attire may be required for certain events.

TO APPLY

Please submit your resume and cover letter to Natasha at: support@lushvalley.org

Please mention you saw this at GoodWork.ca.

LUSH Valley is grateful to receive all applications, but we can only contact shortlisted candidates.

LUSH Valley believes in diversity, employment equity and social justice. We encourage applications from all community members, but would be especially interested in receiving them from Indigenous peoples, visible minorities, persons with disability, LGBTQIA2S+ people and members of marginalized communities.