Fred Victor is a not-for-profit, multi-service community-based organization that has assisted people living on low incomes in Toronto for close to 120 years. We work in partnership with women and men from diverse backgrounds who face poverty, homelessness, mental health issues, addictions, and/or social isolation to address their needs and hopes and advocate for a more equitable society. Please see our website at www.fredvictor.org

Fred Victor works with a highly diverse population of people and upholds the values of respect, choice and inclusion.

Fred Victor Centre is currently looking for a Full Time Catering Coordinator to join the team at Friends Catering. This position provides leadership and direction to Friends Catering and is responsible for all non-food production activities including coordinating and overseeing all administrative and human resource functions of Fred Victor’s social purpose enterprise. This includes the recruitment, selection, and direct supervision of Catering Peer Assistants. Working in conjunction with the Food Services Manager to whom they report, the Catering Coordinator monitors and evaluates the catering business budget and takes the lead in planning, developing, operating, and marketing the catering business ensuring all stakeholders (customers, advisory board members and funders) are engaged and kept well-informed of business goals and activities. Working as part of a team with the Head Chef, the Catering Coordinator is committed to ensuring prompt and quality catering service, high customer satisfaction, and the achievement of the social goals of the business.

The position requires respect for, and expertise in working with people who are living in poverty and who face mental and physical health issues, addictions, abuse, histories of violence and trauma, social isolation, and who come from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds.   

This position uses community development practices to engage Catering Peer Assistants in planning and implementing program activities.  This position spends approximately 75% of the work day in the office and 25% of the time in the kitchen supporting Catering Peer Assistants.

Responsibilities

Human Resources

• In collaboration with the Food Services Manager and the Head Chef, takes the lead and assumes over-all responsibility for all human resource functions associated with Catering Peer Assistants including recruitment, selection, hiring approval documentation, performance management and payroll
• Maintains clear, consistent and accurate Catering Peer Assistant HR files, with all completed documentation as required by Fred Victor and funder
• Together with the Head Chef, schedules employees based on catering work load and training needs.  Completes 3 month and 6 month evaluations for each Catering Peer Assistant

Catering Peer Support

• Responsible for providing support and advocating on behalf of Catering Peer Assistants
• Promotes and models a collaborative, learning and team-based culture, facilitating a sense of community amongst Catering Peer Assistants
• Facilitates career planning and job search for Catering Peer Assistants by assisting with self-assessment, job market analysis and connecting with relevant and appropriate employment supports through Fred Victor’s Employment Services
• Mentors, supports and trains Catering Peer Assistants in all areas relevant to their working in a social purpose enterprise, ensuring standard practices are followed
• Provides formal supervision and informal counseling for Catering Peer Assistants when appropriate on issues affecting their daily lives and employability including social and life skills; vocational and educational goals; personal needs affecting job maintenance etc.
• Demonstrates a thorough understanding of the principles of community economic development and is able to communicate and model this understanding effectively to employees and the general public
• Keeps in touch with past Catering Peer Assistants for continued informal support as needed and to maintain statistical records for reporting purposes

Administrative Duties

• Working collaboratively with the Head Chef, takes catering orders; puts together and sends out quotes; prepares invoices; and maintains good customer relationships
• Liaises with customers regarding contracts and quotes for contracts
• Maintains accurate accounts receivable records and keeps track of monthly deposits, back-up and internal transactions including contact lists, internal referrals, communication notes
• Takes credit card information from customers and processes payments over the phone with credit service provider; tracks monthly credit card payments in bank account and reconciles with Fred Victor Finance
• Responsible for maintaining petty cash and creating internal check requisitions
• Obtains quotes for services such as large-scale printing, transportation

Business Development and Marketing Duties

• In collaboration with the Food Services Manager and Head Chef, takes the lead in preparing funding proposals and reports to develop and sustain the business – includes accurate statistical collection on a variety of outcomes and indicators
• Produces newsletters for customers to familiarize them with the Friends Catering business and social outcomes
• Puts together seasonal menus in collaboration with the Head Chef, and sends them out to customers
• Maintains Friends Catering website - includes writing all copy and developing a site map; communicates with web designers and webmasters as needed
• Develops, executes and evaluates marketing plan for various sectors
• Represents Friends Catering at public events and speaks as required
• Works with the Chair of Catering Advisory Board to create agendas, take minutes, and speak to agenda items

Kitchen Support Duties

• Supports Catering Peer Assistants as they train with the Head Chef in kitchen duties
• Helps with kitchen duties as needed and carries out other duties if requested by the Head Chef or Food Services Manager
• Fulfills catering orders when possible when Head Chef is on vacation

Other

• Works cooperatively with the restaurant and other centre staff, volunteers, program participants and placement students to support activities in the restaurant
• Effectively manages conflict and provides appropriate crisis and conflict management and participates in the development of restaurant safety and crisis intervention
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Food Services Manager or designate

Qualifications

• The ideal candidate will have knowledge and understanding of the types of employment barriers faced by disadvantaged adults as attained through appropriate training, experience and/or education
• Supervisory experience required including recruitment of community members, hiring and training and performance management
• Experience in program coordination and development, including funder report writing
• Extensive and proven past experience in working with people with lived experience of  mental health issues, addictions, conflict with the law, poverty, homelessness, abuse and social isolation and who come from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds
• Knowledge of and demonstrable skill in client assessment, supportive counseling, case management, conflict resolution, crisis intervention, life skills coaching, training techniques and group facilitation;
• Training, proven experience and a passion in food preparation, purchasing, menu planning and food costing
• Experience in working in a successful social purpose enterprise or business
• Demonstrated understanding of community development and community economic development practices and principles
• Extremely well developed interpersonal, cross cultural and both verbal and written communication skills
• Knowledge of the range of services provided by local training and employment agencies with an understanding of career counseling including resume writing, job search techniques, interview skills and vocational and sills assessment
• Strong administrative and organizational skills; ability to multi-task and prioritize
• Ability to work with a diverse group of staff and ability to facilitate effective team development
• Literacy in Microsoft word, Excel, power point, windows and willingness to learn other applications

Working Conditions

• Works in a kitchen/restaurant environment and/or outdoors where there is regular exposure to the potential of unpredictable behaviours and situations, patrons may be angry, upset and display unpredictable behaviour;
• Frequently works in crisis, conflictual and emotionally charged situations
• May require working irregular or unpredictable shifts; delivery of catering orders.
• Meetings and work required off site;
• Driving may be required – Class “G” Driver’s license.

This work requires a commitment and adherence to the values, goals and policies of Fred Victor Centre.

Please send your resume and cover letter by 5 pm on Monday, July 21^st, 2014 to
clalonde@fredvictor.org quoting job #CAPT0714
No Phone Calls please. To learn more about Fred Victor, please go to www.fredvictor.org

We strive to foster a workplace that reflects the diversity of the community we serve and welcome applications from all qualified candidates; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Fred Victor is also committed to developing an inclusive, barrier-free selection process and work environment. If contacted, please advise the hiring manager if you require any accommodation measures to ensure you will be interviewed in a fair and equitable manner. Information received relating to accommodation requests will be treated with confidentiality.