Food Services Coordinator

Salary: $46,000 - $58,000 per year

Conrad Grebel University College is a liberal arts college founded by the Mennonite church and affiliated with the University of Waterloo. The mission and programs of Grebel are rooted in and inspired by its Christian identity in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. Grebel offers undergraduate, graduate, and community education programs in peace and conflict studies, music, theological and religious studies, and Mennonite studies. It has a residence program which houses up to 140 students in a dormitory setting, 32 apartment residents, and an off-campus associate program involving another 70 students per term. While a significant percentage of residence students come from Mennonite communities, the College residence welcomes students of all backgrounds and beliefs.  Grebel is also home to the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement. In addition, the College operates an active bookings and conferences program. 

General Scope 

Grebel’s Food Services is committed to creating and serving nourishing meals and refreshments in support of the College’s mission. The Food Services Coordinator oversees the day to day office operations for the food services department. The Food Services Office Coordinator works collaboratively with the Interim Food Services Manager and other Food Services staff.  

Departmental Data 

Providing 118,000 meals per year with a regular staff complement of seventeen members and a number of casual student staff, Grebel’s food services department is an active and busy workplace. With a total expense budget in excess of $1,000,000, the food services department represents 15% of the College’s annual expense budget. Serving twenty-one meals per week to resident students and offering catering services to as many as 15,000 guests per year demands energy and good organization of this close-knit group of staff within the College. 

Specific Responsibilities 

• Special Event Coordination 
• Work with the Conferences, Bookings, and Events Coordinator and other College staff to plan a range of College events.  
• Take the lead role in planning food services for internal and external special events 
• Coordinate Grebel food services with outside rental groups including  confirming services and  price quotations. 
• Perform administrative tasks required for events such as costing, making preparation notes, invoicing etc.  
• Maintaining the “Common Ground” coffee bar 

Office Management 

• Arrange service, preventative maintenance and repairs for food services equipment, according to schedule, as needed or as requested by Management 

• Participate as a member of the Health and Safety Committee and perform a variety of workplace safety-related tasks. 

• Performing administrative tasks including, but not limited to; recording invoices, summarizing cash-register receipts, and inventorying 

• Posting menus and other information on Grebel’s website, SharePoint, Discord etc as required 

• Maintain Inventory and Updates as required for the Terminal Payment System 

Staff Relations 

• Prepare kitchen staff work schedules for approval by the Interim Food Services Manager 

• Coordinate with HR for the hiring of casual student helpers on a term by term basis 

• In close cooperation with the Interim Food Services Manager, and as directed, handle a variety of tasks relating to payroll including: verifying time sheets, vacation schedules, sick leave and other duties as assigned. 

Other 

• Perform a wide variety of routine housekeeping, food preparation and food serving tasks when dealing with unexpected staff absences.  

• Restocking first aid kits every term 

• Assist the Interim Food Services Manager as directed.  

Position Requirements 

• Support for the identity and mission of Conrad Grebel University College 

Education 

• Must have an active CSNM membership or must have completed a Culinary Management Program. (Pending Graduation Applicants will be accepted) 

• Awareness and understanding of health and safety standards and procedures in food service facilities.  If not already completed, raining in WHMIS, Occupational Health and Safety Act, Supervisor Health and Safety Awareness, First Aid, and Food Premises Regulation under the Health Protection and Promotion Act will be required to be completed at the beginning of this posting.  

Skills/Experience 

• Experience and training in staff scheduling, record keeping, and event planning 

• Awareness of and ability to cook with a wide variety of foods and spices (eg. international foods, special diets, etc.) 

• Experience in food preparation/food serving tasks.  

• Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to relate well to students, faculty and staff and a proven sensitivity to the needs of others 

• Strong written and verbal communication skills 

• Exceptional administrative and record keeping skills 

• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail 

• Good physical condition and capable of lifting moderately heavy items and standing for long periods of time 

• Availability to work days, evenings, weekends and holidays 

Technical 

• Strong computer and word processing skills and a willingness to learn new software programs. Familiarity with M365 Suite and vendor software. 

Working Relationships 

The Food Services Office Coordinator reports to the Interim Food Services Manager. HR Manager and Director of Operations of the College are responsible for matters related to contract, benefits, work space, and equipment. 

Nature and Scope   

Contacts: Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential. They must demonstrate sound judgement with tact, professionalism, and objectivity. Internally, communicates with all Food Service employees including student, part time, and full time staff.  Externally, interacts with customers (staff, faculty, students), vendors and suppliers.   

Level of Responsibility:  The Office Coordinator must apply knowledge of policies and kitchen procedures, to process transactions, make schedules, approve time sheets etc. They must address issues such as compliance and resolve discrepancies with internal and external client groups. 

Decision-Making Authority: The Food Services Office Coordinator is expected to work independently to respond to questions and requests. In complex or unusual situations, issues may need to be elevated. As it pertains to events the Office Coordinator makes independent decisions based on general guidelines and directives and as authorized by the Manager.  Requires flexibility in decision-making, and competing demands. 

Physical and Sensory Demands: Extensive hands-on activities and requires moderate exertion of physical effort. The variety of tasks and interruptions are high and there’s an expectation to remain calm and polite at all times, be able to multi-task, show initiative, and accomplish results.    

Working Environment: Office based within a kitchen setting. May be required to work in kitchen when needed.  Generally regular hours but, must have a flexible schedule to work at various times, weekends, and extended periods to accommodate event schedules or busier periods for the operation. 

Application Process 

Please submit letter of interest and resume to grebelhiring@uwaterloo.ca.  

Application deadline is: 5pm, April 22, 2025