Prep Cook
Job Summary
Prep Cook
Regular
Internal Only
Posting Date: July 16 2026
Closing Date: July 31 2026
Posting #
Hours
37.5 hours a week
Seasonal Dates September to June
Salary
Wage range $26.32- $27.63 an hour depending on the employees years of service at St. Margarets School (SMS).
This is a bargaining unit position in the Professional Employees Association.
All candidates must be legally able to work in Canada.
Summary
St. Margarets School (SMS) is Western Canadas only girl-centered independent day and boarding school located in Victoria British Columbia Canada on the unceded traditional territories of the Esquimalt Nations Songhees Nations and WSÁNEĆ Nations. Founded in 1908 SMS is an international centre for girl-centered learning and leadership development providing empowering education for girls from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 (boarding grades 712). St. Margarets School is an International Baccalaureate (IB) School offering the Diploma Programme and we are a candidate school for the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP).
You will also oversee the Food Services Assistants preparation of foods in accordance with generally prescribed standards and have considerable independence in actual food preparation yet also work as part of a unit to ensure the food served at each meal is balanced nutritionally flavours are unified and that each meal prepared meets the correct amount needed for each meal serving.
Core Competencies
- Integrity & Trust
- Communication & Collaboration
- Service Orientation
- Adaptability
- Innovation
- Resilience
- Interpersonal Savvy
Duties and Responsibilities
Food Preparation & Production
- Prepares ingredients such as washing chopping peeling portioning and labeling according to standardized recipes and prep sheets.
- Assists Cooks with components of entrées soups sauces salads baked goods and catering items.
- Assembles simple menu items independently under supervision.
- Follows production records par sheets and portion guidelines accurately.
Cooking & Equipment Use
- Operates basic equipment safely: mixers slicers choppers ovens warmers and steamers.
- Performs preliminary cooking tasks (e.g. baking simple items blanching basic grilling) as directed.
- Ensures proper measurement scaling and portion control.
Food Safety Storage & Quality Control
- Practices proper food handling sanitation and storage procedures.
- Labels dates rotates and organizes ingredients using FIFO principles.
- Records and monitors food and equipment temperatures as required.
- Supports allergy-aware practices and dietary needs.
Service Support
- Assists with replenishing and refreshing serving lines to keep service flowing.
- Provides courteous and professional customer service when assisting during meal periods.
- Anticipates needs on the line and helps prevent bottlenecks.
Cleaning & Maintenance
- Performs routine cleaning of workstations utensils equipment and prep areas.
- Assists with dishwashing during peak times to ensure adequate dish and utensil availability.
- Reports equipment malfunctions or product shortages to supervisors promptly.
Collaboration & Communication
- Communicates concerns shortages or safety issues to Cooks or the Food Service Director.
- Works cooperatively with Cooks and Food Service Assistants.
- Assists in training new team members in prep tasks.
Compliance & Safety
- Follows all workplace safety protocols organizational policies and allergy-prevention guidelines.
- Participates in sustainability and waste-reduction initiatives.
Other Duties
- Supports catering and special school events.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
Required Education and Experience
- High school diploma or GED required.
- Minimum Food Safe 1 Certificate required
- Completion of Chefs certification or Cooks training level 2
- Minimum 2 years demonstrated experience in a Prep Cook position
Required Skills Knowledge and Abilities
- Strong basic to intermediate knife skills and solid understanding of kitchen tools utensils and equipment.
- Ability to read and write in English perform simple math and follow written and verbal instructions.
- Understanding of recipes preparation methods and variations that support taste quality and presentation.
- Knowledge of standard kitchen operational procedures and food safety practices.
- Effective decision-making skills with attention to detail quality and consistency.
- Professional communication and interpersonal skills with a positive and upbeat attitude.
- Ability to take direction accept constructive feedback and work independently or collaboratively as part of a team.
- Capability to exercise judgment in determining appropriate quantities and quality of prepared food.
- Physical ability to stand for long periods lift and transport kitchen equipment and wares and perform repetitive motions.
- Manual dexterity required for operating kitchen tools equipment and machinery safely.
- Ability to build and maintain positive working relationships with staff faculty and students.
- Demonstrates professionalism and serves as a positive role model for the St. Margarets community.
- Actively supports and upholds the vision mission and values of the school.
- Flexibility to work morning afternoon and weekend shifts as scheduled.
Work Conditions
- Work performed in a commercial kitchen environment.
- Exposure to heat steam and kitchen equipment.
- Fast-paced high-volume meal production.
- Intermittent physical activity including walking standing sitting reaching and lifting.
- Must be able to properly lift and carry objects weighing 20 pounds or less frequently; 35 pounds or less occasionally; and 50 pounds or more rarely; with the highest point of any lift being overhead and the lowest point of any lift being the floor
- Must be able to sit stand or walk four hours continuously up to eight hours per day and able to remain on feet for entire shift.
- Repetitive movements while performing duties including the ability to bend reach chop lift and push/pull objects with moderate effort occasionally.
- Ability to work in warm and noisy environments.
Valued Benefits
A career with St. Margarets School will offer you the opportunity to be part of dedicated team of professionals in a dynamic and rewarding educational environment. This position is located on the school campus with access to rapid transit on-site gym and other amenities.
St. Margarets School emphasizes a dedication to equity diversity and inclusion across living learning and work environments. The school aims to have its workforce mirror the diversity of students and the community. Actively encouraging applications from groups facing historical or current equity barriers the institution is committed to fostering an equitable diverse and inclusive community. Employees needing employment support technical aids or accommodations are encouraged to contact Human Resources .
Interested candidates are invited to submit an application package including a covering letter curriculum vitae and professional references through Bamboo HR.
Required Experience:
IC
About Company
St. Margaret’s School (SMS) is a leading all-girls independent school in Canada. Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 on our 22-acre campus in Victoria, BC, Canada. We’re a tight-knit community that celebrates leadership, diversity, and innovation come together to learn, grow, and thrive a ... View more