Food Access Worker

Employment Type: Part-Time (Long-term Contract)
Department: Housing Services
Union: Included 
Salary: Level 3
File #: 25-SRS-24 (1 OPEN)
Posting Date: October 15, 2025
Posting Close: October 22, 2025

The Food Access Worker will be required to work Mondays 8am-1pm, Wednesdays 8am-1pm, Thursdays 1pm-6pm, Fridays 1pm-6pm.

Position Summary
Reporting to the Site Supervisor, the Food Access Worker is responsible for the operation of food programming within the Housing Services department. The Food Access Worker will organize and facilitate efforts to reduce barriers to healthy food access via menu planning, teaching food selection and preparation skills, assisting with food security initiatives and presenting information to groups in order to promote healthy eating. As a member of a multidisciplinary team, the Food Access Worker will work in collaboration with other team members to recruit participants, conduct health promotion activities related to healthy eating, and facilitate and support participant involvement and learning about cooking and healthy eating through the preparation of congregate meals in a Supportive Housing Environment.

Duties and Responsibilities
Food Preparation/Cooking

• Prepare nutritious, congregate meals for Housing Services clients at various locations in Toronto’s downtown east side.
• Prepares and handles food and operates a kitchen safely, in accordance with regulations established by the Toronto Department of Public Health.
• Work collaboratively with community partners to provide congregate meals at sites within the community.
• Develop nutritious menu items appropriate to low-income individuals.
• Train and supervise peers, as well as corporate, and agency volunteers in food
• handling, preparation, and service practices.
• Maintain proper inventory of supplies.
• Purchase and order supplies.
• Maintain all kitchen equipment.
• Maintain safe storage of all food items.
• Maintain cleanliness of kitchens.
• Ensure safe operation of the kitchens at all times.

Food Programming/Education

• Work collaboratively with Housing Support staff to develop and implement food and nutrition-based programming for low-income clients.
• Work collaboratively with community partners to provide food security programming at 65 Dundas
• Promote access to food security programming for tenants of 65 Dundas for low-income individuals.

Organizational Accountabilities

• Work collaboratively with Dixon Hall staff, volunteers, and community partners.
• Actively participate in department and agency meetings, and events as scheduled.
• Meet regularly with Manager to discuss individual, team, and program effectiveness.
• Work collaboratively with Fundraising, Volunteer Services, and Housing Services staff to provide volunteer opportunities to peers, individuals, and corporate teams
• Other duties as required.

 
Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED-equivalent.; BSW or other post-secondary education relating to the housing sector considered an asset.
• Food Handlers certification.
• Demonstrated experience in kitchen preparation and congregate cooking.
• Demonstrated community development experience.
• Excellent customer service, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong understanding of food insecurity issues effecting low-income and homeless individuals.
• Sensitive to the needs of low-income and homeless individuals.
• Strong written and verbal English language communication skills; other languages an asset.
• Effective at building good interpersonal relationships; ability to be flexible and patient when interacting with clients, peers, and volunteers.
• Strong crisis de-escalation skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Emergency First Aid/CPR certification preferred.
• Must be qualified to work in Canada legally for the employer.
• Able to provide a Vulnerable Sector Screening check with a ‘Clear’ or satisfactory result that meets the operational requirements of the Agency.

Working Conditions

• Working with kitchen equipment, including oven, microwave, knives and other kitchen implement.
• Fluorescent lighting

Physical and Sensory Demands

• Bending: putting things into/taking them out of the oven and/or dishwasher
• Ability to stand for long periods
• Physical ability to lift and carry up to 20lbs