Chef & Culinary Training Lead

CHEF & CULINARY TRAINING LEAD

Shelly’s Indigenous Bistro Location: 1364 Main Street, Winnipeg, MB Employment Type: Full-Time Compensation: $20.00–$23.00 per hour, based on experience Schedule: Full-time hours, including days, evenings, weekends, statutory holidays, catering events, and operational peak periods as required

Position Summary

Shelly’s Indigenous Bistro is seeking an experienced Executive Chef & Culinary Training Lead to support kitchen operations, food production, menu execution, and hands-on culinary training for kitchen staff.

This position is responsible for leading daily kitchen operations, maintaining food quality and consistency, supporting takeout, delivery, catering, and special event food service, and helping develop the skills of cooks, prep cooks, and other kitchen team members.

The successful candidate will be a strong kitchen professional who can lead by example, provide respectful coaching, and support a clean, organized, and team-focused kitchen environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead daily kitchen operations during assigned shifts • Prepare, cook, and oversee menu items, catering orders, delivery orders, takeout orders, and special event food • Maintain consistency in food quality, portioning, presentation, and timing • Provide hands-on culinary training to cooks, prep cooks, and kitchen staff • Teach safe knife skills, food preparation methods, cooking techniques, portioning, plating, and kitchen organization • Support new staff onboarding and kitchen orientation • Ensure proper food storage, labelling, dating, and FIFO rotation • Maintain kitchen cleanliness, sanitation, and organization standards • Monitor food preparation timelines and adjust priorities during service • Support catering preparation, packaging, transport coordination, and event production • Assist with menu development, recipe refinement, inventory, ordering, food costing, and waste reduction as directed • Promote teamwork, accountability, respectful communication, and safe work practices • Follow all workplace, food safety, sanitation, and operational standards • Perform other related duties as assigned

Qualifications & Experience

• Previous experience as a chef, sous chef, lead cook, kitchen supervisor, or senior cook is required • Previous experience training, mentoring, or supervising kitchen staff is strongly preferred • Strong cooking, food preparation, and knife skills • Experience working in a fast-paced commercial kitchen environment • Strong knowledge of food safety, sanitation, storage, and kitchen organization • Ability to lead a team in a respectful, professional, and calm manner • Strong communication, time management, and problem-solving skills • Reliable attendance and punctuality • Ability to work evenings, weekends, statutory holidays, catering events, and operational peak periods as required

Training & Certification Requirements

• Manitoba Food Handler Certification required or willingness to obtain upon hire • WHMIS Certification required or willingness to obtain upon hire • First Aid/CPR Certification is considered an asset • Must participate in required workplace safety, food safety, and operational training

Working Conditions

This role requires extended standing and walking, frequent bending and reaching, repetitive hand and arm movements, working near heat and kitchen equipment, and lifting up to 50 lbs. The position requires the ability to work in a fast-paced kitchen environment during busy service periods, catering production, evenings, weekends, statutory holidays, and operational peak times.

Indigenous Preference Statement

Shelly’s Indigenous Bistro is proud to be an Indigenous-owned and operated business. Preference may be given to qualified Indigenous applicants, including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit applicants, in accordance with our commitment to supporting Indigenous employment, training, and economic participation.