Quadra Island Based Food Manager - Full Time (May to end of September)

Position: Food Manager

Location: Based on Quadra Island

Employment Type: Full-time Seasonal (May 1 - Sept 30)

Job Summary: The Food Manager will be a dynamic individual with exceptional organizational and time-management skills. This individual will be responsible for obtaining and packing the food (and some non-food items) for all Spirit Of The West tours. The Food Manager will also be responsible for maintaining an organized and well-stocked kitchen and providing the necessary accommodations for a variety of dietary needs for both guests and guides. Another key aspect of this role will be the training of other members of the Food Crew, as well as delegating tasks when necessary.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The tasks and responsibilities listed below are only a sample of the activities to be encountered. The Food Manager will work cooperatively with the members of the Office Crew, Base Camp Chefs, Lead & Assistant Guides and Base Camp Operations Assistants to provide the best possible guest experience and ensure smooth operation of the trips. Flexibility and adaptability are key to accomplishing the common goal of an excellent guest experience.

Food Ordering, Preparation and Organization

• Become familiar with all the Spirit Of the West tours, as well as their menus and logistics
• Order or purchase all the food necessary for the trips Spirit Of The West operates
• Procure other non-food items (cleaning supplies etc.) when needed or requested
• Pick up food orders in Campbell River as needed (usually twice weekly)
• Complete shopping trips in Campbell River as needed
• Put away orders as they arrive. Maintain a well-stocked and organized Food Prep area
• Ensure each trip has all the necessary food. The Food Manager will either pack or just organize the food for guides to pack
• Assist with dishes and cleaning in an ongoing manner in collaboration with other members of the Food and Base Crew
• Complete occasional baking tasks, specifically for those with serious dietary restrictions

Management

• Delegate tasks (when necessary) in a fair and appropriate manner, ensuring that each worker’s strengths are engaged as much as possible
• Assist and train guides and other Food Crew members as needed
• Ensure Assistant Food Manager is adequately trained to ensure smooth operation of food packing in your absence

Guest Experience

• Ensure guests with dietary restrictions have all the necessary meal substitutions and that guides and/or the Base Camp Chef are aware of these, as well as have the knowledge on how to prepare these items
• Communicate with Office Staff as needed regarding guests’ requests and occasionally communicate directly with guests over the phone

Safety

• Know and follow all Food Safe Guidelines
• Maintain a high standard of hygiene throughout the kitchen and prep room, as well as personally
• Familiarize yourself with the location and operation of all safety equipment and procedures
• Assist in providing first aid attention if required
• Follow and exemplify all current Provincial and company health guidelines including strict COVID policies and procedures

Other

• Act as a representative of Spirit of the West Adventures when working in the community
• Maintain a friendly and professional demeanor at all times
• Complete all other reasonable tasks as requested Managers and/or Owners

DESIRED ATTRIBUTES

Personal Qualities

• Organized and efficient, able to complete time-sensitive tasks and meet deadlines
• Flexible, accommodating, and creative approach to diverse dietary needs and preferences such as gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, vegan, etc.
• Independent initiative balanced with a collaborative approach to tasks and guest experiences
• Can multi-task and switch directions flexibly when required
• Creative and attentive to details
• Ability to problem-solve
• Positive attitude
• Strong work ethic
• Able to maintain a calm presence throughout challenges
• Exemplary personal hygiene and presentation
• Desire to be an integral member of a successful team
• Able to maintain a healthy work/life balance

QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal person for this position will have the following:

Skills, Training & Experience

• Experience working with computers and basic knowledge of various programs (such as Google Sheets etc.)
• Management experience
• Kitchen and/or Foodservice experience
• FoodSafe Level 1 (can be obtained after hiring)
• First Aid Certificate & CPR Level C
• Clean Drivers license (Class 4 preferred)

Must be willing to:

• Work on Quadra Island, either live on Quadra Island or be able to commute for work every day, travel to Campbell River in a company van will also be required.
• Drive 15 passenger vans as needed
• Work extended hours on days when time-sensitive tasks need to be completed
• The schedule is generally 5 days on, 2 days off with days averaging 8 hours in length
• Be able to lift and carry 50lbs
• Be flexible with work scheduling and be willing to adapt to schedule changes to support the team
• Be adaptable, able to follow directions and work as a team
• The Food Manager may be required to have their own laptop in order to complete necessary orders if they chose to do this portion of the job remotely, all other work will require in person, on-site work on Quadra Island
• This is a seasonal position (May to the end of September) with the possibility of an extended season for the right person

Remuneration & Benefits

• Hourly rate of pay $26-$29/hour depending upon experience, qualifications and commitment
• 4% vacation pay on all wages (in lieu of paid vacation time)
• Health & Well Being Stipend of $5/8 hour day worked up to $250 annually
• Access to the Employee Assistance Program including free, confidential counselling through Upper Island Counselling
• Access to pro-deals on outdoor gear
• Access to kayaks - borrow kayaks anytime (when available and after completing safety training). If you are accompanying a group of friends and we have kayaks/gear available, we may be able to loan kayaks to you and your group free of charge.
• Staff Discounts: Full-time year-round staff are able to offer a 25% discount to 2 guests to join a Spirit of the West kayaking tour regardless of the time of year with additional people receiving a 5% discount (on available BC tour dates, not applicable to international tours).

How Spirit of the West would support this role

• Paid staff training
• Ongoing mentorship from senior staff
• Extensive manuals to help learn and support your role
• Access to training for ongoing professional development
• Subscription to Upper Island Counseling to help ensure mental well-being and support
• Weekly scheduled times for meeting with managers to support communication and ensure we all are working together toward our goals

Background Information about Spirit of the West

• Spirit of the West Adventures is based on Quadra Island, BC, a beautiful remote, rural community of approximately 3000 year-round residents. It is a 10-minute ferry ride from Campbell River on Vancouver Island which is a community of 35,000 residents with access to just about every service required or desired.
• Spirit of the West Adventures offers multi-day guided sea kayaking tours with the help of a seasonal team of upwards of 50 employees in our operational season and a team of between 5-8 year-round.
• We are a tight-knit team who truly care about what we do, our colleagues and our community.
• When you are working in the field a tent will be provided. Housing on Quadra Island is not included but we are happy to help make local connections. Or stay in our rustic staff camping area.
• A car or willingness to bike in all sort of conditions on a hilly island are required as there is no public transportation.
• We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We strive to create a culture that does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status.

Learn more about Spirit of the West Adventures at www.kayakingtours.com