We're Hiring our next Executive Director!

Growing Chefs is Hiring!

About Growing Chefs
Too many kids don’t know where food comes from or have access to nourishing food and food education. Growing Chefs is on a mission to change that.

For 20 years, Growing Chefs has been helping kids connect to food: how it grows, how it’s prepared, and how it sustains us. What started as a handful of chefs volunteering in classrooms has evolved into a leading voice for food literacy in BC, partnering with schools to deliver hands-on programs that teach children the whole food cycle, from seed to plate to compost.

At the heart of Growing Chefs are our food education programs, immersive, joyful experiences that make food both a learning tool and a community connector. Through activities that span classroom gardens to chef-led meal programs, students explore how what we eat connects to health, equity, and the planet.

Signature initiatives like LunchLAB place professional chefs inside schools, working with students to plan menus, cook, and serve fresh lunches to their peers. Every program empowers kids to grow, cook, and share food with confidence and care.

After two decades of impact and a strong partnership with the Vancouver School Board, Growing Chefs stands ready for our next chapter, strengthening internal systems, re-energizing our culture, and expanding our reach across BC.

The Role
The Executive Director will guide Growing Chefs through our next chapter of organisational maturity and renewal. This phase focuses on supporting a talented team, reinforcing the foundations that help people do their best work, and ensuring that Growing Chefs is well-positioned for future opportunities in BC’s school food landscape.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the ED will provide steady and thoughtful leadership across people, partnerships, and strategy. You will help nurture a strong, connected team, build shared clarity and confidence, and lead effectively within an established and relationship-rich organisation, representing Growing Chefs with warmth and credibility.

The role blends internal stewardship with measured, relationship-centred external work, helping the organisation learn, explore, and prepare for future growth at a sustainable pace.

This is an opportunity for a grounded and relational leader who brings presence, clarity, and care, and who is energized by supporting a committed team and advancing a meaningful mission.

What You’ll Lead and Impact

• Support a healthy, connected, purpose-driven culture
  Nurture the collaborative and mission-focused environment that defines Growing Chefs.
  Strengthen clarity, communication, and shared ways of working across the team. This includes advancing our ongoing journey of decolonization and bringing a JEDI (justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion) lens to all aspects of our work.

• Provide steady, people-centered leadership
  Coach and empower staff at all levels. Partner closely with the Director of Programs and Engagement. Help the organisation navigate change with ease and confidence.

• Guide strategy, planning, and organisational learning
  Work with the Board and staff to implement the strategic plan through a period that emphasizes exploration of growth opportunities and deepening impact at a sustainable pace. Ensure annual priorities reflect values, long-term direction, and stable growth.

• Represent Growing Chefs in the community
  Build and steward relationships with partners, school districts, funders, and sector collaborators. Serve as a credible and approachable spokesperson for food literacy and the impact of programming.

• Advance fundraising and partnerships
  Work with the development team to cultivate and steward funding relationships across foundations, corporate partners, and community supporters. Contribute to building a diverse and resilient funding base.

• Oversee organisational health and systems
  Ensure sound financial management, accountability, and governance practices. Strengthen internal systems that support effective communication, coordination, and decision-making.

• Champion program excellence
  Collaborate with the program leadership team to maintain quality and consistency across all programs. Support continuous improvement grounded in data, feedback, and impact.

Who You Are
You are a grounded and relational leader who brings steadiness, clarity, and care to teams. You excel at building trust, supporting people, and creating environments where collaboration and purpose thrive. You lead with confidence and humility, and you bring the maturity needed to guide a committed team through our next stage of development.

You have experience leading in nonprofit, education, community, or impact-driven environments and are comfortable representing an organisation in conversations with partners and funders. You navigate relationships with warmth and professionalism and communicate in ways that build confidence and connection.

You bring an interest in public systems and community impact and are comfortable learning within evolving landscapes. You are motivated by purpose, energized by people, and committed to supporting Growing Chefs as we continue to strengthen our foundation and prepare for what comes next.

Why This Role Matters
This is a pivotal moment for Growing Chefs. Families, schools, and communities across BC are navigating rising food injustice and growing demand for hands-on, community-centered food education. With our established programs, strong partnerships, and trusted reputation, Growing Chefs is uniquely positioned to deepen our impact and prepare for the opportunities ahead.

The Executive Director will play a key role in supporting the team, strengthening the organisation, and helping Growing Chefs represent our work with clarity and credibility. This is a meaningful leadership opportunity for someone who wants to steward a beloved mission and help shape how children across BC experience food, learning, and community.

Compensation and Details
Location: Vancouver, BC, with a flexible mix of work-from-home and in-person expectations.
Salary: $107,500 based on a 35-hour work week.
Paid Time Off: 4 weeks of annual paid vacation and 3 weeks of annual closure dates, including winter and summer office closures. 12 days of annual wellness days.
Benefits: Comprehensive health and dental benefits, annual professional development funding, paid volunteer days, and flexible work hours.

How to Apply
Please express your interest by sending an email with a bit about yourself and a resume to our search partner:

Mimi Buan
Senior Talent Associate
mimi@boldhouse.ca
BoldHouse Executive Search

Chef-in-Residence

Growing Chefs is hiring! 

Do you want to support sustainable and just food practices? Build connections between kids and their food? Make local, sustainable food accessible? Engage communities through food? If yes, then this might be the place for you! 

LunchLAB is a program that is changing the narrative about lunch by empowering students to learn, cook, serve, and share food with their peers and school community. We use edible education to transform school food into meals that kids and youth want to eat – delicious, nourishing, and culturally-relevant food that brings students together to experience dignity and delight in their interaction with food. 

We’re looking for someone who loves to collaborate, has experience putting out large volumes of food, enjoys working with kids, is creative and imaginative in the kitchen, and has a passion for nourishing food and supporting food literacy.

Position: Chef-in-Residence

Salary: $53,690 Annually (based on 35 hours/week), 1 year contract with the possibility of extension. 

Benefits: Health and dental plan (after 3 months employed); three weeks paid vacation + paid one-week summer shutdown per year + paid two-week winter shutdown per year; 12 paid personal wellness days per year (aka sick days); annual professional development funding; paid volunteer days.

Location: Four to five days a week (9am-3pm) onsite in Vancouver schools (exact location TBD). Up to one day of computer admin weekly remote/in-office.

Anticipated Start Date: September 2024 

Position Summary: 

Your role will be mentor, educator, and chef. Each week, you’ll work with youth to teach them new skills, helping them understand the art and science of cooking and nutrition as well as the joy and celebration of connection to nourishing food.

Through day-to-day kitchen operations, meal planning, ordering, preparation, and service, the Chef-in-Residence, together with our Chef Educators, deliver engaging, non-stigmatizing, nourishing, and culturally-relevant meals that kids want to eat while providing embedded food literacy education and mentorship.

Chef-in-Residence positions are responsible for the day-to-day kitchen operations including meal planning, preparation, and service at their assigned LunchLAB location(s). 

Responsibilities include:

Supports the Programs and Engagement Director to train chef teams. 

• Fosters positive work environment for staff and volunteers

• Leads culinary and kitchen operations aspects of training process

• Identifies knowledge and skills gaps on chef teams and develops training accordingly

Meal Prep and Service

• Manages meal service for designated number of students at assigned LunchLAB school

• Develops engaging, nourishing, and culturally-relevant menus for students

• Collaborates to build supplier and vendor relationships that align with LunchLAB and Growing Chefs mission and policies

• Manages supplier and vendor deliveries

• Collaborates with admin team to manage budgets, feedback, processes and systems

• Collaborates with Chef Educator and admin teams to develop and implement weekly food literacy skills curriculum into meal prep for student chefs

Manage School Kitchen

• Collaborate to oversee chef team function and flow as it relates to kitchen operations

• Designs and oversees program and procedure manuals and documents kitchen procedures

• Supervises day-to-day maintenance and general upkeep of equipment and kitchenwares

• Responsible for the safety and security of all those who participate in our programs (children, families, volunteers, staff) through policy implementation

• Accountable for food procurement and meal service that meets program needs and aligns with Growing Chefs mission and policies

• Ensures day-to-day operations have proper food storage and transport that follows FoodSafe procedures

Kitchen Leadership

• Develops and manages a positive work environment for staff, volunteers, and student chefs

• Ensures work environment, partnerships, ordering, and meals are mission and values aligned 

• Collaborates to lead and mentor student chefs in the kitchen

• Collaborates to manage usage of school garden produce (if applicable), and supplier orders and deliveries 

• Leads stewardship of relationships with teachers, students, volunteers, and general school community

• Collaborates with senior coordinator and school administration/teachers to structure service days in accordance with staggered lunches, shared kitchen space, and involvement of student chef/clean teams

Delivery of Growing Chefs Programs 

• Leads delivery of high quality programming in schools and in the community

• Collaborates to deliver Community Eats SOYL summer program 

• Recommends improvements to efficiencies, impacts, complexities, and identified gaps in the program delivery model to executive team

• Develops, improves, and leads delivery of edible education lesson plans and learning activities for GC programs

• Leads program delivery alignment with GC mission, values, and policies

• Supports Program Coordinator to oversee volunteer activities of the ground

• Leads and oversees establishment of a positive and engaging program environment for all those participating

Promotion of Growing Chefs

• Promotes program in culinary community and builds network of chef recruits

• Assists with fundraising events and opportunities

Qualifications & Skills:

• Extensive experience in kitchen management with strong supervision and leadership skills. 

• Passionate about food justice, local food and supporting a strong, local food system.

• Comprehensive knowledge of culinary techniques in food production for large-volume kitchen operations. 

• Experience setting up and running your own kitchen. 

• Able to create diverse, culturally-relevant and nourishing kid-friendly menus. 

• Would be comfortable working outside of a traditional kitchen setting and willing to improvise and adapt when presented with challenges. 

• You succeed in a mentoring role and love helping kids learn alongside you.

• High level of organization. This is a new program, with the opportunity to transform school food in Vancouver and beyond. You like to keep records and communicate frequently. 

• Comfortable and willing to perform ongoing administrative tasks.

Job Requirements:. 

• Minimum 3 years experience in a restaurant or catering kitchen or equivalent experience preparing and serving 100+ meals. 

• Must be available and able to work on-site at Vancouver schools

• Must be legally authorised to work in Canada

• Must be able to lift and move up to 30 pounds

• FoodSafe Level 2 Certification (GC able to support acquiring)

• The successful applicant will be required to obtain a Vulnerable Sector Check for working with children. Growing Chefs will cover the cost to obtain this check.

Asset but not required:

• Valid BC drivers licence

• Chef Red Seal certification

Growing Chefs operates on the on the land of the Coast Salish peoples, including the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), W̱SÁNEĆ, Lək̓ʷəŋən, and Xwsepsum (Songhees and Esquimalt) Nations. As we work towards a world with healthy, just, sustainable food practices, we continue to learn and explore how to uplift Indigenous food and cultural values within our local food systems.

Growing Chefs is an equal opportunity employer and employs personnel without regard to racialization, ancestry, place of origin, ethnic origin, language, citizenship, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, family status, physical and/or mental access needs, or financial ability. 

To Apply:

Please submit your resume and the completed questionnaire through the link below. Applications will be reviewed upon reception.

Next Steps:

You will receive confirmation via email that we have received your application. 

Candidates selected to move on to the interview phase will be contacted to set up a date for an interview no later than two weeks after the selected application was received, ongoing until the position is filled. The first interviews will begin in early August.

In recognition of the labour that goes into preparing for an interview, applicants selected for an interview will receive a $25 honorarium for their time. 

Final candidates will be asked to provide up-to-date references who will be consulted.

Join the Growing Chefs Team!

Do you want to support sustainable and just food practices? Build connections between kids and youth and their food? Make local, healthy food accessible? Connect communities through food? If yes, then we might have the opportunity for you!

STAFF AND BOARD POSITIONS AVAILABLE!

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Growing Chefs STAFF TEAM

ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR

We are currently looking for an Engagement Coordinator to join our staff team! We’re looking for someone who loves to collaborate, is passionate about supporting food justice, and is fundamentally task driven. This permanent position with the team works closely with and provides administrative support to the Co-Executive Director, Communications & Engagement, contributes to a vibrant team within a collaborative, care-based, person-centred organisation, and helps actively drive a strategic plan centred around food justice. This is a hybrid role, with a minimum of one day per week required at our office located in downtown Vancouver. A valid BC driver’s license is also required.

Click to view position.

To Apply: Please submit your resume and the below to hr@growingchefs.ca. Review of applications and interviews will begin on a rolling basis on January 18th, with an anticipated start date in February. 

We ask that in lieu of a cover letter, please include in your email with your attached resume the answers to the following two questions in 350 words or less:

1. Why are you personally interested in working for Growing Chefs and our mission?

2. Why do you feel food literacy education is important for kids?

Deadline: Open until filled.

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Growing Chefs Board of Directors

Treasurer & Members at Large

We are currently looking for a Treasurer to join our board as well as Directors at Large. Additionally, we are anticipating an opening for co-chair in the new year and would love to hear from folks who may be interested in the possibility of a leadership position on the Growing Chefs Board.

Click to view position.

To Apply: Please send a statement of interest to governance@growingchefs.ca.

Deadline: Open.

Process for Appointment: Incoming board members are elected by the Society members annually at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in March.

We are Hiring! - Victoria Program Coordinator Job Posting

Growing Chefs is hiring! 

We are currently looking for a Victoria Program Coordinator to join our team. 

Do you want to support healthy, sustainable, and just food practices and systems? Improve the health and nutrition of kids and youth? Make local, sustainable food accessible? Connect communities through food? If yes, then this might be the place for you! 

What we offer:

• A supportive, collaborative, fun, and flexible work environment

• Opportunity to develop and expand your skills

• A chance to make a difference in the food system

Position Summary: In this key support role, the Victoria Program Coordinator will be responsible for ensuring the Growing Chefs Classroom Gardening and Cooking Program runs smoothly and efficiently within the Greater Victoria area. The Program Coordinator acts as a point of contact between Growing Chefs classroom volunteers, classroom teachers, school administrators, and the Growing Chefs Program staff. This role reports directly to the Growing Chefs Program Director. By supporting the Classroom Gardening and Cooking Program, the Victoria Program Coordinator will help Growing Chefs deliver hands-on food literacy education to transform the way kids eat and the way they think about food. 

Tasks: Tasks will be specific to the Growing Chefs programs and activities in the Greater Victoria area. The Program Coordinator will assist the Program Director with program delivery, program-related administrative duties, Victoria program communications, community building, and fundraising, as well as day-to-day tasks. This position will require some travel and transportation of program equipment throughout the Greater Victoria region to designated schools and program activities. 

Availability: The Victoria Program Coordinator must be available during program hours, which are 9:00 am to 12:30 pm Monday to Friday and to attend biweekly check-ins with the main Vancouver office.  This position involves providing ongoing support and supervision to volunteer teams as well as direct delivery of food literacy programming to children and families.  

Timing and Compensation: This position is a permanent hourly position at approximately 10-16 hours/week—work schedule will vary depending on needs of designated schools and time of year. Hours also may occasionally include evenings and weekends. Compensation for this role is $21/hr, plus vacation pay of 6%. Expected start date: Feb 7th, 2022.

Responsibilities include: 

Victoria Program: 

• Coordinate volunteer recruitment, training, and management, including but not limited to answering volunteer and teacher inquiries, calling volunteer candidates and volunteer references, organizing volunteer and teacher data. 

• Lead volunteer training and teacher orientation, and assist with the development of volunteer and teacher resources. 

• Coordinate the set-up and delivery of volunteer and teacher orientation sessions including finding and booking space, sending out communications, and ensuring all materials are prepared. 

• Provide ongoing assistance and support to volunteer teams in planning and delivering the Growing Chefs lessons.  

• Act as a liaison between volunteers, teachers, and Growing Chefs staff. 

• Help manage any problems or challenges experienced by volunteer teams or participating teachers and report any issues to the Growing Chefs Program Director. 

• Increase awareness of Growing Chefs within the designated communities and in each of the program schools. 

• Help generate Victoria-specific content for social media sites, online postings, blog, and website and to promote the activities of the Victoria program.

• Help coordinate pro-bono photography services and media for the Victoria classroom program. 

• Build relationships with the local school districts and school food networks.

• Act as Growing Chefs representative on Vancouver Island partner networks and groups.

• Become familiar with the school schedules, school policies, physical layout, access issues, and school emergency procedures.

• Coordinate, organize, set up, deliver, and maintain program equipment. 

• Help with the coordination of volunteer appreciation events and volunteer recognition activities. 

• Aid in the development and delivery of food literacy workshops for community groups and partners.

• Perform other duties, as needed. 

Victoria Administration: 

• Assist with Victoria program administrative duties, such as tracking volunteer and teacher registrations, collecting volunteer and teacher contact information, ensuring proper criminal and reference checks are completed, collecting volunteer expense forms and receipts, and ensuring all Victoria program data is up to date.  

• Assist with day-to-day operations, including bookkeeping, reporting, scheduling, filing, and data entry related to volunteers and general administration. 

• Assist with entry and upkeep of all Victoria volunteer and school information in Salesforce. 

• Ensure criminal record checks and reference checks are completed for all Victoria volunteers.

• Submit budget/expense reports to Growing Chefs monthly (or as needed). 

• Perform other duties as required. 

Victoria Community Outreach: 

• Participate in and assist with coordinating Growing Chefs community outreach workshops and community events. 

• Attend community outreach events and host Growing Chefs outreach tables and festival booths. 

• Perform other duties as required. 

Other: 

• With the support of the Growing Chefs fundraising and communications staff: 

• Assist with program donations. (both financial and in-kind) All fundraising opportunities need to be approved by Growing Chefs 

Additional skills an asset:

• Experience working with SalesForce (or other CRM database)

• Experience teaching or facilitating

• FoodSafe certification

• An understanding of data management and basic bookkeeping

• Driver’s License 

• Existing connections in the local restaurant and food industry

References and a criminal record check related to working with children will be required. Growing Chefs encourages all those interested to apply. So if you think you have what it takes, but don’t necessarily meet every single point on the job description, please still get in touch. We’d love to hear from you and see if you could be a great fit. 

To apply:

Interested in joining our team? Please send resume and cover letter to hr@growingchefs.ca by Jan 28th to apply.

We thank all applicants who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Seeking New Executive Director

Growing Chefs is seeking a new Executive Director. Here’s the nitty gritty.

We are a dynamic charity that works with food professionals and educators to get kids excited about healthy, sustainable food. For close to 15 years, we’ve been growing our programs and our links in the community. We plan to continue building on a successful foundation to become one of the leading education and advocacy organizations in our field. 

We have a caring people culture in which we value our staff and nurture their growth. Interested in joining our team?

• POSITION PROFILE AND FULL JOB DESCRIPTION

• QUALIFICATION DETAILS

We are no longer accepting applications.

Growing Chefs! is Growing in Vancouver and Victoria. Join our team!

Do you want to support healthy, sustainable and just food practices and systems? Improve the health and nutrition of kids and youth? Make local, sustainable food accessible? Connect communities through food? If yes, then Growing Chefs! might be the place for you! 

What we offer:

• A supportive, collaborative, fun work environment

• Opportunity to develop, expand your skills

• A chance to make a difference in the food system

We are currently looking for two people to join our team: 

• In Victoria - Chef Educator (closing date: January 10, 2020)

• In Vancouver - Fundraising and Operational Assistant (closing date: January 15, 2020)

We will be conducting interviews as applications come in, so please don’t wait to submit. The positions may be filled before the closing dates.