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APPLY by December 16, 2022 CLOSED

Cafe Supervisor

Division: Cafe Marie Deadline to apply: December 16, 2022, 4:00 pm Email resume to: Christie MacNeil <hr@newdawn.ca> Schedule: Permanent/Full-Time Salary/Wage: $45,000/Year Openings: 1

Job Description

The Café Supervisor is responsible for the curation and care of the Café at Eltuek, located within Eltuek Arts Centre, a creative cultural hub and centre for contemporary art and community in Sydney, Unama’ki, Cape Breton Island. Eltuek Arts Centre is owned and operated by New Dawn Enterprises, which also oversees the New Dawn Community Kitchen.

Eltuek (El-du-ehg) is a Mi’kmaw word that can mean “we are making it together.” Together we define what “it” will be – a conversation, a shared meal, food for those in need, local food security, community.

The Café at Eltuek is a social enterprise. Working out of the New Dawn Community Kitchen, the café team creates delicious, exciting, nutrient-dense, and diverse food for purchase in the Café and for service through the Catering division.

The New Dawn Community Kitchen is home to Meals on Wheels, the Café and Catering division, local food programming, and the Good Food Bus. We are a charitable, non-profit, volunteer-driven organization committed to fostering independence and quality of life.

Revenue generated from the Café helps to support the mission and vision of the New Dawn Community Kitchen, and specifically the Meals on Wheels program. Every year, the Meals on Wheels team prepares and delivers over 20,000 affordable meals made with care for people in our community. This continued support enables more family and friends to live well, at home, in Unama’ki, Cape Breton.

Each week, you’ll bring a strong sense of pride and care to this role, providing leadership, accountability, and an attention to detail that inspires your colleagues. Focusing on the visitor experience to the Café and to Eltuek Arts Centre in general, you have brilliant customer service skills, an adept ability to listen and anticipate the wants and needs of others, and your commitment to excellence and growth elevates the everyday workplace experience.

Supervising frontline staff is a core expectation of the position. You provide empathy and empowerment to your team, and lead with healthy boundaries, solid administrative and communication skills, and a collaborative kindness that attracts talent, creativity, and a sense of vibrancy in our shared work. The daily work is physical and demanding, but you know you are providing service that has an essential side. In this way, the café is community development. At Eltuek, we’re feeding minds and bodies through art, change, and community.

This is a full-time, continuing position that requires 32 hours of work per week. The Café’s hours of operation are presently Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm, although this position will require work outside of these hours. Eltuek staff values and nurtures partnerships with many community organizations that require after-hours events and catering – Lumiere, North End Noel, Open Studio Days, after hours mixers, weddings, private parties, exhibition openings, etc. Business hours for the café may vary throughout the year to ensure peak service hours are met, to optimize café revenue, and to host special events and programs.

Your need for creativity in the workplace will be met through program development and community partnerships, café and menu design, music pairings, planning and hosting events, staff functions and activities, and working with artists through the arts centre.

The Café Supervisor will work alongside the Head Cook & Supervisor of the New Dawn Community Kitchen to ensure overall division services, goals, and objectives are met, and proper inventory for the café is maintained.

The Café Supervisor will also work closely with the Chef of Café and Catering, the Meals on Wheels Coordinator, Eltuek staff, and other divisions of New Dawn Enterprises, to create and develop food programming, recommendations on policies and best practices within the workplace, welcome newcomers through foodways, festivals, and other programming, and to promote Café events, menu, and mission through social and traditional media platforms.

As with all positions within New Dawn Community Kitchen, there may be instances where the Café Supervisor may be asked for assistance with the meal preparation, packing, and delivery associated with Meals on Wheels. The Community Kitchen is a collaborative space and requires team leadership, cooperation, and highly effective communication skills to operate effectively daily.

  • Provide supervisory support, scheduling, conflict resolution, and oversight of the team’s work, including addressing areas needing improvement, bringing performance issues to management attention, etc.
  • Ensure that the café is prepared to open daily, and the café and lounge areas are clean, inventory levels and supplies adequate, and equipment is working properly.
  • Oversee the Café social media calendar and provide direction on vibe, design, and strategies for all platforms, producing content, reviewing analytics, and communicating with staff on special events and more.
  • Working with the Head Cook, arrive at and revise as needed a schedule for the daily operations of the New Dawn Community Kitchen that allows for Café lunch rush and the busy meal packaging period for Meals on Wheels.
  • Working with the Head Chef and Head Baker to assist with local food and vendor sourcing wherever possible given budget, complete supply orders for café and catering, and complete accurate menu costing for each menu item and seasonal menus.
  • Ensure quality and food safety through the development of policies and procedures.
  • Performing sanitary measures including sweeping floors, washing dishes and equipment, cleaning high touch surfaces, as well as proper covering and storage of food items, according to standards and procedures.
  • Monitor TouchBistro software with respect to operations and revenue goals, and to build customer relations, inventories, save time and money, and generate financial reports.
  • Prepare daily transaction reports and deposits for the New Dawn Enterprises accounting department.
  • Monitor employee and guest activities to ensure alcohol service regulations are obeyed.
  • Adhere to all regulations which address blood borne pathogens, infection control, use of hazardous materials and fire safety.
  • Report any infraction or workplace incidents in the food services department policies and procedures.
  • Monitor and maintain all quality control records, ensuring quality assurance and loss prevention policies and procedures are being adhered to.
  • Ensure all Occupational Health and Safety requirements are met and that all café staff likewise adhere to OHS requirements.
  • Demonstrate flexibility with scheduling and show a willingness to volunteer to fill open shifts, as required by variations in staffing.
  • Maintain a flexible schedule to ensure that café and catering staffing need is met on a weekly or biweekly basis.
  • Deliver meals for Meals on Wheels program, when required.
  • Promote the mission and values of the organization both internally and externally and oversee café staff adherence to these same values and mission.
  • Other duties as assigned by the collective team and/or management.
  • Creativity
  • Community
  • Leadership
  • Attention to Detail
  • Independence
  • Collaboration
  • Education
  • Integrity
  • Service
  • Problem Solving
  • Patience
  • Kindness
  • Five years of experience in the food and hospitality industry.
  • Food Safety training and CPR/First Aid certification are required.
  • Barista experience is considered an asset.
  • The ability to interact and collaborate with customers, vendors, staff, and the public in a professional and courteous manner.
  • Knowledge of methods and procedures for serving food, principles of sanitation, and principles of safe food handling required.
  • Superior time management skills, multitasking skills, and the ability to prioritize tasks with minimal supervision.
  • A valid driver’s license and/or access to reliable transportation.
  • Highly effective teamwork skills.
  • High level of attention to detail in all areas of work.
  • Highly flexible, with solid interpersonal skills that allow one to work effectively in a diverse working environment.
  • Strong problem identification and problem resolution skills.
  • Strong work ethic and positive team attitude.
  • Basic computer skills for the use of email, Microsoft Office Suite, TouchBistro, etc.
  • New Dawn Community Kitchen is a fast-paced work environment
  • The physical ability to lift to 50lbs as the Café Supervisor may be required to frequently lift and/or carry up to 10 pounds, and occasionally lift and move up to 50 pounds
  • This position requires the employee to stand for long periods of time
  • This position requires the employee to occasionally stoop, kneel, crouch and/or crawl
  • This position requires the employee to bend, lift and reach repeatedly
  • May be exposed to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc.
  • Must interact with volunteers, family of clients, staff, and visitors in a respectful manner
  • Manual dexterity required to use a computer, café/kitchen equipment and peripherals
  • Travel may be required
  • Overtime as required

AIP Employer

New Dawn is proud to be a designated Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) employer. Eligible employees may be able to receive employer support for permanent residency applications through the program. Employees are responsible for confirming their eligibility under the AIP or any other immigration stream before seeking employer endorsement. 

Compensation Package

At New Dawn Enterprises, we recognize that employee well-being is fundamental to individual success, organizational excellence, and thriving communities. In addition to competitive salaries, permanent salaried employees may be eligible for the following benefits and supports. Eligibility for specific benefits may vary based on employment status, position, and length of service.

Group Health Employee Benefits

New Dawn offers eligible employees participation in group benefits which are provided by GroupHEALTH and include coverage for medical, dental, and vision care, as well as insurance coverage including long-term disability, life, and accidental death and dismemberment. New Dawn pays 50% of group benefit premiums. Long-term disability premiums are fully employee-paid, allowing any future disability benefits received to remain non-taxable.

Extended Health & Well-Being  

GroupHEALTH offers integrated wellness services through Sparrow Health, including enhanced mental health support, seamless access to virtual healthcare, and an Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP). Services include critical incident support, 24/7 crisis assistance, substance-use management, and other wellness resources.

Retirement Savings Matching Program

Eligible employees may choose to participate in New Dawn’s Self-Directed Retirement Savings Matching Program by contributing up to 5% of their gross salary toward a registered retirement savings plan, which is deducted from their pay cheque. New Dawn matches employee contributions dollar-for-dollar up to 5% of gross salary. Eligible savings accounts include Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) and eligible Community Economic Development Investment Funds (CEDIFs).

Flexible Work Arrangements

In recognition of the benefits of greater work-life balance and the value of flexibility and autonomy for human well-being, New Dawn makes every effort to offer flexible work schedules. Divisions across New Dawn are structured differently and may offer varying levels of flexibility while continuing to meet operational requirements. Depending on the role, flexible arrangements may include self-scheduling (regular schedule and/or time off coverage), flexible start and end times, remote work, and other accommodations.

Reduced Hours Work Week

Full-time salaried employees are eligible to participate in a 32-hour reduced-hours work week while maintaining full-time employment status and compensation. These hours can be worked over four 8-hour days, or five 6.5-hour days, with the chosen schedule identified at the beginning of employment and at the start of each year.

Paid Vacation 

Full-time, salaried employees are entitled to 120 hours (equivalent to 15 days) of paid vacation annually. Part-time, salaried employees are entitled to paid annual vacation hours prorated to their FTE status.

Paid Mental & Physical Wellness Days 

Full-time, salaried employees are entitled to 56 hours (7 days) of paid mental and physical wellness leave annually. Part-time, salaried employees are entitled to paid annual leave for mental and physical health prorated to their FTE status. These hours can be used to take time off work for physical and/or mental wellness/illness, and to attend appointments for the employee and/or their dependents.

Paid Holidays 

New Dawn observes the following thirteen (13) public holidays annually, exceeding current statutory minimums. These include: New Year’s Day, Nova Scotia Heritage Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Civic Holiday, Labour Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Thanksgiving, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.

Subject to operational requirements, New Dawn may provide eligible employees an additional paid office closure between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day annually, allowing employees additional time with family and loved ones without using vacation entitlement.

Rewards & Recognition 

New Dawn celebrates employee contributions through service awards, milestone recognition, and ongoing appreciation programs that acknowledge achievements and significant personal and professional milestones.

Paid Required Education Renewals

When certifications, training, licenses, or credentials are required for a position, New Dawn covers renewal costs. Support for professional designations and licensing fees may also be provided based on role requirements and divisional budgets.

Professional Development

New Dawn is committed to supporting employees in developing their skills, expanding their knowledge, and pursuing lifelong learning opportunities. Development of new position-relevant skills and perspectives creates a stronger, more informed, and modern organization. Employees are encouraged to explore professional development opportunities in collaboration with their manager.

Café Marie Discount

Employees are entitled to a staff discount at Café Marie, located in the Eltuek Arts Centre.

Corporate YMCA Membership Program

To support employee health and wellness, New Dawn offers a corporate membership in partnership with the Cape Breton YMCA. The corporate membership provides staff with a 12% discount on the cost of individual membership, and New Dawn covers 50% of the discounted individual membership cost.

New Dawn

New Dawn is Canada’s oldest Community Development Corporation. Since 1976, we’ve been working to create a more just, healthy, and self-determined community by responding to local needs and driving long-term, systems-level change. Today, New Dawn continues to focus on self-reliance, resilience, and community-led transformation. Every day, we engage thousands of community members and employ over 150 Cape Bretoners through programs and services that are practical, creative, and grounded in care. Our work spans health and social care, housing, the arts, youth, immigration, and community development. Some of these services generate revenue, which we reinvest into our organization — fueling sustainability and deepening community impact.

Cafe Marie

Cafe Marie and Catering is a social enterprise supporting the work of New Dawn Meals on Wheels, which provides affordable and nutritious food to those in need. Local food served in a casual atmosphere. Breakfast, lunch, baked goods, coffee, teas, cold drinks. Located in Eltuek Arts Centre, featuring contemporary art in a newly renovated building in Sydney’s north end.

Posted November 23, 2022 by New Dawn
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Get in touch

New Dawn Enterprises
37 Nepean St, Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 6A7
newdawn@newdawn.ca
902-539-9560

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Eymu’ti’k Unama’ki

Eymu’ti’k Unama’ki, newte’jk l’uiknek te’sikl Mi’kmawe’l maqamikall mna’q iknmuetumittl. Ula maqamikew wiaqi-wikasik Wantaqo’tie’l aqq I’lamatultimkewe’l Ankukamkewe’l Mi’kmaq aqq Eleke’wuti kisa’matultisnik 1726ek.

We are in Unama’ki, one of the seven traditional and unceded ancestral territories of the people of Mi’kma’ki. This territory is covered by the Treaties of Peace and Friendship which the Mi’kmaq first signed with the British Crown in 1726.

Ketu’-keknuite’tmek aqq kepmite’tmek ula tela’matultimkip wjit maqamikew ta’n etekl mtmo’taqne’l. Ula tett, ula maqamikek, etl-lukutiek l’tunen aqq apoqntmnen apoqnmasimk aqq weliknamk Unama’ki.

We wish to recognize and honour this understanding of the lands on which we reside. It is from here, on these lands, that we work to create and support a culture of self-reliance and vibrancy.