Job Description

–About Gina’s Gelato-

At Gina’s Gelato, we believe in upholding slow food ideals and creating desserts that reflect old-world values, including only using 100% natural ingredients that are locally sourced whenever possible. We create everything from scratch, from nut pastes to sweetened condensed milk, and never rely on pre-made bases for our gelato and sorbetto – a rarity, yes, but important for preserving the craft of authentic gelato, sorbetto and desserts.

And we do things a little differently than your everyday ice cream or gelato shop to create those great experiences: We look to provide five-star service in unexpected ways. This includes building out an upscale front of house (yes, including the washroom), gold-tray service (we literally use gold trays), personal french press service, and providing gelato and sorbetto tastings for each guest.

We’re constantly dreaming up new ways of presenting desserts, creating new flavours, and looking for ways to partner as locally as possible to get fresh ingredients close to home. Our passion is making deliciously unique gelato, sorbetto, desserts, drinks (and all the fun extras). We believe food made with the best ingredients and by the best team creates the best experiences both for the team and our guests.

Our team members deliver fantastic experiences for our gelato guests while keeping the cleanest, safest, and most organised gelato shop (gelateria) — and making it look effortless. We are all about creating a place for friends to gather and enjoy time with each other. No wifi. No tv. Just traditionally-made gelati (plural for “gelato), sorbetti (you guessed it: plural for sorbetto), and desserts made by hand in a vintage shop and enjoyed with good company.

We expect a lot of each other but our team works together to give mountains back in return. There’s lots to learn, so what you don’t know yet, we’ll help you get there.

If this sounds like the kind of team and work culture that would be second nature for you, please read on and apply!

–Who We’re Looking For–

We value graciousness, resourcefulness, and integrity. We’re looking for detailed and creative people who live to go the extra mile and love to learn; team members who are ready to bring new ideas to the table so we can grow together.

Growth Mindset: You’re eager to learn and improve, both as an individual and as part of the team. You understand that challenges are opportunities for growth.

Attention to Detail: You thrive in an environment that demands precision.

Collaborative Spirit: You love being part of a team that shares ideas, grows together, and values communication.

Respect for Local Ingredients: You appreciate the beauty of working with local and natural ingredients, and you’re excited to contribute to our effort to reduce food waste.

–Servers: Masters of Hospitality (Position Description)–

Our servers help create a high-end, 1920s-vibe experience, giving table service to guests and serving up incredibly handmade desserts, drinks, & old-world style gelato. Servers get a chance to create bright moments for each person who walks through the door. They have an eye for creating beauty and a heart for 5-star service.

Our servers:

Deliver supremely superior service by being gracious, knowledgeable, and upbeat with both guests and fellow team members
Learn and share information with our guests about our products and local suppliers
Are sticklers for sparkles (in the shop, patio, and washrooms); this includes:
cleaning the gelato display and other equipment;
polishing our reusable spoons before restocking
wiping down shelves, handles, glass surfaces, and yes — even walls (tiny, sticky hands are encouraged in the shop, but we don’t want to leave clues behind);
emptying waste baskets;
sweeping, mopping, and spot cleaning the floors throughout the day;
organising what the public can see and what they can’t (nothing swept under rugs here!);
cleaning up all areas after a guest interaction; this includes after every scoop, each table and seat usage, and each washroom visit, too!
Make sure each gelato flavour has its best foot forward by ensuring each item (gelato/sorbetto/desserts) is stocked and looks a-mmm-azing
Greet guests of all ages (must love kids and adults alike) with a warm welcome (this includes smiles and an enthusiastic tone of voice)
Provide gelato and sorbetto tasters and share the stories and ingredients of each item we serve at Gina’s Gelato (must be willing to learn and share info about local suppliers, growers, and any extra tidbits with every guest)
Work with each other to solve problems and look for ways to create unexpected moments for our guests
Share and exemplify the values of our gelateria with guests and fellow team members
Prepare orders according to guest requests
Plate and present desserts for guests
Prepare & serve coffee, teas, frappes (milkshakes) and etc.
Assist with the checkout process (our point of sale system; we’ll show you how), and provide accurate change for orders paid by cash
Assist fellow team members with various jobs (we’re a team, so we watch out for each other)
Serve canine-friendly treats to our four-legged friends outdoors
Brainstorm with kitchen and service staff on future ideas for Gina’s Gelato
Alert kitchen staff when items are running low (like cones and cookies) and need to be made
Create social media with the team and be included in social media content (your face will be on screens)
Rotate stock, update inventory, and keep track of dates (food safety)

–Schedule & Hours:–

We are open 10+ months out of the year (we currently close for Christmas through mid-Feb), and our hours are based on the season. Please keep in mind that hours before and after the shop closes are necessary for set-up and will be part of each staff member’s schedule.

Hours are up to 40 hours a week; we may hire for a part-time or full-time position, depending on the right fit.

During the summer (our high season), we ask our team to be available from the start of June (earlier preferred) until at least September 10, preferably through the end of September—with reduced hours considered as needed for local students.

Positions during the rest of the year will be dependent on seasonal hours. During the school year, we try to accommodate requests for hours around school commitments as best we can (and we have a really good track record here – we even want you to bring your homework to work on during slower periods : )

–Next Steps/Application Link–

We invite you to drop in whenever we’re open to talk with any of the servers about their experience, too, to see if it’s a good fit for you.

To read the full job description (recommended) and apply, please visit our job page on our website. Our job application and hiring process is unique, with your application and first “interview” rolled into one online process.

Please see our page for all the details: https://ginasgelato.com/ginas-gelato-employment/

–When You’ll Hear Back–

Successful candidates will be contacted for an in-person interview.

If you do not hear back, it is because we have already filled, have closed the position, or don’t currently have a position matching your skill set. However, we do keep your application on file and may contact you about potential openings in the future.

Please, no resumes at this point. (That’s a relief, though, right? 🙂

____________________

At Gina’s Gelato, we believe in doing our best work together while respecting each person’s individual strengths and aspirations. We’re not perfect yet but aim to create a place where we enjoy our work, can contribute meaningfully, and feel supported in a true team-driven environment.

If you’re passionate about handmade, natural food and want to be part of a small business that values hard work and collaboration, we’d love to hear from you.

Responsibilities & Qualifications

–Requirements–

You are eligible to work in Canada and have the necessary paperwork to do so
You’re committed. Your word is golden; you know that being part of a team means others are counting on you and that matters a heck of a lot to you
You’re committed to working without extended time off during summer
You’re able and open to tasting all of our gelato and desserts; i.e. you can be an ambassador for all our food products, including ones that contain dairy, egg, nut, and/or wheat and grain, etc.
You’re able to work on your feet for up to 8 hours a day
You’re able to scoop gelato repetitively
You’re able to lift up to 25kg (55lbs)
You can commit to at least 20 hours/week
You bring a can-do attitude; you’re resourceful and see “problems” as a challenge that kicks your creative thinking skills into gear; you love finding solutions and creating unique experiences for others
You want to be part of a team environment; you see Gina’s Gelato as “everyone’s job” — i.e. if something needs to be done, you do it or let someone know it needs to be done (e.g. messes anywhere — kitchen or front of house — are cleaned by all of us)
You naturally use clean, respectful words — in front of customers and fellow team members; this includes:
not gossiping
keeping topics respectful & only using G-rated language (we do not engage in topics or use words that may be hurtful, offensive, or exclusive for people of various religions, political views, social beliefs, ethnicities, nationalities, ages, abilities, etc.)
and being proactive to steer conversations into positive territory
You’re a master of communication; you can turn nearly every situation into a positive, can easily talk with others, are able to keep the conversation moving when it’s busy, and uphold everyone’s dignity even when their worldview is vastly different to your own
You’re willing to regularly contribute to the team-run Tiktok account as well as be photographed and featured across our social media channels and potential other public-facing media outlets (e.g. Nelson Star/local news; or if a guest takes a photo for their own Instagram)
You’re teachable, humble & flexible; you know things might change day in and day out with what the team and the customers need; you are A-Ok with things changing up and are ready to lend a hand (or ideas)
You think people of all ages are the greatest!
You’re happy to listen to early 20th-century music during your shift and wear clothes that adhere to our dress standards

–Physical Requirements–

Ability to work on your feet for extended periods
Ability to lift up to 25kg (55lbs)
Availability for 20–40 hours/week, moving to 40 hours in the summer

Salary/Wage

17.40

Other Perks/Benefits

–What We Offer– Training & Mentorship: Further skill development in various areas; we have a strong desire for all team members to be able to integrate their interests within the company (we like to think of our team as individual “intrapreneurs :)”) and opportunities to advance within the company as we grow. Growth Opportunities: We’re looking for someone who wants to grow with us—taking on more responsibility, contributing to new menu ideas, or potentially creating a new role for Gina’s Gelato as we progress. Chances for Advancement: We prefer to promote and hire from within, and we traditionally start everyone as a server. From there, you can move up into team coordinator, manager, or even be brought on as kitchen assistant or staff. We are interested in our staff’s individual goals and want to be a place that provides learning and mentorship however we can. A Collaborative Environment: Join a team that’s committed to supporting one another and creating a work environment that’s positive, inclusive, and driven by shared goals. A free scoop with every shift 😉

Recommended Training

Safety Basics - Health & Safety Orientation

Job Application Process

Join the Gina’s Gelato Team & work in beautiful Nelson, BC

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