Job Summary

The Bakery Clerk (Commis de Boulangerie) at Metro on Rideau Street is a dynamic, customer-facing role in one of Ottawa’s busiest urban grocery hubs. As a “Freshness Ambassador,” you are responsible for the visual appeal and quality of the bakery department. This role requires the “wit” to manage detailed inventory rotation and the “grit” to maintain a high-energy pace during the morning and weekend rushes in the downtown core.

Job Details

Employer: Metro Inc.
Location: 255 Rideau St, Ottawa, ON (Near University of Ottawa and the ByWard Market).
Pay Rate: Starts at $17.60 per hour (Note: The posting mentions $16.60, but per Ontario’s 2026 collective standards and minimum wage laws, the floor is $17.60).
Status: Part-time, Permanent (Unionized environment).
Shifts: Days, Evenings, and Weekends.

Key Responsibilities: The Bakery Lifecycle

You are the guardian of the “Fresh-Baked” promise, ensuring the department is both sanitary and inviting.

Merchandising & Display: Stock shelves and counters with breads, pastries, and specialty items. You must ensure displays are “beautifully presented” to drive sales.
Inventory Stewardship: Unpack shipments, perform inventory counts, and monitor quality. You are responsible for removing items that do not meet Metro’s high standards.
The “FIFO” Rule: Ensure proper stock rotation so that the freshest items are always available while reducing waste.
Customer Engagement: Provide “hospitality-first” service by assisting with selections and answering questions about ingredients or allergens.
Operational Maintenance: Keep all work surfaces and equipment sanitized. You will also manage accurate labeling, pricing, and promotional signage.

Candidate Profile & Qualifications

The “Service Specialist”: Prior bakery experience and product knowledge are highly recommended.
Communication Wit: Strong verbal skills are essential. Given the Rideau Street location, bilingualism (English/French) is a significant asset for assisting a diverse international and local clientele.
Physical Grit: Ability to stand for prolonged periods and handle the repetitive motions of stocking and cleaning.
Technical Skill: Ability to follow recipes and food safety guidelines with precision.
Flexibility: Must be available for a variety of shifts, including weekends and evenings.

Technical Insights: The Retail Bakery Environment

Working in a unionized commercial bakery involves specific procedural standards.

Bargaining Unit Dynamics: Being part of a union means your wages, benefits, and seniority rights are protected by a Collective Agreement. This provides a transparent scale for raises and shift bidding.
Food Safety Compliance: You must adhere to HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) principles, ensuring that temperature-sensitive items are stored correctly to prevent spoilage.
Shrink Management: You will be responsible for “markdowns”—pricing items for quick sale as they approach their best-before date to minimize food waste.

Diversity and Culture at Metro

Metro is committed to building a team that reflects the multicultural heart of Ottawa.

Inclusive Recruitment: Metro explicitly values a diversity of backgrounds. They encourage applicants to disclose any need for accommodations during the hiring process to ensure an equitable experience.
AI Disclosure: In compliance with Ontario’s Bill 149, Metro discloses that AI is used to help screen applications for efficiency, but emphasizes that all final hiring decisions are made by human recruiters.
Urban Hub Advantage: Working at the Rideau Street location places you at a focal point of the city. It is a high-traffic area that requires a Clerk who can remain calm and professional under constant customer flow.

Job Description

Do you believe that the smell of fresh bread is the best way to start a day? Metro is seeking a Bakery Clerk for our Rideau Street team. We aren’t just looking for someone to “put donuts on a shelf”; we are looking for a department expert who has the “grit” to manage a busy weekend crowd and the “wit” to share the perfect pastry recommendation with a hungry customer. If you take pride in quality and want to work in a fast-paced, unionized environment, you belong at Metro.

In this role, you are a “Quality Controller.” You understand that presentation is just as important as taste. Your goal is to provide “Excellence in Freshness,” ensuring our bakery remains the neighborhood’s first choice. We look for “Customer-driven” individuals who are organized, communicative, and ready to contribute to a collaborative team.

Joining Metro means joining a permanent team with a structured wage scale and a commitment to your professional growth. We offer a workplace that respects diversity and rewards hard work. If you are a service professional with a passion for “Presentation and Food Safety,” we invite you to apply and help us bake a difference in Ottawa.

Metro Inc.: Nourishing the Health and Well-being of Communities

Metro Inc. is a leading food and pharmacy retailer in Quebec and Ontario, defined by a culture of customer-centricity, operational excellence, and social responsibility. Its purpose, “Nourish the health and well-being of our communities,” drives a mission to be the “grocer of choice” by listening to, informing, and advising customers. The internal environment is characterized by “ONE METRO” spirit—a collaborative, results-oriented culture that values entrepreneurship, agility, and respect. Metro balances its long-standing roots (founded in 1947) with a modern, high-tech approach to the “omnichannel” retail experience.

In Ottawa, Metro is a major neighborhood anchor, providing both essential goods and specialized local services:

Extensive Store Network: Metro operates approximately 10 high-traffic locations across the city, including key spots like Beachwood Ave, Lincoln Fields, and Convent Glen. These are complemented by its discount banner, Food Basics, which offers a similar focus on value across the National Capital Region.
The “One More Bite” Program: As a leader in food security, Metro’s Ottawa locations participate in the “One More Bite” initiative. This program recovers unsold, high-quality products and redistributes them to local partners like Feed Ontario and the Ottawa Food Bank, providing millions of meals to those in need.
METRO Shared Kitchens: Launched in Ontario in 2025-2026, this flagship community initiative supports the creation and equipping of modern, accessible kitchens. In the Ottawa area, these hubs allow community groups to process surplus food, offer culinary workshops, and foster food autonomy for vulnerable populations.
Commitment to Local Purchasing: Metro’s culture is deeply rooted in supporting the regional economy. Their Local Purchasing Policy ensures that Ottawa stores prioritize products from Ontario producers, making it easier for customers to identify and buy “homegrown” fruits, vegetables, and specialty items.
2022-2026 Corporate Responsibility Plan: As Metro enters the final year of this roadmap, Ottawa operations are focused on ambitious targets:
- Zero Waste: Aiming for a 90% diversion rate across locations.
- Climate Action: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 42% by 2030 (Scopes 1 & 2).
- Packaging: Transitioning toward 100% recyclable or compostable materials for all private-brand packaging.

Working or shopping at Metro in Ottawa means engaging with a company that views itself as a strategic partner in community health. Whether it’s through the Metro Pharmacy services integrated into their stores or their consistent support for the Ottawa Community Foundation, the experience is defined by a commitment to sustainability and a “people-first” retail philosophy.

To apply for this job please visit corpo.metro.ca.