Kitchen Staff

Job Description

Job Description

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule

Title: Kitchen Staff

Status: Seasonal, Part-time; Non-Exempt

Reports to: Kitchen Manager

Residence: No residency requirement

The Abode of the Message, Inc. is a retreat and conference center located on over 300 acres within an historic Shaker complex in New Lebanon, New York. Founded in 1975, the Abode began as a residential community with a spiritual base and a variety of enterprises. Today the Abode is advancing its focus as a retreat center and sanctuary, promoting collective and individual discovery through meaningful experiences and opportunities for growth. The Kitchen Staff supports the culinary operations of the Abode under the direction of the Kitchen Manager.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Performs food preparation tasks as directed by the Kitchen Manager;

• Cooks food according to menus, special dietary or nutritional restrictions, or numbers of portions to be served;

• Ensures compliance with food safety regulations by taking temperatures while cooking foods, maintaining safe temperatures of prepared food, appropriately cooling hot food and reheating cold food; and storing ingredients and prepared foods properly;

• Performs general cleaning activities in kitchen and dining areas;

• Washes pots, pans, dishes, utensils, or other cooking equipment;

• Portions and serves food to residents, employees, or guests;

• Restocks kitchen supplies, rotates food, and stamps the time and date on food in coolers;

• Takes inventory of supplies and equipment as directed by the Kitchen Manager;

• Communicates any equipment or safety concerns immediately to the Kitchen Manager or Facilities team; 

• Follows meal preparation, serving, and cleaning instructions as provided by the Kitchen Manager in their absence; and

• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Skills

• No professional cooking experience required; preference given to individuals with professional cooking experience;
• Ability to learn and demonstrate the basic principles of food safety consistently;
• Ability to follow written or verbal instructions related to food preparation;
• Ability to safely use kitchen equipment either through demonstrated skills or training;
• Ability to work with minimal supervision at times;
• Good problem-solving, communication, and organizational skills;
• Comfort working with people of different faith traditions;
• Volunteer or professional experience with a spirituality-based hospitality or non-profit organization preferred but not required; and
• Prior history or relationship with the Abode is desirable but not required.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift up to 20 pounds regularly;
• May require lifting heavier objects, with or without support;
• Requires ongoing physical activity including: bending, stretching, and standing.