Sous Chef, URJ Camp Newman

Job Description

Job Description

Sous Chef

Location: Camp Newman Santa Rosa, CA

Organization: Union for Reform Judaism

Employment Type: Full Time, Benefits Eligible, ADMIN, Non-Exempt

Department: Camps & Immersives – Camp Newman

Reporting to : Executive Chef

Start Date: ASAP

Salary Range: $27.00 - $30.00/hour with an annualized salary of $56,160-$62,400 plus competitive benefits package

The Role

URJ Camp Newman is looking for a skilled and collaborative Sous Chef to join our culinary team in beautiful Sonoma County. In this role, you will help prepare and serve meals that bring people together, supporting a vibrant camp and retreat community made up of youth, families, and staff. This is a year-round position. The pace and focus shift throughout the year, with an energetic summer camp season (June–August) and a retreat and rental season (August–May).

What You Will Do

• Prepare and cook meals for large groups, ensuring consistency, quality, and nutritional balance

• Support day-to-day kitchen operations, including food prep, portioning, and service

• Train and guide kitchen staff, including seasonal team members, fostering a positive and efficient work environment

• Help manage inventory and ensure ingredients and supplies are well stocked

• Support front-of-house service and engage with guests to enhance their dining experience

• Maintain high standards of food safety, cleanliness, and sanitation in compliance with health regulations

• Collaborate on menu planning, including options that meet diverse dietary needs such as vegetarian, kosher-style, and allergy-sensitive meals

• Partner with camp and retreat staff to meet special requests and ensure a welcoming, inclusive experience for all

Who You Are

You are a dependable and experienced culinary professional who enjoys working as part of a team and takes pride in delivering great food and service.

Keys to Success (the must-haves)

• Kitchen Experience: You have experience working in a professional kitchen, ideally with some leadership or supervisory responsibilities

• Team-Oriented Approach: You work well with others, can support and train team members, and contribute to a positive kitchen culture

• Food Safety Awareness: You understand and follow best practices for food handling, storage, and sanitation

• Adaptability: You can adjust to changing menus, dietary needs, and busy service periods with ease

• Community Mindset: You value creating welcoming, inclusive spaces and enjoy contributing to a mission-driven environment

Preferred Qualifications

• 3+ years of kitchen experience, ideally in high-volume or camp settings

• Bilingual (English/Spanish) fluency skills strongly preferred

• Culinary certification (a plus, not required)

• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs, stand for extended periods, and work in a fast-paced kitchen environment

• Willingness to work evenings, weekends, and extended hours during peak seasons

Application Process

Please apply online and include a resume and a one-page cover letter describing your interest in the role and how your experience aligns with the qualifications listed. We look forward to hearing from you!  

About the Union for Reform Judaism

Camp Newman is part of the Union for Reform Judaism’s network of camps, creating meaningful Jewish experiences for youth, families, and communities. Located in Sonoma County, Camp Newman serves hundreds of campers in the summer and hosts retreats and events year-round.

Serving more than 800 congregations and reaching nearly 2 million people, the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) is the engine of Reform Judaism in North America, strengthening the communities, leaders, programs, and experiences that help people find meaning, belonging, joy, justice, and purpose through Reform Jewish values and teachings. Through congregational partnerships, 14 overnight camps, youth and teen programs, Jewish learning opportunities, Israel engagement, leadership development, work to build communities of belonging, and the justice efforts of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, we help people and communities connect to Jewish life at every stage of their journey.

We believe Jewish life is strongest when it is rooted in tradition, responsive to the world around us, connected to Israel and the Jewish people, committed to justice, and expansive enough to welcome many voices, identities, and pathways into community and belonging. Together with our congregations, camps, leaders, and partners, the URJ is building a more connected, resilient, and joyful Reform Movement, helping shape a Jewish future grounded in peace, justice, belonging, and joy.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The URJ strives to be a welcoming and inclusive environment that acknowledges diversity as a critical strength. We promote strenuous policies and practices of equal opportunity and diversity, equity, and inclusion. It is our objective to recruit, hire, and retain the most qualified individuals including those of any race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic or status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Our equal employment philosophy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, compensation, benefits, training, promotions, transfers, job benefits, and terminations. The URJ encourages applications from women, people of color, persons with disabilities, individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+, and other often underrepresented groups.