Head Cook

We are looking for a Head Cook who is comfortable managing both a main meal line and a separate special diets line for approximately 60–80 campers ranging from young children to grandparents. Laurel Family Camp is located in Laurel Hill State Park (Camp1) in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, and runs from August1–8,2026. Kitchen staff arrive Saturday, August1 around 2:00 PM to set up the kitchen alongside Laurel volunteer staff before campers arrive Sunday. Camp concludes Saturday, August8, with kitchen teardown and cleanup, typically completed by early afternoon. The kitchen serves a traditional main serving line in the dining hall while also accommodating gluten‑free, dairy‑free, vegetarian, and allergy‑related needs through a separate special diets setup. Meals are home‑cooked style and thoughtfully accommodate dietary restrictions. Breakfast Menu Pancakes, eggs, and bacon Breakfast burritos French toast and sausage Breakfast casserole Oatmeal, cereal, fruit, milk, and non‑dairy options daily Lunch Menu Quesadillas (chicken or vegetarian) with corn Cold cut sandwiches with gluten‑free bread available Pulled pork sandwiches with pasta salad Hot dogs and macaroni and cheese Daily salad bar with protein options Dinner Menu Pasta bar and salad Herb roasted chicken with rice and vegetables Taco bar / rice bowls Pizza night with gluten‑free and dairy‑free options prepared separately Burgers, fries, and roasted vegetables Leftover buffet / clean‑out night Desserts and snacks are provided throughout the week, including brownies, cobblers, cookies, fruit, popcorn, vegetables and hummus, and other simple snack options. Wednesday is intentionally designed to be a lighter cooking day for the kitchen team, with cold cuts/sandwiches for lunch and delivery pizza and ice cream for dinner, and minor cooking of diet‑sensitive pizza for special diets. Wednesday evening also includes Laurel’s camp talent night. Responsibilities Menu planning and food purchasing within an established camp budget. Cooking, kitchen organization, and supervising assistant kitchen staff. Coordinating workflow and meal timing. Maintaining food safety standards and preventing cross‑contamination. Helping coordinate kitchen setup and closing procedures alongside volunteers and campers. Being available before camp to help coordinate food ordering, pickup, restocking, and related kitchen preparation with Laurel staff. Providing full‑week coverage, including Saturday setup before camp and Saturday closing‑day kitchen cleanup alongside volunteers and campers. Qualifications Experienced cooking and comfortable working in a busy kitchen environment serving approximately 60–80 campers . Comfortable managing a main meal line and a separate special diets line. Ability to accommodate gluten‑free, dairy‑free, vegetarian, and allergy‑related food needs in an organized and safe manner. Understanding of food safety, sanitation, and cross‑contamination prevention practices. Ability to plan and prepare hearty, home‑cooked meals using whole ingredients instead of pre‑packaged or heat‑and‑serve foods. Strong organization and flexibility in a camp kitchen environment. Positive, collaborative, team‑oriented attitude. Comfortable supervising assistant kitchen staff and coordinating kitchen workflow and meal timing. Ability to stand for extended periods and lift kitchen supplies and food deliveries. SafeServe certification appreciated, but not required. #J-18808-Ljbffr