NVO Kitchen Cook

JOB SUMMARY

The NVO Kitchen Cook will work as part of a team to provide meals to NVO staff and occasional guests as part of regular daily meal service, family meals, and select parties. The primary responsibilities include contributing to the planning and preparation of the weekly menu, food supply receiving, inventory and stocking, meal prep and cooking, serving, post meal kitchen clean up and other kitchen support as needed. The ideal candidate will have some experience in cooking for large groups and will have a passion for providing delicious “home cooked” nutritious meals.

This is a temporary, full-time, non-exempt role, based in Gerlach, NV running from April to August 2026.

The deadline to apply for this role is 5:00 pm Pacific on March 20th, 2026.

DUTIES & ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Food Preparation and Cooking  (60%)

• Meal preparation and cooking, service, and cleanup.
• Prepare all food items, as directed, in a sanitary and timely manner.
• Follow recipes and maintain portion control.
• Update the inventory list and restock all items as needed throughout shifts.
• Properly use and aid in the maintenance of all kitchen equipment.
• Contribute to menu planning, offering suggestions of new/different items to consider. 
• Work and travel between the Saloon and Ranch Kitchens as needed.

Kitchen Cleanup and Maintenance (35%)  

• Log and report all needs to the NVO Kitchen Assistant Manager. 
• Clean, sanitize and organize kitchen equipment, refrigerators, coolers, freezers and dry storage areas. 
• Maintain kitchen cleanliness, organization, and upkeep while ensuring that the best safety and sanitation standards are upheld and implemented.
• Update the inventory list and restock all items as needed throughout shifts.

Other Functions and Responsibilities (5%)

• Meal delivery day unpacking, organizing, and rotating stock.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

LEARNING AND TEACHING

• Documentation - Assists in the creation, publishing, and maintenance of process documentation related to their assigned duties.
• Knowledge sharing – Helps acculturate and educate junior staff in Burning Man culture and business processes.
• Training development - Collaborates with the education team to develop training materials in their area of expertise, as requested.
• Learning – Pursues ongoing learning in their area of expertise, working to stay current on emergent knowledge, skills, and processes.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Ability to adjust schedule seasonally to work  in the remote location of Gerlach prior to the Burning Man event. 
• A passion and knowledge of food.
• Great knife skills
• Ability to scale recipes to accommodate fluctuating staff sizes. 
• Knowledgeable and capable of maintaining and practicing food preparation techniques, kitchen safety, and safe food handling procedures.
• Familiar and able to act in accordance with Burning Man’s staff policies.
• Must abide by the rules and codes of conduct described in the NVO Compass, Ranch Protocols, and the NVO Kitchen S.O.P. Honest and ethical with a dedication to the Burning Man principles and behavioral standards.
• Physically capable of lifting heavy objects (minimum 50 pounds) safely; ability to stand for long periods of time as well as bend, reach, lift, willing to get dirty.
• Capable of working in an extreme environment including significant temperature changes, high winds, and low to no visibility at times.

PREFERRED

• It is helpful if the candidate has previously been to Burning Man and/or is familiar with its culture.
• Some knowledge of veggies and vegan/vegetarian preparations. 
• Experience using commercial fryers, flat tops, and equipment.
• Experience with different styles of cooking or alternative preparation methods. 
• Previous prep or line cook experience with a basic understanding of professional cooking.
• Proficient and practiced in knife handling. 
• First-Aid knowledge.

Note: If you have gained the necessary experience to succeed in this role and have acquired this experience in other ways, we encourage you to apply and share all relevant experience in your application.

REQUIRED LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS
 

• Food handlers card for NV. Can provide upon hire.

COMPENSATION: 

Individual compensation decisions are dependent on a variety of factors, including prior experience and geographical location. The anticipated pay rate for this position is $16.75 to $ $18.00 per hour.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Off-playa:  Work is active and in the person requiring the ability to stand, lift, and bend for extended periods. This position requires periods of heavy lifting, bending, kneeling, squatting, and climbing. This position will be physically demanding, and requires individuals with good physical health, and endurance.
• On-playa: n/a

NOTICE FOR ALL APPLICANTS:

• Burning Man Project celebrates the importance of creating a diverse environment and enthusiastically encourages Black, Indigenous, Peoples of Color, LGBTQIA+, Immigrant, women, and people with disabilities, of all ages, to apply.


• Burning Man Project provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.


• Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.