Kitchen Manager

Application Instructions

• Application closes January 15, or when the position is filled.
• Instead of a cover letter, the application will include a few questions including: “What about this position interests you?”

Position Description

Spend your summer outside of Yosemite National Park as Outward Bound California’s Kitchen Manager. In this role you’ll manage the food needs of a large seasonal staff at our Midpines basecamp. You will plan and prepare lunch and dinner and keep breakfast items and kitchen essentials stocked. The commercial kitchen will be yours to oversee, ensuring compliance with all local and national health & serving regulations. The Kitchen Manager reports to the High Sierra Logistics Manager.

Compensation & Schedule

• The is a Full-Time, Seasonal, Non-Exempt, Hourly position tentatively scheduled from April 21th - Sept 30th
• Starting hourly wage of $22-$23/hour, depending on experience. 
• The schedule is based on a 40 hour work week with a 7.5 hour workday. Some overtime available for especially busy weeks.
• Some work days will be weekends; days off as desired and schedule allows
• Typical hours are from 8:30 a.m. (morning meeting) to 6:30 pm, with a break in the middle, taken at the discretion of the Kitchen Manager

Benefits

• Rustic housing is provided with access to communal bathrooms and kitchen. Food is also provided during the program season.
• OBCA offers health insurance with employer contribution, up to 20 days PTO & 11 annual holidays, long-term disability and life insurance, Accident insurance, Health or Flexible Spending Account, and an Employee Assistance Plan, available after 30 days of full-time employment.
• 401(k) plan enrollment is available 1 year from start date.

Location

This position is located at our High Sierra program in Midpines, California. The basecamp is in the Sierra Nevada foothills about 30 miles west of Yosemite National Park, at an elevation of about 2500’. High summer temperatures are frequently 100+ degrees Fahrenheit. The basecamp has a main building with an office, program gear storage sheds, a commercial kitchen, and weatherport living quarters (durable fabric structures).

Who We Are

At Outward Bound California (OBCA) we use challenging outdoor experiences to teach social-emotional skills like teamwork, leadership, and compassionate communication. We offer a wide range of programs, including high/low ropes activities at our San Francisco Challenge Course and multi-day rock climbing/backpacking trips in the High Sierra and Joshua Tree. Our programs encourage our participants (ages 12+, including adults and veterans) to embrace challenges and reflect on how they want to contribute to their communities and the world. Check out what our staff and students have to say about our High Sierra programs in this video.

We are a part of the  Outward Bound USA network with a 65-year history in the US as a leading provider of outdoor education. OBCA is a non-profit and is committed to increasing access for those who have traditionally been excluded from outdoor spaces. We work towards this goal with our 40 community partners and by offering scholarships to more than half of our students.

OBCA strives to create an equitable and inclusive culture where our staff feel respected for their identities and lived experiences. We are looking for team members who can actively join us in the process of furthering our vision for equity and belonging.

Who You Are

Outward Bound California acknowledges BIPOC folks, trans and non-binary folks, and women may be less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe that they meet all of the qualifications listed in a job description. Your skills, experience, and education can come from personal interests, self-directed learning, community roles, and life experiences. We strongly encourage you to apply if you are interested in the position, even if you do not believe that you meet all of the qualifications.

Knowledge, Skill & Experience

• 1–3 years of cooking experience
• Able to prepare high-quality meals for groups of 20-50+ staff while accommodating a variety of dietary restrictions and nutritional needs
• Comfortable managing food ordering, inventory, and budgeting for a high-volume basecamp kitchen
• Invested in maintaining high standards of food handling, kitchen cleanliness, and food safety sanitation
• Demonstrated strong communication and organizational skills with the ability to work independently, take initiative, and follow through on responsibilities
• Have a deep understanding of and personal commitment to equity and inclusion in the outdoors

Physical & Mental  Requirements

• Able to maintain composure, exercise sound judgment and decision-making, and assess and mitigate risk under periods of stress
• Able to regularly lift a minimum of 30-40 pounds
• Able to stand for the majority of the day
• Comfortable working alone for the majority of the time

Bonus if you…

• Have held a valid US or Canadian driver’s license for at least 3 years

Additional Requirements (by Start Date)

• California Food Manager Certification
• 21 years of age or older
• Because we work with youth, staff must be willing to authorize a federal & Live Scan background check and provide current (within the last 4 years) negative TB screen or test results upon hire (cost paid for or reimbursed by OBCA)

Responsibilities

Cooking

• Deliver timely, well balanced, nutritious lunch and dinner for staff.  
• Accommodate for a variety of food allergies simultaneously, with extreme care taken to avoid cross contamination
• Keep the community spaces stocked with breakfast items and essentials for staff to consume when cook is off
• Order food on a budget and receive deliveries from multiple vendors.
• Plan meals for special events (50+) for multiple days, and oversee volunteers in meal preparation
• Purchase food locally as needed in coordination with the Logistics Manager

Kitchen Sanitation

• Oversee the daily operation of the commercial kitchen and dining areas, maintaining cleanliness and compliance with all applicable health and food safety regulations  

Other Responsibilities

• Uphold Outward Bound’s zero-tolerance policy for incidents of child abuse and neglect as protecting our minor students against abuse and neglect is of the highest priority
• Participate in daily basecamp chores and community living expectations
• Uphold and follow Outward Bound California policies
• Optionally, attend Driver Training and drive OBCA vehicles for food shopping as needed
• Additional duties as assigned

Outward Bound California recognizes that people holding certain identities often face barriers to access the training and skills in the job description. We encourage folks to apply even if they do not meet every qualification listed above.

Outward Bound California is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law. Outward Bound California also promotes respect for all people, and will not tolerate harassment based on any of these characteristics.