Chef, The Kitchen at Farm Sanctuary

Farm Sanctuary•Watkins Glen, NY

6h•$58,000 - $60,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Chef of The Kitchen at Farm Sanctuary is a leader in the cafe operations. This role calls for an experienced vegan chef with strong kitchen leadership, communication, and time-management skills, who is collaborative, guest-focused, and solution-driven. We are seeking someone with fresh, forward-thinking ideas to help the cafe serve as a powerful agent of change This is a temporary, residency-style position focused on strengthening and evolving the culinary foundation of The Kitchen at Farm Sanctuary. The role offers a defined window to develop menus, systems, and practices that will support continuity and growth beyond the term of the position. The Chef in this role is invited to bring creativity, leadership and vision to elevate the cafe as a living expression of our mission, while intentionally documenting, training, and transferring knowledge so future teams can carry the work forward. This is an opportunity to make a meaningful, time-bound contribution to Farm Sanctuary

Requirements

Valid driver's license and clean driving record
New York Food Manager Training Certification
Allergen awareness training
Alignment with Farm Sanctuary’s values of compassion, understanding, integrity, transformation, and freedom.
Familiarity, commitment to, and experience with the practice of equity and social justice, and the principles embedded in Farm Sanctuary’s mission

Nice To Haves

2 years or more of experience managing a kitchen and cafe.
4 years of vegan cooking experience in positions with increasing responsibility including line cooking and prep work
Effective management skills; ability to handle multiple tasks, set priorities, and meet deadlines while planning, organizing and leading a team, organizational communication skills
Experience assisting with or co-facilitating cooking classes, demonstrations, or hands-on culinary workshops, with comfort engaging and communicating clearly with groups
Exceptional interpersonal skills with ability to collaborate effectively with co-workers, promoting a positive and supportive team environment
Customer-oriented with exceptional communication skills, ensuring excellent service and satisfaction for guests
Highly detail-oriented, with a keen eye for quality and presentation, and the ability to maintain accurate records and documentation
Solution-driven, with the ability to think creatively, identify problems, and develop effective solutions
Ability to meet fast-paced environment with fluctuating and tight deadlines
CPR and first aid training

Responsibilities

Develops and cooks tasty, healthy recipes and oversees menu creation, inventory, and cost per meal tracking using our recipe cost tracker, ensuring cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and eco-friendly practices
Plans, organizes, and monitors kitchen to maintain high standards for food quality, presentation, and service in accordance with NYS Health and safety standards
Prepares and oversees food for the Bed and Breakfast, Lunch, Grab and Go offerings, staff and volunteer meals and other visitor programs and events
In partnership with the Senior Manager, the Hospitality and Retail Manager ensures inventory, purchases, packaging, suppliers, and cafe operations, ensuring cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and eco-friendly practices
Collaborates with Senior Manager, Hospitality and Retail on administrative tasks; including budgeting, reporting, record-keeping, and scheduling
Utilize digital POS system for order tracking
Ensure that all cafe equipment and supplies is maintained, cleaned and organized at all times
Trains and ensures cafe and staff comply with food safety regulations, Farm Sanctuary standards, and all cafe standard operating procedures in accordance with NYS health guidelines
Provide weekly reports on inventory needs, sales, guest experiences, etc. and updates supervisor
Supervises cafe staff, interns, and volunteers
Trains staff on simple recipe preparation and presentation, equipment usage, food safety, and cleaning procedures
Develops and implements comprehensive team member management systems, including performance conversations, training, and strategic scheduling
Develops, plans, and leads regular hands-on cooking classes and culinary workshops for visitors and the local community, focusing on plant-based, sustainable, and healthy eating principles, in partnership with the on-site Programs Team and the Senior Manager, Hospitality and Retail
Supports with Development, Marketing, Communications, and Community Engagement to create giving opportunities, promotional strategies, and content for visitors, the local community, and broader audiences