Retreat Center Cook

Spirit Rock Meditation Center • Woodacre, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Spirit Rock's Retreat Center Cooks collaboratively prepare meals for residential retreats, internal meetings, and special events. They train and supervise retreatants performing kitchen work meditations and model behavior that supports mindfulness practice in the retreat environment. This is a fully on-site position with no remote work available.

The role prepares and serves lacto-ovo vegetarian meals, maintains an orderly and safe kitchen, supports retreatants and other cooks, and completes daily recordkeeping. The schedule is 2–3 eight-hour shifts per week as needed. Compensation is $28–$30 per hour, depending on experience. The position is classified as extra-hire and non-exempt.

Spirit Rock is located on 411 acres of oak woodlands and open meadow in West Marin. Candidates should be aware of the rural location and associated public transportation challenges. Spirit Rock is an equal opportunity employer and encourages qualified candidates who identify as a Person of Color and/or part of the LGBTQIA+ community to apply. The organization is unable to support visa sponsorship.

Requirements

• At least one year of professional cooking experience focused on organic ingredients and seasonal produce in a high-volume vegetarian kitchen; experience in a contemplative work setting is preferred.
• Flexibility in daily and weekly scheduling and ability to work evenings and weekends.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to take direction and function as both a team leader and a team player.
• Ability to remain calm in a sometimes fast-paced work environment and work compassionately with retreatants.
• Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to perform moderately difficult manipulative tasks, including lifting large pans in and out of an oven, carrying heavy produce boxes, and repetitive cutting, stirring, and whisking.
• Ability to stand in the kitchen for up to eight hours.
• Awareness of the rural location of Spirit Rock and associated public transportation challenges.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a contemplative work setting.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and serve tasty, nutritious lacto-ovo vegetarian meals on schedule.
• Follow recipes, adjust quantities as needed, collaborate on new recipes, and create recipes independently as needed.
• Maintain an orderly and efficient kitchen workspace and ensure the work environment meets or exceeds regulatory hygiene and safety standards.
• Train, supervise, and support retreatants in kitchen tasks and work meditations; provide ongoing guidance and problem-solving support to retreatants and other cooks.
• Assist with special events as needed.
• Attend kitchen staff and all-staff meetings as scheduled.
• Attend staff training on First Aid/CPR, emergency preparedness, and other assigned topics.
• Keep up to date with kitchen-related emails, schedules, and updates.
• Put away food deliveries, keep the kitchen clean and stocked, and assist with retreatant work meditations.
• Perform daily recordkeeping, including quantity logs, inventory, and recipe modifications.
• Complete other related assignments as necessary.

Benefits

• Free healthy, organic lunches on shift days.
• Paid sick leave.
• Participation in Spirit Rock's staff dharma program.
• 30% discount on Spirit Rock bookstore purchases.
• Employee Assistance Program, including eight free therapy sessions annually and coaching and resources for leadership development, child and elder care, legal matters, and financial matters; extended to dependents.
• After six months, discounted staff rates for up to seven nights per year at Spirit Rock retreats.
• After six months, free access to daylong and class series when space allows.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed