Retreat Center Seeks Prep Cooks

Do you love to cook? Do you think of food as medicine for both body and soul? Do you enjoy nourishing others in a communal environment?

Serenity Ridge Retreat Center is seeking prep cooks to join our kitchen team, starting in December. We are specifically looking to fill a breakfast lead/lunch support shift (6:30am-2:30pm) as well as a less frequent closing shift (2-10pm). Ideal candidates will be available 5 shifts in a row, but we also need a few relief staff who can work 1-2 shifts in a row giving core members of the team time off.

Serenity Ridge is a Bön Buddhist retreat center, located on a hundred acres in the hills of Nelson County in Shipman, VA. We provide a supportive environment for spiritual seekers and meditators from a wide variety of backgrounds by offering retreats of various lengths with experienced teachers. We strive to treat our guests and each other with respect, attentiveness and compassion.

Our kitchen provides simple, healthy, vegetarian, buffet-style meals for groups, sizing 15-70. We have a well-equipped, well-maintained, well-stocked, and spacious kitchen. Job perks include delicious meals during shifts, possibility to stay on site during retreats if desired (saving you on gas and commute), and access to wooded walking trails and the Rockfish River for swimming!

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Work both independently as well as part of a team to prepare and serve high quality meals – wash, peel, chop, mix, roast, bake, blanche, stir fry, etc.

Participate in proper setup and break down of all stations

Maintain a clean, orderly and efficient workplace

Properly operate and maintain kitchen equipment

Special food prep, cleaning and organizing projects as needed

Orient and support new staff and volunteers

Communicate with and accommodate guests

Support a positive retreat environment

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Reliable and punctual

Strong work ethic, solution-oriented, and capacity to self-direct

Good organizational skills: ability to plan, prioritize and manage multiple tasks with flexibility, efficiency, accuracy, and in a calm and focused manner

Interest in nutritionally-balanced vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free cooking

Skill and familiarity with essential cooking and baking techniques. Food handlers permit a plus!

Experience cooking for large groups or in a high-volume restaurant setting

Willingness and ability to work flexible hours, including some early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays

Good communication and interpersonal skills, able to maintain positive working relationships, and commitment to co-creating a healthy environment for all

Ability to stand comfortably for an 8 hour shift (break mid-shift) in a sometimes hot and noisy kitchen, as well as safely bend, reach, push, pull, and occasionally lift up to 50 lbs

Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation

Ability to speak, read and write clearly in English

Interest in contemplative practice and commitment to integrating mindfulness into daily life a plus

SCHEDULING:

Exact hours are variable and intermittent, depending on our event schedule, but generally scheduled well in advance. Confirmed retreats dates for the 2025 are below. Additional retreats may be added to this list, but this will give you an idea of the ebb and the flow of hours in our kitchen:

3/11-3/16

4/9-4/13

4/24-4/30

7/12-7/26

10/1-10/5

10/7-10/12

10/16-10/19

10/23-10/28

12/27-1/4

STARTING PAY RATE:

$16/hr, with opportunities for raises based on skill, contribution, and responsibility

TO APPLY:

Send us a resume, brief cover letter, and three professional references. Applicants need not be available for all dates. However, preference will be given to folks who can commit to a broader range of dates as well as work multiple shifts/week. We look forward to hearing from you!