Retreat Center Seeks Prep & Lead 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 cooks to join our kitchen team, starting in March. Ideal candidates will be available 5 shifts in a row, but we also need relief staff who can work 1-2 shifts in a row to give other members of the team time off.

Serenity Ridge is a Bon 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 20-80. 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 drivers 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:

6/26-7/11
8/15-8/16 (tentative)
9/19-9/20 (tentative)
9/29-10/4
10/6-10/11
10/15-10/18
10/22-11/1
1/1-1/10/2027

PAY RATE:
$16-$18/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! Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions.