Kitchen Lead

Cedar Circle Farm & Education Center; East Thetford (VT); On-site; USD 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid personal/sick/ parental leave

403(b) retirement plan with 5% match

Short-term disability insurance

Employee discount 20%

50% off summer camp tuition

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Cedar Circle Farm & Education Center in Vermont is seeking a Kitchen Lead to co-manage our small culinary team and craft high-quality salads, soups, sandwiches, and prepared meals for the farmstand and Hello Café. This role supports the Kitchen Manager, with full-time duties April–December and flexible winter scheduling January–March.

You will oversee daily cooking, recipe development, inventory, and staff supervision while maintaining safety and cleanliness in a farm-to-fork environment that

Qualifications

• Kitchen experience in café, farmstand, restaurant, or similar setting.
• Ability to guide daily kitchen work when Kitchen Manager is off-site.
• Ability to prepare salads, soups, sandwiches, and prepared meals.
• Willingness to follow Cedar Circle's systems and standards.
• Clear, respectful communication and feedback.
• Organized, able to manage time and production flow.
• Interest in local, seasonal ingredients and farm-to-fork program.
• Commitment to a clean, safe, and organized kitchen.
• Physical ability to lift up to 50 lbs and stand for shift duration.
• Availability to work 5 days per week, including weekends when needed.

Responsibilities

• Daily cooking and production for farmstand and café with high quality outputs.
• Collaborate with Kitchen Manager on seasonal menu development.
• Plan weekly/monthly specials and contributions for CSA offerings.
• Manage inventory, minimize waste, and source high-quality ingredients.
• Supervise kitchen staff and promote teamwork and skill-building.
• Maintain food safety, cleanliness, and organized workspace.
• Incorporate sustainability and seasonality into culinary practices.

Skills

Kitchen experience

Team collaboration

Food preparation

Recipe following

Communication

Time management

Seasonal ingredients

Safety & cleanliness

Job description

Full Time April–December

Part Time January–March

Join our community-minded, food-loving team at Cedar Circle Farm & Education Center, where we grow, cook, and serve organic, seasonal food with care. Our on-site farmstand and Hello Café offer fresh, farm-made foods daily, featuring local and organic ingredients-many sourced directly from our own fields!

We're looking for a Kitchen Lead to help run our small but dynamic culinary team in crafting prepared foods for the farmstand-high-quality salads, soups, sandwiches, and other food products that celebrate the flavors of the season. This position is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced cook who is eager to work in a farm-to-fork environment and to showcase Vermont's local and seasonal bounty through creative, high-quality food production.

The Lead works closely with all kitchen staff making sure the kitchen runs smoothly when the Kitchen Manager is not present. From April to December, this position is 5 days per week; applicants must be able to work weekends when needed. Winter scheduling (January–March) is more flexible and will be determined in collaboration with the Kitchen Manager based on operational needs.

Responsibilities

• Daily Cooking & Production - Prepare food ensuring a consistent, high-quality selection of salads, prepared meals, sandwiches, soup and more for the farmstand and café.
• Recipe Development - Collaborate with the Kitchen Manager to create new seasonal foods that highlight our farm's organic produce, from fresh salads to full meals.
• Menu Planning - Work with the Kitchen Manager to develop weekly and monthly specials, as well as contributions for our farm's Prepared Food CSA and farmstand offerings.
• Inventory & Sourcing - Help manage ingredient inventory, minimize waste, and work with local suppliers to source high-quality, organic, and sustainable ingredients.
• Kitchen & Staff Supervision - Supervise kitchen staff, ensuring efficiency, teamwork, and skill-building in the kitchen.
• Food Safety & Cleanliness - Maintain a clean, organized, and safe workspace, following all health and safety protocols.
• Creativity & Community - Engage with the farm's mission by incorporating sustainability into culinary practices, embracing seasonality, and bringing fresh ideas to the table!

Qualifications

• Kitchen experience in a café, farmstand, restaurant, or similar food-prep setting.
• Comfortable working as part of a team and helping guide daily kitchen work when the Kitchen Manager is not on site.
• Ability to prepare a variety of simple, high-quality foods such as salads, soups, sandwiches, and prepared meals.
• Willingness to follow recipes, ask questions, and learn Cedar Circle's systems and standards.
• Clear and respectful communication style, with the ability to give and receive feedback.
• Ability to stay organized, manage time well, and help keep daily production on track.
• Interest in working with local, seasonal ingredients and being part of a farm-to-fork food program.
• Commitment to maintaining a clean, safe, and organized kitchen.
• Physical ability to lift up to 50 lbs and stand for the duration of a shift.
• Availability to work 5 days per week, including weekends as needed.

Compensation

This position is hourly with a salary range of $20–25/hr, depending on qualifications.

• Health insurance (premium 100% employer paid, 50% paid for minor dependents)
• paid personal, sick, and parental leave
• a 403(b) retirement plan with a 5% employer safe harbor match
• short-term disability insurance (100% employer paid)
• 20% discount at our farmstand, café, and greenhouses
• 50% off summer camp tuition for dependents
• access to an employee assistance program

About Cedar Circle Farm & Education Center

Cedar Circle Farm & Education Center is a nonprofit, certified organic farm located on over 50 acres of conserved land along the Connecticut River in East Thetford, Vermont. Our organization has a deep commitment to developing regenerative agriculture systems for our annual vegetable and flower production and to offering educational programming that builds connections between our food, ecosystems, and community.

Our farm is a community hub with a farmstand, retail greenhouses, a farm kitchen, a coffee shop, a cut flower garden, education programs, and unique CSA options. It's a place where folks can learn about and deepen their appreciation for organic regenerative agriculture.

Our staff is a reflection of our community and is the most essential aspect of our farm. When you join our dynamic team, you'll have the opportunity to make valuable contributions to our greater mission of promoting organic, regenerative farming and the transition to a localized food economy!

Cedar Circle Farm is an EEO/AA employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.