Kitchen Manager, Clyde Austin 4-H Center: UT Extension

University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Greeneville (TN); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is seeking a hands-on Food Service and Kitchen Supervisor at the Clyde Austin 4-H Center in Greeneville, TN. This role leads all hospitality operations, supervises staff, and develops menus for a variety of groups, while ensuring safety, compliance, and budget-conscious practices.

You will coordinate meals, manage vendors, and participate in environmental education activities as needed, with a focus on high-quality service and customer satisfaction.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Excellent culinary skills; knowledgeable in field.
• Able to create & produce menus that are creative and profitable.
• Able to produce a high volume of accurate, complete, high quality work in a timely manner.
• Possess strong supervisory skills; able to maintain good working relations & communicate well with co-workers and outside groups; able to multi-task.
• Possess strong work ethic; have a knowledge of relevant operations, safe work practice, standards for the kitchen.
• The candidate must have demonstrated success in being able to lead and coordinate work efforts, maintain a flexible work schedule, and have excellent customer service skills.

Responsibilities

• Provides leadership for all hospitality at Clyde Austin 4-H Center and coordinates food service for events.
• Supervises and trains kitchen staff; ensures safety and cleanliness.
• Manages purchasing, preparation and cooking for 4-H camp and external groups.
• Instructs in the Environmental Education Program when needed.
• Ensures compliance with TN Dept. of Health guidelines for food storage and service.
• Maintains records and handles billing and grants information with the Center Director.

Skills

Culinary skills

Menu planning

High-volume production

Supervisory skills

Time management

Customer service

Education

High school diploma or GED

Vocational/technical training

Tools

ServSafe certification

First Aid/CPR certification

General computer skills

Job description

Job Description

The person in this position will provide leadership for all hospitality at Clyde Austin 4-H Center, serving a diverse range of audiences, including youth education, corporate retreats, and special events. This person will coordinate every aspect of food service for events, as well as provide leadership for custodial services, and supervision of all kitchen staff. This position is charged with developing alternate menu options for special needs and allergy aware dietary requirements and develop procedures to ensure compliance with federal, state, and university policies. This position will play a key role in sales to existing and potential clients regarding food service. Over time, the position will supervise a large, complex food operation. The person in this position must be able to work independently without direct supervision and possess excellent time-management skills. Must be willing to help out with tasks which might be well outside the scope of the job description to facilitate the successful operation of the Center.

Responsibilities

• Works to provide a safe, clean and attractive environment for all groups at the Clyde Austin 4-H Center
• Responsible for the purchasing, preparation, and cooking of meals. This encompasses 4-H camp, Environmental Ed groups, UT groups, and other outside groups and organizations.
• Supervises and teaches new staff as assigned by Center Director. Responsible for training and supervising all kitchen staff.
• Acts as instructor as needed in the Center's Environmental Education Program.
• Ensures TN Dept. of Health guidelines on food storage and service are followed throughout the 4-H Center.
• Verifies accuracy of food deliveries and quality of product; maintains rotation of stock; stays up to date regarding recalls on food products
• Obtains & analyzes bid comparisons from vendors, orders products from vendors & makes local market purchases
• Maintains records as required by Center Director & University fiscal policy
• Works with the office manager to turn in bills & credits; keeps the office manager aware of number of meals served for billing and grants
• Performs housekeeping duties, including supervision & training of regular and seasonal staff; maintains cleanliness and readiness of guest quarters
• Ensures all chemicals and cleaning supplies are stored properly & in compliance with the TN Dept. of Health for Organized Camp licensure.
• Assists with other duties as assigned by the 4-H Center Director including, but not limited to: environmental & center programming, and grounds maintenance.
• Helps with tasks which might be well outside the scope of the job description if the need arises, as assigned by Center Director

Qualifications

• Education:
  • High school diploma or GED
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
  • Excellent culinary skills; knowledgeable in field.
  • Able to create & produce menus that are creative and profitable.
  • Able to produce a high volume of accurate, complete, high quality work in a timely manner.
  • Possess strong supervisory skills; able to maintain good working relations & communicate well with co-workers and outside groups; able to multi-task
  • Possess strong work ethic; have a knowledge of relevant operations, safe work practice, standards for the kitchen.
  • The candidate must have demonstrated success in being able to lead and coordinate work efforts, maintain a flexible work schedule, and have excellent customer service skills.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education:
  • Vocational or technical training
• Experience:
  • Knowledge and experience in the culinary/hospitality industry.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
  • Excellent culinary skills, including an understanding of the link between food & health.
  • ServSafe certification.
  • Knowledge of allergen aware best practices.
  • First Aid/CPR certification.
  • General computer skills.
  • Able to work independently and as a team.
  • Strong supervisory and communication skills.

Work Location

• Location: Greeneville, Tennessee
• Onsite

Compensation And Benefits

• UT market range: MR05
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

About The College/Department/Division

Located in the beautiful foothills of East Tennessee, the Clyde Austin 4-H Center is dedicated to providing STEM and environmental education with hands-on experiential learning through our 4-H Summer Camp program, and our Camp Explore educational program. We serve approximately 30 counties in Eastern Tennessee, as well as surrounding states, hosting a variety of events year-round, including company picnics, weddings, corporate team-building functions, and private rentals.

About Us

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service. UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service. UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone. The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as "Best Employer for New Graduates", "One of America's Best Large Employers", and "Best Workplace for Women", and has been designated as "Best Place for Working Parents" by Forbes Magazine. Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!