Retreat Center Cook

Spirit Rock Meditation Center; California; On-site; USD 39,000 - 41,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Free healthy organic lunches

Paid sick leave

Dharma staff program

Bookstore 30% discount

EAP: 8 free therapy sessions +

Discounted retreat rate after 6 months

Quiet, scenic Spirit Rock campus

Job summary

Spirit Rock Meditation Center is seeking an on-site cook to prepare lacto-ovo vegetarian meals for residential retreats and events. You will train retreatants in kitchen tasks and ensure a clean, efficient workspace while upholding hygiene and safety standards.

The role requires flexibility to work evenings and weekends, with responsibilities including training others and supporting special events. This is a hands-on kitchen position within a contemplative setting.

Qualifications

• Minimum 1 year professional cooking in a high-volume vegetarian kitchen using seasonal ingredients.
• Flexibility in schedule including evenings and weekends.
• Strong communication; able to lead and be a team player.
• Calm under pressure and compassionate with retreatants.
• Aware of rural Spirit Rock location and public transportation challenges.
• Physical ability to lift up to 50 pounds and stand up to 8 hours.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and serve lacto-ovo vegetarian meals on schedule.
• Follow recipes and adjust quantities as needed.
• Collaborate on new recipes and create independently as needed.
• Maintain an orderly and efficient kitchen workspace.
• Ensure hygiene and safety standards are met or exceeded by regulations.
• Train and support retreatants in kitchen tasks.
• Provide guidance and problem-solving support to retreatants and cooks.
• Assist with special events as needed.

Skills

Professional cooking

Team leadership

Interpersonal communication

Job description

Spirit Rock's Retreat Center Cooks work collaboratively to prepare meals for all residential retreats, internal meetings and special events. They also train and supervise retreatants performing work meditations in the kitchen, and model behavior that supports mindfulness practice in the retreat environment.

This is a fully on-site position with no remote work available.

Specific Responsibilities

Food Preparation

• Prepare and serve tasty and nutritious lacto-ovo vegetarian meals on schedule.


• Follow recipes and adjust quantities as needed.


• Collaborate on new recipes and create independently as needed.


• Maintain an orderly and efficient kitchen work space.


• Ensure the work environment meets or surpasses hygiene and safety standards set by regulations.


• Train and support retreatants in kitchen tasks.


• Provide ongoing guidance and problem solving support to retreatants and other cooks as needed.


• Assist with special events as needed.

Other

• Attend kitchen staff meetings and all staff meetings as scheduled.


• Attend staff training on First Aid/CPR, emergency preparedness and others as assigned.


• Keep up to date with kitchen-related emails, schedules and kitchen updates.


• Help put away food deliveries, keep the kitchen clean and stocked, and assist with retreatant work meditations.


• Other related assignments as necessary.


• Performs daily recordkeeping tasks including quantity logs, inventory and recipe modification.

Qualifications

• Minimum one year of professional cooking experience focused on organic ingredients and seasonal produce, in a high volume vegetarian kitchen, preferably in a contemplative work setting.


• Flexibility in schedule on a daily and weekly basis, and ability to work evenings and weekends.


• Strong interpersonal communication skills; ability to take direction; ability to function as both team leader and team player.


• Ability to remain calm in a sometimes fast-paced work environment, and ability to work compassionately with retreatants.


• Candidates should be aware of the rural location of Spirit Rock and associated challenges with public transportation.


• Physical: Required to lift, carry, push or pull objects up to 50 pounds. Frequently required to perform moderately difficult manipulative tasks such as lifting large pans of food in and out of the oven, carrying heavy boxes of produce, performing repetitive motions of cutting, stirring and whisking; Ability to work in a standing position for up to 8 hours in the kitchen.

Department: Campus Operations - Kitchen

Reports To: Kitchen Manager

Employment Status: Extra-Hire /non-exempt

Schedule: 2-3 (8-hour shifts) per week as-needed

Compensation: $28-30/hour DOE

Benefits

• Free healthy, organic lunches on shift days


• Paid sick leave


• Participation in Spirit Rock's staff dharma program


• 30% discount on all Spirit Rock bookstore purchases


• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): 8 free therapy sessions annually, plus coaching and resources for leadership development, child & elder care, legal and financial matters (extended to dependents)


• After 6 months: discounted staff rate for up to 7 nights/year at Spirit Rock retreats and free daylong and class series access when space allows


• Spirit Rock is set on 411 acres of oak woodlands and open meadow in West Marin, offering a rare, quiet landscape for work.

Spirit Rock is an equal opportunity employer, and we place a high value on workforce diversity; qualified candidates who self-identify as a Person of Color and/or are part of the LGBTQIA+ community are encouraged to apply.

Please note, our organization is unable to support visa sponsorship at this time.