Kitchen Assistant

Position Summary

The Hog Island Kitchen Assistant works in coordination with the kitchen staff of Hog Island that also includes a Head Chef, Sous Chef, and the help of a group of devoted Friends of Hog Island (FOHI) volunteers. The kitchen team provides 3 meals a day for up to 80 people during the course of the 6-day, 5-night camp sessions. A commercial-grade kitchen is part of the dining building known as “The Bridge.”

Under direction from the Head or Sous Chef, the Kitchen Assistant will assist with food preparation and clean up including cleaning equipment, cold storage, and pantry spaces. S/He/They will assist in acquiring, transporting, and inventorying orders from farms and distributors, including transport to island by boat. S/He/They will work closely with a team of dedicated FOHI volunteers who will be aiding the kitchen team. The kitchen team will have to abide by standard health and safety protocols and the Kitchen Assistant will be responsible to abide by these protocols.

The Kitchen Assistant is preferred to live in housing on Hog Island in order to perform the functions of this position. Audubon will provide the Kitchen Assistant with a room with shared bath. Meals are provided on Hog Island when the kitchen is in operation. The work schedule is 40 hours per week, and the day revolves around meal planning and service that includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner for a six-day/ five-night program schedule. Occasional weekend work is required. Some weeks will not include a full schedule and full hours may not be expected all weeks.

** Preferred candidates will be available from May 1 to October 2, 2025

This role is on-site based out of Hog Island, in Bremen, ME.

Compensation:

$15.50 / hour

Essential Functions

• Assist with food preparation, cooking, and kitchen assignments;

• Assist with local acquisition of food and supplies, including pickups from local farms and ferrying groceries across from the mainland;

• Interface with kitchen volunteers as necessary to ensure safe and efficient task completion;

• Conduct inventories of food stocks in the kitchen;

• Help maintain a clean and healthy working environment, including regular and deep cleaning of kitchen equipment and spaces;

• Assist with managing kitchen waste streams including trash, recycling, returnables, and compost.

• Regular wipe downs and cleaning in accordance with health and safety protocols;

• Assist in implementing waste reduction measures throughout the kitchen, including managing inventories of prepared food;

• Help to serve and present the kitchen’s sustainability and service mission to diners on a regular basis.

• Participate in weekly meetings with the Hog Island staff.

• Commitment to Audubon’s organizational values of care, collaboration, change, integrity, impact, and innovation

Qualifications and Experience

• Preferred candidate will be available to work from May 5- October 2, 2025. This is a seasonal role.

• Undergraduate or recent graduate in culinary arts, conservation, or related discipline with experience or interest in culinary arts/and or hospitality is desirable; experience at a residential nature camp is desirable.

• Preferred candidate will be able to stand for extended periods of time and able to lift at least 50 lbs (repeatedly throughout the day), as well as walk up to two miles at a time (with or without accommodation).

• Sense of humor, strong work ethic, and flexibility are of paramount importance to this position.

• Prior professional food service or cooking experience, solid knife skills, as well as baking experience and/or interest in baking, strongly preferred;

• Must be able to pass a federal background check;

• Must hold valid Drivers License.

• Current Serve safe and/or TIPS (Training for Intervention Procedures) training card is a plus;

• Sincere interest in birds and environmental issues is encouraged, but not required;

• Interest in farm-to-table/slow food movement is greatly appreciated;

• Experience with or desire to learn use of small motor or row boats required.

EEO Statement

The National Audubon Society is a federal contractor and an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. We are committed to a policy of nondiscrimination, inclusion and equal opportunity and actively seek a diverse pool of candidates in this search.

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Salary : $16