Overview
The High Mountain Institute is seeking a Food Educator & Kitchen Manager, a full-time position at the High Mountain Institute. This position is based on HMI’s campus in Leadville, CO; on-campus housing is included in the compensation package. Reporting to the Semester Director of Students and Residential Life, responsibilities include on-campus food service, menu planning, ordering, budgeting, training others, catering large HMI events, and developing and teaching HMI’s food & nutrition curriculum.
The ideal job candidate has prior experience in supervising others in a food service setting, cooking for large groups, and leading/supporting food education efforts.
Primary Job Responsibilities:
Culinary
– Prepare meals from scratch, serving 40+, that meet our value “Simple in Means, Rich in Ends”
– Plan and execute a healthy, varied menus for HMI programs (Semester, Gap, Summer Term, & short programs)
– Teach students to plan and cook meals for a variety of diets
– Lead student cook crews (4-5 students plus apprentice/staff member) ~5 days a week
– Lead culinary services for 6-10 large events annually (Family Weekend, Board Meetings, school celebrations, etc.)
Kitchen Management
– Oversee all HMI on-campus food service when programs are in session
– Oversee cleanliness of all food service areas
– Oversee health and other code compliance in prep, storage, and serving areas
– Maintain a high awareness of and respect for allergies, dietary restrictions, and food preferences within the HMI community
– Train faculty, staff, and apprentices on meal preparation, kitchen supervision, and health code compliance
– Manage inventory and order all on-campus food, backcountry rations, and service-related supplies
– Manage food budget
– Supervise and support the Kitchen & Wilderness Fellow (or similar) in their kitchen duties
Food Education
– Work appropriately with young adults in a school environment
– Promote a fun, healthy, and safe atmosphere in the kitchen
– Teach students general principles of nutrition, culinary arts, and food safety
– Promote open-mindedness toward a variety of diets
– Promote and model a healthy relationship to food
General
– Participate in Professional Development, both on and off-campus
– Periodically serve on hiring and other committees as needed
– In general, serve the HMI mission however needed
Required Skills:
Essential Qualifications:
- High School Diploma or GED
- 1-2 years of prior food service experience
Preferred Skills:
Desired Qualifications:
- Experience supervising others in a food service setting
- Experience cooking for groups of 30+
- Food Protection Manager Certification (current or willingness to obtain)
About High Mountain Institute
About the High Mountain Institute: Founded in 1995, HMI is a nonprofit independent school with a focus on outdoor, experiential, and place-based education. HMI serves approximately 150 students per year across its high school, summer, and gap programming. About 30% of students receive financial aid, and a similar percentage identify as people of color. All HMI students participate in extended wilderness expeditions lasting from 10-21 days. HMI is not a rehabilitative or wilderness therapy program. HMI students are high-achieving, healthy students seeking challenge, a strong community, and a deeper connection to nature. HMI has about 25 year-round staff, most of whom live on campus. Learn more at: www.hminet.org
