Farm Functions Chef

Position Title: Farm Functions Chef 

Supervisor: Executive Chef 

Employee Status: Full Time, Year Round 

Location: In-person at Shelburne Farms 

Start Date: Immediate opening

Pay Range: $55,000 - $57,000

Work Schedule: 7 day operation; Typically working 5 days a week, however may work more days depending on events. Weekend and holiday work required.

Application Deadline: February 17th, 2025

Who we are Looking For

You’ll be supporting an experience with thoughtfully sourced and prepared meals, where program participants and guests can engage with the concepts of sustainability through their food. Using food to tell the stories of sustainability is a powerful way to connect to the farming practices, culture and the environmental impact of their meal and inspire action.  

You will be helping to build connections to the rich agricultural community of our regions by sourcing from local farms and producers, understanding the importance of healthy soil and composting, and exploring the impact that food waste has on climate change. These are just a few examples of ways that a simple and thoughtfully prepared menu can spark a conversation and enhance a transformative learning experience.  

What you will do

As the Farm Functions Chef, you will play an integral role in the culinary experience for Shelburne Farms' educational programs and farm guests, creating menus that not only nourish but also educate. You will design and prepare meals that connect people to the farm, the agricultural community of our region, and the concepts of sustainability. The food you help prepare will be a key component of the transformative learning experiences, sparking conversation around the importance of healthy soil, composting, food waste reduction, and climate-conscious eating.  Your work will be instrumental in building a connection between our guests and the land, creating a lasting impact through both taste and knowledge.

Key Responsibilities:

Collaboration 

• Build and nurture relationships with the Shelburne Farms Market Garden Team, Shelburne Farms Cheesemakers and Dairy team, local farmers and food producers.
• Collaborate with the Market Garden Manager and Executive Chef to highlight seasonal crops on menus, fostering a deeper connection between our guests and agricultural practices. 
• Partner with the Catering Coordinator, Farm Event and Function Coordinator, Director of Community Programs and Events, and the Food and Beverage Manager to ensure seamless event execution.
• Engage with program participants and guests, to share insight into the meals being served and collect feedback to impact future meals.
• Lead a small team of seasonal kitchen staff in preparing family style or buffet meals from scratch utilizing in-season, farm fresh and local products whenever possible. 
• Practice and train staff on proper food safety techniques in handling, organizing, storage and maintenance of supplies, and the overall cleanliness of the kitchen.

Menu Development and Preparation

• Consider a range of options, dietary allergies, preferences and restrictions that ensures everyone can share in the full meal experience. These meals will serve various program and event group sizes of anywhere from 10 - 100 people, including a food truck which will offer lunch and snacks to the public at the Farm Yard.
• Highlight Shelburne Farms products - maple syrup, vegetables, fruits, cheese and pastured meat and eggs. 
• Design meals that support the educational goals of Shelburne Farms, with a focus on the connections between food, farming practices, and environmental impact.
• Craft thoughtful, climate-conscious menus that incorporate local meats and produce for low-carbon footprint dishes, while minimizing waste and utilizing sustainable cooking techniques.
• Contribute to the planning and execution of special events, workshops, and seasonal programs that showcase local agriculture and sustainability.
• Design meals for large group gatherings, farm tours, and community dinners, ensuring that every aspect of the meal supports Shelburne Farms’ educational mission.

Sustainability Alignment

• Emphasize locally sourced ingredients to develop seasonal menus that reflect the principles of sustainability to support local agriculture, reduce carbon footprints, and offer fresh, flavorful meals.  
• Help lead our kitchen through sustainable culinary practices such as reducing food waste, composting, and utilizing every part of an ingredient.
• Help manage kitchen operations to minimize environmental impact, including sourcing products with low environmental impact, purchasing items in bulk to minimize packaging waste, reducing the use of harsh cleaning chemicals, maximizing energy efficient appliances and using long-lasting cookware made from sustainable materials. 

Storytelling Through Food 

• Work with program and events staff to incorporate storytelling into meals, ensuring guests understand the journey from farm to table. Sharing the story behind the food can transform a meal from a simple act of eating into a memorable and thought-provoking experience.
• Share the stories of the ingredients and their origins, including the farmers and practices behind them, as well as the broader environmental implications of their meal.
• Collaborate with program leaders to engage guests in conversations about sustainable farming, food waste, composting, and other relevant sustainability topics related to their meals.

Additional farm-wide support

• Provide seasonal support of farm programs and operations as needed and when available.

Core Qualifications

• Experience creating and sharing locally sourced, simply prepared and beautifully presented, great tasting nutritious food. 
• Experience curating menus with considerations of food allergies and special dietary requirements.
• 3 years or more savory cooking experience in a high volume setting (catering experience a plus). 
• Kitchen leadership experience as you’ll be managing a small group of seasonal culinary staff.
• Strong organizational, administrative, problem solving and communication skills. 
• Schedule flexibility to work evenings, weekends and holidays as needed.
• Excellent knife skills and extensive understanding of various cooking techniques, both savory and pastry. 
• Are personally and professionally committed to advancing social justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. 
• This position may require a criminal background check if working in the education activities and working with minors. We strive to provide equal opportunities to applicants with varied backgrounds, and encourage folks from all walks of life to apply. See our EOE statement below. 

Additional Valued Qualifications 

• Catering experience is helpful for the group sizes you’ll be serving meals for.
• Work well under pressure and strive to motivate others.
• A passion for farm to table food and hospitality
• Experience using systems and tools such as Google Workspace (all Google Suite tools), event planning, point of sale, dining and room reservations. 

Work Environment & Physical Demands 

• Being active for extended periods of time and working in settings with limited air conditioned work environments depending on the location.
• Fast-paced work environment. 
• Carrying and moving items up/down stairs and over uneven terrain, weighing up to 40 lbs.
• Indoor and outdoor work environment. 
• Moving over uneven terrain. 
• Maintaining a tidy shared workspace.

Benefits 

• For year-round, full-time staff:  Benefit summary here for 2025 benefits.

To Apply 

If our vision and mission excite you, we hope you will share with us your experience and skill set that you feel would qualify you to make a contribution to the Farm. 

You are invited to submit an application by email, in person, or by mail to: 

• jobs@shelburnefarms.org with “Farm Functions Chef” in the subject line, or 
• Shelburne Farms attn: Human Resources, 1611 Harbor Road, Shelburne, VT 05482 
• No resume or access to create one? Call our Human Resource Director at 802-985-0370. 

All submissions will be acknowledged and are confidential.

In your application, please include responses to the following questions. These are not meant to be a writing exercise but to introduce yourself in a meaningful way.

• Can you describe a time when you had to adapt a menu due to last minute changes in ingredient availability or guest/program participant dietary preferences and restrictions?
• Tell us about your unique characteristics and life experience that will help you thrive in this role.
• What stands out to you about the Farm’s commitment to Equity & Inclusion, and how do you see your role contributing to this ongoing work?

At Shelburne Farms, we value equitable access to employment opportunities and career growth as central to our organization’s commitments and our collective future. We are committed to offering employment to individuals who face barriers to employment including but not limited to those who are Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Women and non- binary individuals, domestic violence survivors, individuals with disabilities, formerly incarcerated individuals, and those with non- traditional educational backgrounds. We utilize inclusive hiring practices and are committed to shifting our resources towards amplifying and uplifting historically marginalized communities to provide a fair and just opportunity for employment. 
Shelburne Farms is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and we strongly stand against discrimination and harassment of any kind. Candidates with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences are strongly encouraged to apply