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Application closes on February 15, or when the position is filled. Please apply with a resume and answer a few short questions. No cover letter required. 

Position Description

Spend your summer outside of Yosemite National Park as Outward Bound California’s Basecamp Chef. In this role you’ll plan and prepare lunch and dinner for our staff at our Midpines base. The commercial kitchen will be yours to oversee, ensuring compliance with all local and national health & serving regulations. The Basecamp Chef reports to the High Sierra Logistics Manager.

Compensation & Schedule

• The is a Full-Time, Seasonal, Non-Exempt, Hourly position tentatively scheduled from April 21th - Sept 30th
• Starting hourly wage of $20 - $22/hour, depending on experience. 
• The schedule is based on a 40 hour work week with a 7.5 hour workday. Some overtime available for especially busy weeks.
• Some work days will be weekends; days off as desired and schedule allows
• Typical hours are from 8:30 a.m. (morning meeting) to 6:30 pm, with a break in the middle, taken at the discretion of the Chef
• Alternate arrangements can be made with the Logistics Manager to provide maximum flexibility and sustainability within this position

Benefits

• Rustic housing and food is provided while on contract.
• OBCA offers health insurance with employer contribution, PTO, long-term disability and life insurance, Flexible Spending Account, Employee Assistance Plan, and 401(k) plan enrollment (with employer match) after 1 year from start date.

Location

This position is located at our High Sierra program base in Midpines, California, in the Sierra Nevada foothills 30 miles east of Yosemite National Park. High summer temperatures are frequently 100+ degrees Fahrenheit. The basecamp has a main building with an office, program gear storage sheds, a commercial kitchen, and weatherport living quarters (durable fabric structures).

Who We Are

We are Outward Bound California (OBCA). Through challenging outdoor experiences, we teach social-emotional skills like teamwork, leadership, confidence, and compassion. We offer a wide range of programs, including high/low ropes activities at our San Francisco Challenge Course and multi-day rock climbing/backpacking trips in the High Sierra or Joshua Tree. Our programs help our participants (ages 12+, including adults and veterans) embrace challenges and reflect on how they want to contribute to their communities and the world. 

We are a part of the Outward Bound USA network with a 60-year history in the US as a leading provider of outdoor education. OBCA is a non-profit and is committed to increasing access for those who have traditionally been excluded from outdoor spaces. We work towards this goal with our 40 community partners and by offering scholarships to more than half of our students. Keep learning more about us here.

Equity and Inclusion Statement

OBCA strives to create an equitable and inclusive culture where all staff members feel respected for their identities and lived experiences. We work to build a culture where we are always learning and growing toward a vision for equity and belonging for all staff. We are looking for team members who can actively join us in this process. We are committed to reflecting the diverse communities with whom we work and strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ identifying folks, and women to apply. 

Who You Are

Outward Bound California does not expect every applicant to have every skill and qualification listed here. If you have 75% of the following qualifications, we encourage you to apply.

Knowledge & Skills

• Experienced in cooking for groups (50+), food handling, kitchen and food sanitation, nutrition, special diets and managing a budget
• Possess prior baking experience
• A good communicator with excellent organizational skills
• Personally motivated, with a strong sense of initiative and commitment
• Have a deep understanding and personal commitment to equity and inclusion in the outdoors

Education and Work Experience

• Possess 1-3 years cooking experience

Physical & Mental Requirements

• Able to maintain composure, exercise sound judgment, and decision-making, and assess and mitigate risk under periods of stress.
• Able to regularly lift a minimum of 30-40 pounds
• Able to stand for the majority of the day
• Comfortable working alone for the majority of the time

Bonus if you…

• Have previous budgeting experience
• Are willing to be driver trained and meet driving requirements (authorize a Motor Vehicle Records check, have held a valid US driver’s license for at least 3 years, and are 21+ yrs of age)

Certification & License Requirements (Upon Hire)

• California Food Manager Certification

Onboarding Requirements 

• Because we work with youth, staff must be willing to authorize a federal & Live Scan background check and provide current (within the last 4 years) negative TB screen or test results upon hire (cost paid for or reimbursed by OBCA)

Responsibilities

Cooking

• Create nutritious, delicious and balanced lunches and dinners for all staff and guests
• Ensure all meals are served in a timely manner
• Accommodate for a variety of food allergies simultaneously, with extreme care taken to avoid cross contamination
• Plan meals for special events (50+) for multiple days, and oversee volunteers in meal preparation
• Responsible for ordering food and receiving deliveries from multiple vendors.
• Responsible for keeping the community spaces stocked with breakfast items and essentials for staff to consume when cook is off
• Purchase food locally as needed in coordination with the Logistics Manager
• Maintain existing and develop new relationships with food vendors in order to best serve program

Kitchen Sanitation

• Supervise dining room and kitchen cleanliness and sanitation
• Deep clean kitchen twice monthly
• Maintain clean stocks of kitchen rags and aprons
• Ensure all health codes and regulations are within compliance

Other Responsibilities

• Uphold Outward Bound’s zero-tolerance policy for incidents of child abuse and neglect as protecting our minor students against abuse and neglect is of the highest priority
• Participate in daily basecamp chores and community living expectations
• Uphold and follow Outward Bound California policies
• Optionally, attend Driver Training and drive OBCA vehicles for food shopping as needed
• Additional duties as assigned

Outward Bound California is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law. Outward Bound California also promotes respect for all people, and will not tolerate harassment based on any of these characteristics.