Farm Chef & Culinary Manager

Farm Chef & Culinary Manager

Newport, RI

Ocean Hour Farm – Ocean Hour Farm Operations /

Full-Time /

On-site

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Ocean Hour Farm is one of the last remaining active farms on the south end of Aquidneck Island. The rugged and rolling coastal pastures and historic stone village provide a unique character to this 43.2 acre bucolic farm. Its mission is to serve as a center for education, scientific research, and demonstration of regenerative agricultural practices. The property is adjacent to the Narragansett Bay, making it an ideal location for highlighting the critical connection between land use and ocean health. The vision of the farm is to provide a living example of regenerative land stewardship – an integrated system where plants, animals, and people heal ecosystems while producing food and fiber for the community.

Running the farm is truly a collaborative effort. All employees, no matter the department, participate in some capacity in carrying out educational programming, research activities and whole systems design work for the farm. All roles will therefore require excellent organizational skills, the ability to collaborate with staff in other departments as well as a deep understanding of the land to sea connection.

JOB SUMMARY

The Farm Chef will be responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining all aspects of the OHF Culinary Program. This includes outreach, research, education and demonstration of regenerative farm to table production that showcases zero waste systems. The primary mechanism for demonstration will be through utilizing farm products to feed the farm staff, program participants and other visitors throughout the year which requires a strong knowledge of low-energy food preservation techniques. This person will work and collaborate with other staff members as well as contractors, interns, volunteers, researchers, educational participants, and other members of our regional food and farm economy. Creating healthy, beautiful food from regenerative practices is key to our work. A strong interest in farm to table systems that support the regional food and fiber economy in relationship to ecosystem functioning, as well as human and ocean health, is essential to this position. The farm was launched in 2022 and is continuing to grow. This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in creating the inaugural Culinary Program in a brand new state-of-the-art kitchen.

GOALS OF THE CULINARY PROGRAM

• Utilize as much of the farm production as possible in meal programs for the farm staff, visitors and partners while minimizing waste as a key part of the farm’s ocean health mission
• Educate and inspire staff, visitors (including food systems professionals, farming community, ownership, youth summer campers) and the broader community about cooking healthy and delicious food with regenerative farm product focused on supporting the regional food and farm economy

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensure all kitchen production equipment and storage areas are maintained in a clean and orderly manner that meet the standards and quality expectations of OHF and RI DOH
• Adhere to and follow all safety procedures in accordance with training and report any dangerous conditions to management immediately
• Manage and train as needed at least one direct report employee

Lead on the design and delivery of:

• Staff lunches for 20+/- during workdays utilizing both cultivated, foraged and acquired local farm product
• Improve staff snack program with nutritious farm sourced snacks
• 4 Farm Dinners (Summer Solstice, Peak Summer Harvest, Fall Equinox & Winter Solstice) for the full farm community including sibling organizations
• Value-added shelf-stable products from farm and foraged product to stock the farm pantry for year-round consumption
• Management of Culinary budget including planning, purchasing, vendor relationships, etc.
• Accurate and complete written and photographic records of culinary activities including recipe development, labor time, etc.
• Skill-building workshops as well as research and development of recipes and techniques in collaboration with Guest Chefs

Collaborate with other OHF departments including through regular staff meetings and food systems team planning sessions to:

• Continuously improve efficiency across food systems operations, including decreasing wastestreams (especially plastics), energy use and labor while optimizing production
• Create appropriate production goals to grow for flavor, quality and ecosystem benefit
• Develop food and farm product for year-round use, utilizing various preservation techniques including cheesemaking, dehydration, fermentation, canning, curing, etc
• Design and implement “tastings” that align with programming curriculum for summer camps as well as year-round programming for participants of all ages
• Produce outreach materials including quarterly updates, annual reviews, case studies, etc.
• Be a positive spokesperson and representative of OHF in the local community and beyond
• Participate in staff training programs and educational opportunities on and off farm

EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE

• Bachelors of Science in Culinary Arts and Food Service Management or other related field and/or equivalent experience
• 8+ years of professional experience including cooking, procurement, management and planning responsibilities
• Sourcing healthy farm products from farmers
• Prior off-premise catering, management, and/or restaurant experience
• General understanding of regenerative, organic and/or biodynamic farming (direct experience a plus)
• Background in human health and nutrition a plus

ABILITY AND MINDSET

• Open-minded thinker, interested in learning new production methods and technologies while integrating more traditional ones to improve productivity, wastestream reduction, and ecosystems function
• Passion for making high quality food using local product and drawing from world cuisines
• Hands-on, hardworking and self-motivated work ethic with good time management, organizational skills, attention to details, and strong operations capabilities
• Strong culinary skills and capacity for feeding groups on a daily basis
• Ability to operate safely, familiarity, and comfort with both rustic and state of the art kitchen equipment
• Ability to meet deadlines, complete tasks and coordinate implementation of work assignments with the food systems team
• Ability to communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing, in order to establish and maintain effective relationships with coworkers, visitors, vendors, etc.
• Able to effectively, calmly, and empathetically provide direction and coaching to others
• Comfort in agricultural settings, including around livestock, as well as culinary and educational settings
• Comfortable with exposure to noise from farm, kitchen and shop equipment
• Comfortable with exposure to hot, cold, wet, humid, or windy weather conditions
• Comfort using Google Suite
• Ability to lift 55 pounds on a regular basis
• Ability to work for long periods of time while standing
• Legal authorization to work in the USA with valid driver’s license and safe driving record

$90,000 - $110,000 a year

COMPENSATION AND LOCATION

This is a full-time, in-person position at Ocean Hour Farm in Newport, RI.

Relocation assistance is not provided; candidates must reside within commuting distance of

Newport, RI or relocate at their own expense.

This is an exempt position

Ocean Hour Farm is an equal opportunity employer and strives to create an atmosphere where diversity of identity, experience, and background are welcomed, valued and supported. Ocean Hour Farm believes that diversity brings about greater sustainability on all levels and aims to use its resources to generate greater social and environmental diversity through its grant-making and other related investments. Ocean Hour Farm is committed to considering candidates for employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, disability and any other status protected under applicable law, and provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities.

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