Kitchen Manager

Spruce Lake Ministries encourages persons from a variety of traditions to a deeper faith in God through Jesus Christ. In this peaceful setting in the heart of the Pocono Mountains in northeastern Pennsylvania, Spruce Lake and Pinebrook provide Christian church, family and corporate groups with lodging, meeting spaces and meals for their next event or retreat. Spruce Lake and Pinebrook also hosts summer camps, programmatic retreats, and outdoor education programs throughout the year.

The Spruce Lake Food Service Kitchen Manager (FSKM) provides oversight of dining and kitchen operations of our Spruce Lake Youth Campus location. The FSKM will be the primary on-the-floor leader and head cook responsible for executing the dining details of the youth center's daily guest and event itinerary. From coordinating guests' snack and coffee breaks to managing large-scale youth focused dinner buffets, the FSKM ensures that the kitchen team members work in harmony, delivering warm, efficient hospitality. The FSKM is a tactical problem-solver who excels at motivating staff and maintaining high standards in a fast-paced environment. The FSKM is a member of the Spruce Lake food service management team.

Prerequisites:

• Possess spiritual maturity from a growing personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Must fully embrace and align with SLM's vision, mission, statement of faith and core values.
• Demonstrates evidence of inspirational leadership and management abilities.
• Conduct him/herself behaviorally in a manner that is above reproach, realizing that the greatest potential for ministry is achieved through the witness of Christ-like individuals.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in culinary arts is a plus.
• Three plus years of progressive cooking and operational experience in commercial kitchen, camp, or hospitality setting.
• Three plus years of progressive supervisory experience in building and leading high-performing food service teams.
• Knowledge of food service regulations and operational protocols.
• Knowledge of food and nutrition for creating nutritious, appealing meals.
• Proficiency with scheduling software and MS Office Suite.
• Excellent communication and conflict management skills.
• Valid Serve Safe manager certification and/or local health department food handler credentials.
• Flexible schedule that accommodates evenings, weekends, holidays, and rotating shifts.

Physical Requirements: Ability to stand or walk for up to 10 to 12 hours shifts during high-volume summer season or weekend retreat turnovers. Ability to lift, carry, load and unload 50 to 75 lbs., to perform repetitive motions with arms, wrists, shoulders, and to bend, kneel and stretch. Ability to work seamlessly in environments that fluctuate rapidly between intense heat (near grills, ovens, and dishwashers) and extreme cold (inside walk-in coolers and freezers) as well as wet, slippery kitchen floors.

Spruce Lake Ministries, Pinebrook or Spruce Lake, does not currently hire anyone who is not authorized to work in the US, nor are we able to sponsor international employees or volunteers.

At the employer's expense, all employment hires are contingent upon completion of FBI Criminal Background fingerprint clearance, PA Child Abuse Clearance and PA Criminal History Clearance.

AI - We recognize that AI tools like ChatGPT and others can be powerful tools when used thoughtfully and ethically. However, for this application and hiring process, we ask that you do not use AI tools to write your responses on this form or future correspondence. We are interested in hearing directly from you and your unique perspectives and experiences. Responses that appear to be generated or heavily influenced by AI may disqualify your application from consideration.