Hiring: Seasonal Children’s Cooking Instructor – Powisett Farm

Seasonal Children’s Cooking Instructor – Dover MA

The Opportunity. 

Do you enjoy cooking and teaching children?  Then this is perfect job for you!  The Powisset Farm Children’s Cooking Instructor is responsible for teaching small groups of six to ten children the basics of cooking in the farm’s beautiful, state-of-the-art teaching kitchen.  Children who attend classes range in ages from five to twelve years-old and attend elementary through middle school.  The Children’s Cooking Instructor will work each day of the farm’s exciting summer day camp — Farmer, Forester, Chef! – as well as after-school, weekend, vacation week programs and birthday parties.  The position is part time, year-round and often on weekends and during school vacation.  The Children’s Cooking Instructor reports to the Powisset Children’s and Family Program Manager.

The instructor will be responsible for teaching cooking to summer campers on weekdays from June 20-August 19, 2022 and will teach four classes of ten children respectively each day.  The Children’s Cooking Instructor will partner with the Camp Director to develop weekly and daily menus and themes, prep for each class (mis en place), instruct the class and encourage the success of every junior chef.  The role is assisted by the camp counselors and a dish washer.

School year classes and birthday parties vary between 1.5 and 3.0 hours long and run September through May.  These classes are assisted by either a Powisset event assistant, a volunteer or both.  In addition to preparation and instruction, tasks may range from event set-up, greeting/checking-in participants upon arrival, sharing information with parents, accessing class lists from Trustees software and more. Menus and class themes are developed in partnership with the Children’s and Family Program Manager.

 In This Role You Will: 

• Set up and break down the teaching kitchen for each class, including table arrangement.

• Partner with the Children’s and Family Program Manager to develop themes, menus and recipes.
• Prepare and organize ingredients for classes to insure a smooth, consistent and timely flow of instruction.
• Instruct hands-on classes for children ages 5-12 years old.
• Liaise with private lessees on site for private programs and birthday parties.
• Answer questions and provide information to parents.

• Educate visitors about The Trustees mission and value of membership; sell memberships on site using Acme software.
• Greet and/or check-in visitors upon arrival and orient them to the property; provide exceptional customer service by answering questions, problem solving, and directing visitors, as needed.
• Be familiar with and enforce property rules and regulations.
• Keep kitchen areas organized, clean, and orderly to deliver a positive visitor experience.
• Assist with managing social media postings before, during, and after events.

• Use basic computer skills and have the ability to learn new systems, including processing credit card transactions using Shopify and logging hours using Paycom.
• Communicate regularly with staff to report safety concerns, incidents, maintenance needs, and program assessment.

 Qualifications

• Outgoing, friendly, enthusiastic; must enjoy working with the public, especially children and families.

• Experience teaching hands-on cooking to children.
• Experience developing menus and recipes for cooking classes.
• Experience or a background working within natural or farm settings, culinary environments.
• Experience working with children in educational or recreational settings.
• Responsible and committed, very patient, with exceptional attention to detail and safety.

• Available to work weekends, holidays, and occasional evenings.
• Articulate, confident, and calm when confronted by uncooperative visitors and when handling emergencies.
• Ability to work independently.
• ServSafe and Allergen certification.
• CPR & First Aid certification desirable.

• Committed to the mission of The Trustees.
• Committed to a great visitor experience and sharing the excitement of Powisset Farm’s culinary programming.

Other 

• Background check required
• Flexibility to work school vacations, summer weekdays and some weekends is required.

 Working Conditions  

• Ability to lift 40 pounds required

Click here to apply.

About Powisset Farm   

Historic Powisset Farm in Dover, MA is a 109-acre organic vegetable CSA farm, owned and managed by The Trustees, a member-supported nonprofit conservation organization. The farm also grows livestock for a meat CSA program and has an onsite retail farm store.  Powisset Farm offers extensive public programming and events, farm and nature based experiential education, STEM and STEAM afterschool programs, and a children’s summer day camp. Farm to table culinary programs include cooking classes for adults, children and teens in the farm’s large teaching kitchen and at the outdoor brick oven, family farm dinners, adults-only date-night dinners, and intimate chef’s table dinners. The Farm hosts regular weekend food and farm-based gatherings and happenings for all seasons, guided hikes and much more. Private events and classes are available on a limited basis upon request.

To prevent the infection and spread of COVID-19, and as an integral part of its public health and safety measures, The Trustees of Reservations requires that all successful applicants show proof of full vaccination by an FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine before beginning employment, unless an exemption from this policy has been granted. Applicants who believe they need an accommodation of this policy because of a disability, sincerely-held religious belief, or otherwise should inform Human Resources after an offer of employment is extended; please do not include any medical, genetic, or religious information on your application materials.

About The Trustees 

The Trustees is one of Massachusetts’ largest non-profits and the nation’s first conservation and preservation organization. Today, the places we care about are going fast, and the forces undermining them, including climate change, are moving faster. Our passion is to protect and share with everyone the irreplaceable natural and cultural treasures under our care. We are funded and supported entirely by our visitors, supporters, volunteers, and more than 70,000 member households.

In addition to being an Equal Opportunity Employer, The Trustees aims to create a thriving, inclusive workplace that values each member of its team. We aspire to reflect and effectively serve the residents and communities of Massachusetts who are at the core of our mission.

We kindly request that you do not call to inquire about the status of your application. Those candidates chosen for interviews will be contacted.