Head Cook for Summer Camp

Description

Locations: Camp Ledgewood in Peninsula, OH and/or Camp Timberlane in Wakeman, OH 

Summer Camp Dates (including staff training days): May 30, 2025 - August 5, 2025

Compensation: $650.00 per week

The Head Cook is essential to creating a welcoming and nutritious dining experience that supports the well-being, energy, and happiness of campers and staff alike. Responsible for planning, preparing, and serving balanced meals, this role ensures that the camp’s kitchen operations run smoothly, safely, and efficiently. The Head Cook upholds high standards in food safety, meal quality, and cleanliness, working in alignment with our mission to provide a safe, supportive, and inclusive camp environment.

Key responsibilities include planning and executing nutritious menus that accommodate a variety of dietary needs and preferences, maintaining inventory and food supplies, and overseeing the kitchen staff. By fostering a collaborative kitchen culture, the Head Camp Cook ensures that each meal reflects the camp’s values of community and respect. This role also provides mentorship to kitchen staff, reinforces proper food handling and hygiene practices, and ensures that the dining experience is positive, friendly, and camper-centered.

Requirements

• Minimum age of 25 years old.
• Minimum of two years of training in institutional management specializing in food service or a minimum two years of experience as camp or food supervisor or equivalent experience.
• Lead and supervise kitchen staff in daily tasks, fostering a collaborative, positive, and respectful kitchen environment.
• Collaborate with staff, campers, and external vendors to coordinate special food-related activities that enhance the camp experience.
• Oversee the completion of daily checklists and safety charts to ensure smooth, efficient kitchen operations.
• Work closely with the Camp Director to plan and prepare balanced, nutritious menus that align with budget and accommodate dietary needs and preferences.
• Support the camp schedule by working select weekends as specified in the contract.
• Order food supplies in collaboration with the Camp Director, maintaining an organized inventory that supports daily and special meals.
• Organize daily cooking and cleanup schedules for kitchen staff to ensure a safe, clean, and orderly kitchen environment.
• Regularly stock and refill snack supplies, ensuring campers and staff have access to healthy snacks throughout the day.
• Prepare evening snacks for staff to support a positive and nurturing camp culture.
• Train kitchen staff in food preparation, kitchen procedures, and health standards, promoting a culture of safety, cleanliness, and teamwork.
• Interact positively with campers, modeling respectful, kind, and inclusive behavior in all situations.
• In coordination with support staff, oversee the preparation, cooking, baking, and serving of meals that foster community and connection.
• Maintain a clean, sanitary kitchen environment, adhering to GSUSA, Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, ACA, and state and local health standards.
• Assist the Camp Director and Property Manager during health inspections, ensuring compliance with all health and safety regulations.
• Prepare the kitchen before camp begins, cleaning and organizing the space for efficient operation.
• Report all incidents and accidents to Camp Director promptly, ensuring a safe and responsive kitchen environment.
• Complete and submit all required records and documentation to the Camp Director at the end of each camp session.
• Conduct beginning- and end-of-season inventory, ensuring safe storage and organization of kitchen equipment and supplies.
• Provide insights and recommendations for kitchen improvements at the end of the season, contributing to an even better camp experience for the next year.
• Consistently uphold the standards of GSUSA, GSNEO, and ACA, promoting a safe, inclusive, and health-conscious kitchen.
• Embrace and incorporate principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in all aspects of kitchen operations, creating a welcoming dining experience for all.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support the success of Girl Scouts of North East Ohio’s goals and objectives.
• Ensure the welfare, safety, and cleanliness of all individuals in the kitchen, following and enforcing all health guidelines, including frequent handwashing, sanitizing, and food safety protocols.