Job Application for Chef, The Kitchen at Farm Sanctuary at Farm Sanctuary

***Application Deadline: February 20th, 2026@ 12pm EST***

Watkins Glen, NY

Summary: The Chef of The Kitchen at Farm Sanctuary is a leader in the cafe operations. This role calls for an experienced vegan chef with strong kitchen leadership, communication, and time-management skills, who is collaborative, guest-focused, and solution-driven. We are seeking someone with fresh, forward-thinking ideas to help the cafe serve as a powerful agent of change

This is a temporary, residency-style position focused on strengthening and evolving the culinary foundation of The Kitchen at Farm Sanctuary. The role offers a defined window to develop menus, systems, and practices that will support continuity and growth beyond the term of the position.

The Chef in this role is invited to bring creativity, leadership and vision to elevate the cafe as a living expression of our mission, while intentionally documenting, training, and transferring knowledge so future teams can carry the work forward. This is an opportunity to make a meaningful, time-bound contribution to Farm Sanctuary

Responsibilities:

Develops and cooks tasty, healthy recipes and oversees menu creation, inventory, and cost per meal tracking using our recipe cost tracker, ensuring cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and eco-friendly practices
Plans, organizes, and monitors kitchen to maintain high standards for food quality, presentation, and service in accordance with NYS Health and safety standards
Prepares and oversees food for the Bed and Breakfast, Lunch, Grab and Go offerings, staff and volunteer meals and other visitor programs and events
In partnership with the Senior Manager, the Hospitality and Retail Manager ensures inventory, purchases, packaging, suppliers, and cafe operations, ensuring cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and eco-friendly practices
Collaborates with Senior Manager, Hospitality and Retail on administrative tasks; including budgeting, reporting, record-keeping, and scheduling
Utilize digital POS system for order tracking
Ensure that all cafe equipment and supplies is maintained, cleaned and organized at all times
Trains and ensures cafe and staff comply with food safety regulations, Farm Sanctuary standards, and all cafe standard operating procedures in accordance with NYS health guidelines
Provide weekly reports on inventory needs, sales, guest experiences, etc. and updates supervisor
Supervises cafe staff, interns, and volunteers

Trains staff on simple recipe preparation and presentation, equipment usage, food safety, and cleaning procedures
Develops and implements comprehensive team member management systems, including performance conversations, training, and strategic scheduling

Develops, plans, and leads regular hands-on cooking classes and culinary workshops for visitors and the local community, focusing on plant-based, sustainable, and healthy eating principles, in partnership with the on-site Programs Team and the Senior Manager, Hospitality and Retail
Supports with Development, Marketing, Communications, and Community Engagement to create giving opportunities, promotional strategies, and content for visitors, the local community, and broader audiences

Essential Physical Requirements:

Prolonged periods of standing and walking.
Must be able to perform medium work. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
Must be able to bend, lift, push, stoop, stretch, climb, and crawl and other strenuous physical activities
Must be able to regularly perform job responsibilities in a variety of weather conditions. Some work is done in an outdoor setting that is not climate-controlled, but most work is performed in the kitchen and involves exposure to hazards or physical risks, requiring basic safety precautions.
Utilize adequate vision, hearing, fine motor skills, and physical stamina to operate machinery safely, including the ability to detect visual and auditory signals and hazards in the work environment

Must be able to perform job responsibilities with exposure to unusual elements, such as extreme temperatures, fumes, and smoke.

Required Qualifications:

Valid driver's license and clean driving record
New York Food Manager Training Certification
Allergen awareness training

Preferred Qualifications:

2 years or more of experience managing a kitchen and cafe.
4 years of vegan cooking experience in positions with increasing responsibility including line cooking and prep work
Effective management skills; ability to handle multiple tasks, set priorities, and meet deadlines while planning, organizing and leading a team, organizational communication skills
Experience assisting with or co-facilitating cooking classes, demonstrations, or hands-on culinary workshops, with comfort engaging and communicating clearly with groups
Exceptional interpersonal skills with ability to collaborate effectively with co-workers, promoting a positive and supportive team environment
Customer-oriented with exceptional communication skills, ensuring excellent service and satisfaction for guests
Highly detail-oriented, with a keen eye for quality and presentation, and the ability to maintain accurate records and documentation
Solution-driven, with the ability to think creatively, identify problems, and develop effective solutions
Ability to meet fast-paced environment with fluctuating and tight deadlines
CPR and first aid training
Alignment with Farm Sanctuary’s values of compassion, understanding, integrity, transformation, and freedom.
Familiarity, commitment to, and experience with the practice of equity and social justice, and the principles embedded in Farm Sanctuary’s mission

We embrace candidates from a range of backgrounds and experiences, regardless of whether they satisfy all the specified requirements. We encourage you to apply, even if you have an unconventional or non-traditional background

Job Specifications:

Terms of employment: temporary, exempt, full-time (April - December)
Reports to: Senior Manager, Hospitality and Retail
Direct reports: Line Chef and Intern
Pay: $58,000-$60,000 annualized ($27.88/hr-28.85/hr non-exempt)
Location: Watkins Glen, NY
Travel: None
Benefits: Competitive benefits package, including 14 paid holidays; generous paid time off; health, dental, vision, and life insurance; 403(b) plan; flexible spending accounts; long-term disability insurance; free access to the CALM meditation app; and access to the Nivati wellness platform

Farm Sanctuary is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, or age.

The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required for this position. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Any photos or videos taken in the scope of employment and/or related to Farm Sanctuary are considered work product and intellectual property of Farm Sanctuary.

Our Hiring Process:

Stage 1: Virtual People and Culture Interview
Stage 2: Virtual Interview with Hiring Manager
Stage 3: Reference, Certification, and Background Checks
Stage 4: Offer

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Chef, The Kitchen at Farm Sanctuary

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