Hog Island is a 333-acre island located a stone’s throw off the coast of the town of Bremen, Maine. It is the site of a National Audubon Society Camp, a resident facility that provides on-site instruction in ornithology and natural history in the form of 9 week-long ornithology-centered camp sessions over the course of the summer.
A commercial-grade kitchen is part of the dining building known as “The Bridge.” Food and supplies are delivered to the mainland dock and the kitchen staff must coordinate delivery to Hog Island by boat. The kitchen staff, including the Head Chef, Sous Chef, and Kitchen Assistant, with the help of a group of devoted volunteers, provides 3 meals a day for up to 90 people during the course of the 6-day, 5-night camp sessions.
As there is no regular boat transportation service to and from Hog Island and the mainland, the Kitchen Assistant is required to live in housing on Hog Island in order to perform the functions of this position. Audubon will provide the Kitchen Assistant with a private room with nearby shared bath, located above the kitchen in the Bridge. Meals are provided on Hog Island when the kitchen is in operation. The work schedule is 40 hours per week, and the day revolves around meal planning and service that includes breakfast, lunch and dinner for a six-day/ five-night program schedule. Candidates must be available from May 10, 2018 to October 1, 2018.
- Assist with food preparation and kitchen assignments;
- Assist with local acquisition of food and supplies, including pickups from local farms and ferrying groceries across from the mainland;
- Conduct a monthly inventory of the food in the kitchen; and
- Help maintain a clean and healthy working environment and assist with deep cleaning of kitchen equipment and spaces.
- Experience or interest in culinary arts/and or hospitality; experience at a residential nature camp is desirable.
- Demonstrated interest in conservation/related areas, as well as taking part in the Camp's instructional programs.
- Must be able to stand for extended periods of time and able to lift at least 50 lbs (repeatedly throughout the day), as well as walk up to two miles at a time and participate in boat trips.
- Sense of humor and flexibility are of paramount importance to this position.
- Prior professional food service or cooking experience, solid knife skills, as well as baking experience and/or interest in baking, strongly preferred;
- Must hold or be able to obtain a current TIPS (Training for Intervention ProcedureS) training card;
- Sincere interest in birds and environmental issues is encouraged, but not required.
- Interest in farm-to-table/slow food movement is greatly appreciated.
- Experience with or desire to learn use of small motor or row boats.