At Esalen, we believe in the power of our potential - both in our staff and in our global community of students and faculty who turn to us for transformative learning experiences. More than 60 years ago, Esalen co-founders imagined a place inspired by Abraham Maslow’s psychology of peak experiences and Aldous Huxley’s belief in “human potentialities”, the unrealized capacities of our mind and body. Today we build on this legacy by creating deep connections in a world challenged by disconnection and isolation; reigniting awe and wonder to spark greater curiosity about ourselves and others; and asking the questions that can lead to transformative change both for an individual and society.
Esalen isn’t just a place to work, it’s an invitation to help change the world.
This role is responsible for management of kitchen personnel and ensuring the effective delivery of all food at Esalen. The objective of Esalen Culinary team is to provide our guests with the most healthy and nourishing experience possible during their time at Esalen, while acknowledging and embodying Esalen’s values and programs. This position reports to the General Manager.
The Culinary team is responsible for the preparation and delivery of all meals and will operate a small bar every evening that sells a limited range of wines and beers*.
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Oversee and manage the preparation of approximately 250-300 quality meals, 3 times a day, 365 days of the year, in a timely manner
Plans and manages the procurement, production, preparation, and presentation of all food at Esalen in a safe, sanitary, and cost-effective manner
Ensures the quality of the product, consistency of presentation, and proper handling of all food products in accordance with California State Health Codes.
Inventorying, ordering, receiving, and accounting of all food and supplies – produce, meat, fish, dairy goods, dry goods – from both external vendors and Esalen’s own farm and garden.
Menu preparation – ensuring varied and diverse menus, including daily vegetarian and vegan options.
Manages employees during the shift and ensures appropriate professional standards of behavior, work standards, productivity, practices, and guest care are adhered to.
Manages kitchen human resources to attract, retain, and motivate staff while providing a safe environment: hire, train, develop, empower, coach, counsel, conduct performance reviews, resolve conflicts/problems, provide open communication channels, and discipline as appropriate.
Reviewing guest feedback and taking action to resolve culinary issues.
Preparation and delivery of food, beverage* and service* for Esalen special events and catering.
Budget management.
Purchase and maintenance of kitchen machinery, equipment, and supplies.
Hiring, training, and supervision of the following Culinary Staff:
1 administrative and management personnel.
5 Staff Cooks.
8 Kitchen Help
2-4 CIA externs (5-month rotation).
4 Work Scholars (80-day rotation).
Assorted hourly workers – dishwashers.
Preparation of staff schedules and payroll.
Monthly orientation of work scholars.
Weekly team process and monthly business meetings.
Communication with upper management and other departments as required.
Other various tasks as assigned.
Work in collaboration with Farm and Garden around produce and Menu
At least 3 years’ experience and high competency working in the food preparation and management of a large staff with a high meal count in the hospitality industry.
Experience and ability in meeting deadlines in a changing environment.
Experience in menu preparation in a creative and financially responsible way.
Ability to take responsibility, inspire, and be held accountable.
Flexibility and the ability to make on-the-spot decisions.
Ability to provide superior guest experiences in demanding situations.
Willingness to connect with and care for residents and guests.
Ability to take initiative and be detail-oriented with awareness of the larger picture.
Create and drive an Esalen Culinary culture.
Lead staff by delegating empowering, positive attitude.
Strong communication skills, with an emphasis on listening, empathy and common sense.
This position is a unique opportunity for a passionate individual to get involved in the sustainability development of Farm & Garden to Kitchen.
Willingness to develop educational programs that will heighten awareness of food sources, networking staff and seminarians with sustainable food producers, local food systems, and practicing farm-to-fork principles.
Promote better health through nutritional guidelines for people and the planet.
Makes themselves available to influence and educate staff and seminarians through thoughtful eco-epicurean practices.
Develop branding possibilities using Esalen’s unique position as a leader in Permaculture
Promote, educate “Good, clean and fair” principles.
- Esalen functions best when all staff work toward the common mission of encouraging everyone to reach our highest human potential. With this goal in mind, this job description is not intended to cover or contain an all-encompassing listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be required. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice based on Esalen’s and your team’s needs.
- While performing the duties of this job, the teammate must be able to maneuver on uneven ground, stand for long periods of time, often carry and lift up to 50 pounds, operate food preparation appliances and machinery, tolerate exposure to changes in temperature, and be able perform daily repetitive hand movements as it pertains to food preparation.
- This role offers a generous benefits package including competitive pay commensurate with experience, medical and dental insurance, and paid time off. In alignment with Esalen’s mission in advancing human potential, staff are encouraged to engage in a wide range of personal and professional development programs designed by Esalen faculty and staff.
Pay is commensurate with experience and internal equity.
Esalen provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetics, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans.
