SailFuture is a nonprofit organization in St. Petersburg, Florida, dedicated to helping youth who have experienced significant life challenges build meaningful, independent futures.
Through residential foster care, a private high school, workforce development, international sailing expeditions, and social enterprises, we provide young people with the relationships, education, and opportunities they need to achieve economic freedom.
Our Culinary Team plays a critical role in that mission. Every healthy meal prepared, catered event served, and product created helps provide exceptional nutrition to our students while generating revenue that directly supports scholarships and tuition assistance for students at SailFuture Academy.
More than a kitchen, our culinary enterprise is a mission-driven business that creates meaningful learning opportunities, strengthens our community, and helps sustain the life-changing work of SailFuture.
The AmeriCorps Culinary Apprentice is a hands-on service position for individuals who want to build a career in the culinary and hospitality industry while making a meaningful impact in their community.
Working alongside experienced chefs and culinary professionals, apprentices help prepare approximately 600 nutritious school lunches each day, produce fresh baked goods for local businesses, and support catering events for community partners. Through this work, apprentices develop professional culinary skills while contributing to a mission that creates educational opportunities for disadvantaged youth.
This position is ideal for someone who enjoys working in a fast-paced kitchen, values teamwork, and wants to gain experience in high-volume food production, baking, catering, and commercial kitchen operations.
Throughout your AmeriCorps service, you'll gain practical experience in:
Commercial food preparation and production
High-volume school meal production
Baking and pastry fundamentals
Catering preparation and event execution
Knife skills and food preparation techniques
Food safety, sanitation, and HACCP principles
Inventory management and product rotation
Menu preparation and recipe execution
Portion control and nutritional standards
Kitchen equipment operation and maintenance
Time management in a commercial kitchen
Team communication and kitchen workflow
Customer service and hospitality
Professional kitchen organization and efficiency
Assist in preparing approximately 600 healthy school lunches each day for local students.
Prepare ingredients, cook meals, and portion food according to established recipes and nutritional guidelines.
Produce baked goods for local businesses and community partners.
Support catering events through food preparation, packaging, setup, service, and cleanup.
Maintain high standards of food safety, sanitation, and kitchen cleanliness.
Operate commercial kitchen equipment safely and efficiently.
Receive, organize, and properly store food deliveries.
Assist with inventory management and product rotation.
Work collaboratively with chefs, staff, volunteers, and fellow AmeriCorps members.
Maintain quality, consistency, and presentation standards across all food production.
Represent SailFuture professionally while interacting with customers, vendors, and community partners.
Contribute to a culinary enterprise that generates revenue supporting student tuition and educational programming at SailFuture Academy.
Participate in AmeriCorps trainings, service projects, and professional development opportunities.
Other duties as assigned.
AmeriCorps Eligibility Requirements
Be a United States citizen, United States national, or lawful permanent resident
Be at least 17 years of age at the start of service
Have a high school diploma or its equivalent
Not have exceeded the maximum allowable AmeriCorps service terms
Not be listed on any state or national sex offender registry
Not have been convicted of murder, as defined in 18 U.S.C. §1111
Additional Program Qualifications
Interest in culinary arts, baking, hospitality, or food service.
Strong work ethic and ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to work as part of a team.
Positive attitude and commitment to service.
Ability to stand for extended periods and lift up to 50 pounds.
Compensation valued at $52,805 annually
Living Allowance: $2,080
$1,500 Max 401k Contribution per year
$6910 annual health insurance plan
$12,000 value: On-site room & board including a furnished room, utilities & food
$7,395 Education award eligibility on completion of year
Access to sailboats and kayaks during time off
Clearwater Community Sailing Center Membership; includes the use of facility and equipment
YMCA Gym Membership
Members receive comprehensive training throughout the service term, including:
a) Initial Orientation
Orientation introduces SailFuture Fellowship culture, policies, prohibited activities, service expectations, and reporting requirements.
b) Program-Specific Training
Members receive training related to youth development, trauma-informed care, safety procedures, and service-site expectations.
c) Ongoing Training
Ongoing professional development and skill-building opportunities are provided to support effective service delivery.
Service Assignment
AmeriCorps members will serve at approved SailFuture service sites in Saint Petersburg, FL. Members may serve in residential foster care programs, education settings, and workforce development initiatives supporting youth and families.
Supervision
Members are supervised by designated SailFuture staff and AmeriCorps Program Managers. Regular supervision meetings are held to review service progress, address challenges, and ensure compliance with program requirements.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a Member to successfully perform the essential functions of service assignments.
Frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to finger; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance;stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear
Occasionally required to sit
Lift and/or move up to 50 pounds
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus
Must be able to wear protective equipment in compliance with general safety and food safety protocol
Completion Requirements
To successfully complete the term of service and be eligible for a Segal Education Award, the member must:
i) Complete the required number of service hours
ii) Participate in all required trainings and meetings
iii) Receive a satisfactory performance evaluation
iv) Comply with all program standards and policies
Employability
Members may not serve at a site with family members and may not be employed by the service site outside of AmeriCorps.
All primary service activities must occur within the United States
International travel or service is not part of the AmeriCorps service term
International activities, if offered, are not federally funded and do not count toward service hours
Members may not engage in prohibited political, religious, or lobbying activities while serving
Members may not be employed by the service site outside of AmeriCorps during their term
Members are evaluated regularly on service quality, compliance, professionalism, and contribution to program outcomes. Accurate documentation of service hours and activities is required and must be verified by the designated supervisor.
This position description reflects the general nature of service expected of AmeriCorps members in this role. Service activities may be modified to meet program needs while remaining compliant with AmeriCorps regulations.
