Company description

Shoals Marine Laboratory (SML) is a remote field station located on Appledore Island, Maine, jointly operated by Cornell University and the University of New Hampshire. As a leader in marine science undergraduate education, SML offers endless learning and research opportunities for students, interns, and members of the broader scientific community.

As part of our appeal to students and participants we pride ourselves in providing as much local and sustainable food as we can, produced from scratch in our commercial island kitchen. We have a long history of providing delicious, hearty, meals while fostering a positive and creative opportunity for our kitchen staff. 

Job description

• This is a supervisory position involving all aspects of operating the Shoals Marine Laboratory kitchen on Appledore Island.
• Under the supervision of the Head Chef supervise all employees working in the SML kitchen, consisting of a small core team, student workers, and occasional volunteers.
• Assist and sometimes lead the planning and preparation of 20+ meals per week for Appledore Island for up to 100 residents and additional groups of day visitors. Primarily from scratch utilizing local producers when feasible to produce hearty and well balanced healthy meals.
• Regular duties include participation in regular meal planning, special event meal planning, food preparation, food transportation, kitchen cleaning, dishwashing, and food storage.
• Maintain a clean and safe operating environment in the SML kitchen at all times.
• Maintain responsibility for SML kitchen operations when SML’s Head Chef is off island.
• Responsibility for food procurement under supervision of the SML Head Chef.
• Maintain a keen focus on sustainability and food waste reduction.
• Provide exemplary customer service.
• Foster a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for students, researchers, and visitors.
• Implement initiatives related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Expected to be available for consultation and emergency response at all times, on days scheduled to be working, and while on SML property and vessels.
• Serve as a crew member on board a commercial vessel, and operator of small vessels.
• Other duties as assigned - due to the residential and island-based nature of this position it is not feasible to include every single aspect of daily expectations of living and working in a community on a remote island. This includes community activities of participating in keeping their housing clean, helping out in emergencies, and other items that are part of community living and work where all departments assist one another. 
• $1,200 weekly pay rate
• This is a seasonal position, employment dates: May 5, 2025-September 14, 2025

Required Qualifications
•Experience managing dining services teams in successful execution of regular meal service for large groups.
•Ensure a culture of cooking from scratch when possible and in a healthy manner.
 •Experience in addressing allergy, food preferences and food intolerances in a discrete and safe manner.
•Knowledge of basic computer skills; proven organization skills; attention to detail along with experience managing multiple tasks.
 • Applicants must be eligible for employment in the United States. 
• Selected candidates must be able to successfully participate in pre-employment and random drug testing (Drug testing is required because this position is located on an island, and all of our staff also serve as deckhands aboard our Coast Guard inspected vessels). 
• Meet the University of New Hampshire’s hiring requirements for both criminal and driving history (background checks are required).
• Applicants must have interest in working in a remote educational environment. 
•Good communication skills and ability to work well with students, faculty and other staff members in an isolated environment.
• Appropriate certification to comply with State of Maine Certified Food Protection requirements

Preferred Qualifications
• Experience managing food service in remote locations or aboard vessels for large groups of people.
• Experience working with local food producers and vendors to develop fresh and local menus.
• Positive energy and leadership, interest in healthy and sustainable cuisine, and experience accommodating dietary restrictions.
•We are especially interested in candidates with interests in sustainable and local food.
• Appropriate certification to comply with State of Maine Certified Food Protection requirements

Physical Demands
• Experience managing food service in remote locations or aboard vessels for large groups of people.
• Experience working with local food producers and vendors to develop fresh and local menus.
• Positive energy and leadership, interest in healthy and sustainable cuisine, and experience accommodating dietary restrictions.
•We are especially interested in candidates with interests in sustainable and local food.
• Appropriate certification to comply with State of Maine Certified Food Protection requirements
FTE

Compensation

this position is: salaried, $35,568* - $50,000

Application instructions

Deadline

no deadline