Company description

Urban Adamah is an educational farm and community center in Berkeley, California that integrates the practices of Jewish tradition, mindfulness, sustainable agriculture, and social justice to build loving, just, and sustainable communities. We provide training programs, educational workshops, and community celebrations for more than 10,000 visitors annually.

Job description

The Culinary Experiences and Operations Manager leads all aspects of Urban Adamah’s kitchen operations and food-based programming. This role is equal parts chef, educator, people manager, and community-builder— ensuring that food is prepared safely and deliciously for retreats, programs, and events, while embodying the values of hospitality, sustainability, and Jewish tradition.

The person in this role manages our commercial kitchen and works collaboratively across departments to create memorable, mission-aligned food experiences for participants, donors, and staff.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

Kitchen Management - Ensure the kitchen is kept clean, stocked, organized, and inventoried. Manage kitchen calendar and use of space across departments & uses by partners and outside groups.

Kitchen Administration - Management of hourly kitchen support staff including interviewing, hiring, training, and scheduling all volunteers, part time kitchen staff, and contractors. Serve as the primary point of contact with all outside clients to price and plan menus, meet dietary restrictions, and uphold shabbat observance needs. Create fully costed menus at different price points to suit different types of events and budgets including retreats, b'mitzvahs, weddings, donor events, public programs.

Head Chef - Prepare, lead, and oversee food service for multi-day retreats, holiday programs, spring breaks, and other programs including meal planning, food shopping, cooking and clean up. Hire, schedule, and supervise support cooks when needed.

Outside Groups Use - Serve as the primary point of contact between Urban Adamah and any outside group using the kitchen. Communicate expectations to groups and support them in meeting those expectations.

Cooking & Food Preparation

• Lead cooking and meal preparation for retreats, celebrations, public events, and educational programs.
• Design and execute menus that are seasonal, farm-driven, and aligned with Jewish and sustainability values.
• Prepare meals for holiday programs (e.g., Shabbat dinners, Rosh haShana, Yom Kippur break-fast, Sukkot, Tu B’Shvat, Passover, etc.).
• Support donor and fundraising events such as farm-to-table dinners and community gatherings.
• Provide meals for internal programs including Fellowship, and Farm Stay communal meals, daily meals for Spring Break experiences, welcome and closing sessions of All Year, camp staff meals, etc.

Culinary Education & Classes

• Create or co-create original hands-on opportunities utilizing the tools of the farm including- the Cobb Oven, portable pizza ovens, plants/animals on the farm, jam-making, pickling, challah baking, and Jewish/holiday foods.
• Collaborate with program staff to integrate food education into field trips, All Year, Camp, Fellowship, miscellaneous educational programs, celebrations, retreats and public offerings.
• Adapt recipes and curricula for varied audiences and dietary needs.

Kitchen Management

• Oversee daily kitchen operations and scheduling.
  Recruit, hire, and manage a team of kitchen support staff.
• Maintain Commercial Kitchen Certification and ensure compliance with all health and safety regulations.
• Manage kitchen inventory, ordering, and vendor relationships.
• Maintain cleanliness, organization, and sustainability standards (composting, waste reduction, etc.).
• Serve as liaison to Dandelion Kitchen, supporting communication, scheduling, and facility coordination.
• Manage annual kitchen budget including food and labor costs for a full calendar of events
• Regular onsite attendance and timeliness.

Collaboration & Community

• Work closely with the Programs/Events Team to align menus and food experiences with educational and community goals.
• Partner with the Development Director on donor events and culinary fundraising experiences.
• Collaborate with Operations & Facilities colleagues to ensure compliance, purchasing, and safety systems run smoothly.

Compensation

this position is: salaried, $68,640 - $75,000

Application instructions

Deadline

December 19, 2025