Company description
Seven Oaks Retreat Center welcomes contemplative groups looking for a spacious, restful, affordable, and welcoming residential retreat center at the foothills of the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains.
In our long tradition of meditation retreat, we understand the importance of a conducive environment – including nourishing food, and a relaxing and well-stewarded center – in supporting mindfulness. We’re extremely fortunate that the land on which
Seven Oaks sits exudes peace and calm.
Seven Oaks Retreat Center nestles in the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains about 90 minutes southwest of the Washington, DC, area and 30 minutes north of Charlottesville, Va.
Job description
Seven Oaks Retreat Center hosts a variety of contemplative groups for residential retreats nestled in the nature of the Blue Ridge mountains. Owned and operated by the Insight Meditation Community of Washington (IMCW), Seven Oaks Retreat Center offers a spacious refuge to cultivate loving kindness, compassion and wise action.
The kitchen exists to nourish people who have come to practice, study, and heal. How the food is prepared, how the space is kept, and how people treat one another in the course of the work all matter. They are part of the environment of care that Seven Oaks Offers.
The Kitchen Manager (KM) is a key member of the Seven Oaks team holding overall responsibility for the kitchen. This includes menu planning, scheduling, staff development, maintaining this manual, managing the kitchen budget, and setting the tone and culture of the workspace. The KM reports to the Seven Oaks Retreat Center Director.
This role ensures the kitchen consistently delivers nourishing vegetarian, vegan, and meat option meals that align with the retreat center’s values of wellness, mindfulness, and sustainability. The Kitchen Manager also cooks on a regular basis for retreats. The Kitchen Manager ensures the operations follow the Seven Oaks Retreat Center Kitchen Manual.
The kitchen is also a workplace, and often a demanding one. Retreat-scale cooking requires groundedness, organization, and the ability to stay steady under pressure. The values described here are aimed at establishing the causes and conditions for these qualities to flourish. A kitchen that runs with both skill and awareness is the vision.
The ideal candidate combines a positive attitude, culinary skill, operational organization, and a calm, collaborative spirit.
Responsibilities:
Menu planning for all retreats, including dietary accommodations
Create seasonal, whole-food-based meals using fresh, local ingredients when possible
Staff scheduling and shift assignments
Staff development: assessing readiness, guiding progression, conducting shadowing
transitions
Regular coordination with AKM on menu-inventory synchronization
Maintaining and updating this manual and all working documents
Setting and holding the tone, culture, and values of the kitchen
Communication with Seven Oaks management on kitchen needs, staffing, and
facilities
Managing the kitchen budget
Preparing and assigning GP Daily Task Sheets
Overseeing work retreatant orientation and supervision
Cooking as needed (with the long-term aim of transitioning to a primarily managerial role)
Required Skills and Qualifications:
3+ years of professional kitchen or food service management experience
Excellent organizational and time management skills
Ordering, menu planning, Staff Shift management
Strong background in vegetarian/vegan cooking
Food safety certification work weekends
Ability to lift 40+ lbs, stand for extended periods
Calm and collaborative demeanor in a fast-paced environment
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience in retreat, residential, or institutional kitchens
Familiarity cooking with natural whole foods, and gluten-free cooking styles
Interest in mindfulness, wellness, or contemplative living
Experience training staff and managing volunteers
Compensation & Benefits:
Competitive pay based on experience; Starting at $48,000 up to $62,000
QSEHRA health insurance reimbursement plan.
On-site meals during retreats
Ability to participation in select retreat programs
Possibility for on-site living accommodations.
Compensation
this position is: salaried, $50,000 - $75,000
Application instructions
If you are not registered, you'll be prompted to do so. Don't worry, it's free!
Deadline
June 27, 2026