Company description
Mill Street Market is a startup community hub in Hastings, Michigan, focused on strengthening rural communities through food, education, entrepreneurship, and childcare.
Our growing campus brings together a Farm Stop Market and Cafe, commercial teaching and incubator kitchen, culinary and workforce education programs, small business support services, and Little Sprouts Child Development Center. By connecting these programs, we create opportunities for families, entrepreneurs, farmers, and community members to learn, grow, and succeed.
We believe that rural challenges are interconnected—and rural solutions should be too. Through innovative partnerships and community-driven programs, Mill Street Market works to improve access to healthy food, expand childcare options, support local businesses, develop workforce skills, and strengthen the local economy.
As a startup organization, we are building programs, systems, and partnerships from the ground up. Team members have the opportunity to help shape the future of an exciting and mission-driven organization while making a meaningful impact in the community.
Job description
Kitchen & Culinary Education Manager
Location: Hastings, MI
Start Date: September 2026
Employment Type: Full-Time
Help Build Something From the Ground Up
Mill Street Market is a startup community hub currently under development in Hastings, Michigan. We are creating a unique campus that combines a Farm Stop Market & Cafe, Commercial Teaching & Incubator Kitchen, Culinary Education Programs, Childcare, and community gathering spaces.
We are seeking a dynamic, entrepreneurial leader to help launch and lead our Kitchen and Culinary Education programs.
This is not simply a kitchen management position. The Kitchen & Culinary Education Manager serves as a catalyst for food entrepreneurship, workforce development, culinary education, and small business growth.
If you enjoy building programs, creating partnerships, securing resources, supporting entrepreneurs, and turning ideas into action, this may be the opportunity for you.
What You'll Do
- Lead development of culinary education and workforce training programs
- Recruit, mentor, and support food entrepreneurs utilizing the incubator kitchen
- Build partnerships with schools, colleges, workforce organizations, chefs, farmers, and community partners
- Identify and support grant, sponsorship, and fundraising opportunities
- Coordinate classes, workshops, certifications, and community programming
- Help entrepreneurs access business development resources and technical assistance
- Oversee commercial and incubator kitchen operations
- Collaborate with the Farm Stop Market & Cafe on local food initiatives and prepared foods programming
- Assist with program budgets, reporting, and impact measurement
- Help build systems, policies, and programs in a startup environment
- We're Looking For Someone With Experience In
- Entrepreneurship, small business development, or economic development
- Culinary arts, food systems, hospitality, or kitchen leadership
Education, workforce development, or community programming
- Partnership development and community engagement
- Grant writing, fundraising, or program development
- Project management and program implementation
Qualifications
- Experience working in startup, nonprofit, educational, or mission-driven environments
- Minimum 3 years of experience in culinary arts, food systems, and commercial kitchen leadership
- Experience with small business entrepreneurship preferred
- Experience with shared-use kitchens preferred
- Experience with grant writing and basic fundraising required
- Basic marketing knowledge (promotions, product placement, or social media coordination) preferred
- Knowledge of food safety and child nutrition standards
- Strong leadership, financial management, and program development skills
- Working knowledge of spreadsheets (Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets) for budgeting and reporting
- Ability to track, interpret, and act on sales and inventory data
- Ability to lift up to 50lbs, stand/walk for long periods
- Ability to work independently and wear multiple hats
- Food Safety Certification (or willingness to obtain)
- CPR/First Aid Certification (or willingness to obtain)
Why Mill Street Market?
This is a rare opportunity to help build a first-of-its-kind rural community development project focused on food systems, entrepreneurship, workforce development, and community wellness.
You'll help shape programs, partnerships, and opportunities that directly support local businesses, farmers, families, and future entrepreneurs.
Compensation & Benefits
- Competitive salary based on experience
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Professional development opportunities
- Benefits package in development as organization grows
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
no deadline