career opportunities

Esperance Community Teaching Kitchen Coordinator

Salary Range: $20-$28 per hour
Position Type: Temporary Employee
Hours: Work hours vary depending on programming schedule, with an average of 10 hours/week to start and advancing to no more than 25 hours a week.
Application Deadline: 5:00pm, Friday, May 15, 2026
Target Start Date: June 2026
End Date: December 2026
Location: Traverse City, Michigan
Reports to: Food and Farming Program Director

POSITION OBJECTIVE
The Kitchen Coordinator will oversee daily operations for the for the Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities, Food and Farming Program’s Esperance Community Teaching Kitchen, which is the core for local food–based community health, education, programming, events, and food-based classes, and research at Commongrounds, at 414 E Eighth St, Traverse City, Michigan.

As the point person for the teaching kitchen, this position will ensure high standards of quality in food education, sanitation, and kitchen safety practices. This role requires on-site class facilitation for general nutrition and culinary education classes and support for the more technical Culinary Medicine Classes. The kitchen coordinator has overall responsibility for the smooth functioning of the kitchen, which includes communicating and coordinating kitchen calendar with internal and external partners, management of the food supplies, inventory, equipment, A/V technology, safety and sanitation protocols, compliance, and scheduling. Kitchen hours are generally 2pm to 9pm.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (60%)

Oversee and implement all teaching kitchen operations and classes:

• Communicate with kitchen renters and class participants to help craft meaningful educational programs under supervision;
• Support kitchen technologies,before, during and after kitchen class times;
• Manage inventory, educational programming, and general food-inclusive events organized by the Food and Farming team;
• Set up and clean up before and after all cooking classes;
• Procure food and related supplies for all food-based community and professional development classes;
• Calculate recipe quantities to determine adequate quantities of food and supplies required to meet the needs for scheduled research, classes and events without creating excess waste;
• Organize and follow a budget based on food costs and current usage, track areas of food waste and food loss, and make adjustments;
• Perform regular routine general inspections for pest control; identify maintenance issues to address and resolve, clean and maintain all large and small kitchen equipment including floors and drains, refrigeration, freezer equipment, dishwashers, furniture, aprons and towels;

ADMINISTRATION FUNCTIONS (20%)

Participant Satisfaction, sanitation and pantry/smallwears inventory.

• Manage documentation on current and/or new funding reports as needed;
• Work independently and/or with students and other renters to collect and store satisfaction and other feedback;
• Implement and track event attendance and other evaluations as needed;
• Determine and oversee the cleaning schedule to ensure sanitation and that food safety of the teaching kitchen is maintained and compliant with Grand Travers Co, Health Department and ECTK Policy and Procedure manuals;
• Review and make suggestions on updates to the ECTK Policy and Procedure manual.

Safety and Sanitation (12%)

• Ensure that routine, on-site sanitation is completed before after each class,
• Cross-check that workspaces, kitchen areas, and garbage collection sites are clean, and equipment has been properly returned to original storage areas:
• Remove, clean and return all kitchen aprons and towels;
• Sweep and mop floors;
• Turn off and store away all electric appliances, fans and technologies.

Other duties as assigned. (8%)

COMMUNICATION

The Kitchen Coordinator is expected to communicate with internal and external partners.

This includes staff for Groundwork, Commongrounds, externally with renters, speakers, students, and new prospective partnerships:

• Groundwork will supervise the Kitchen Coordinator and is primary: Weekly and as needed contact with Food and Farming and other Groundwork staff to exchange information and ensure streamlined execution.
• Commongrounds (where the kitchen is housed): Monthly and as needed to review events and coordination of activities in the building.
• External: Regular contact with renters, visiting speakers and their staff, and anyone who reserves/books the teaching kitchen to exchange information.

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Working knowledge of public and private kitchen operations, food production, cooking, and menu planning.
• Awareness of local and state health and safety regulations for food safety and sanitation and ability to follow written policy and procedures.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and interpersonal skills; must demonstrate the ability to effectively and professionally communicate and work with various individuals from a broad spectrum of disciplines, technical and educational backgrounds
• Good/strong organization skills; ability to multi-task, prioritize and meet deadlines. Must demonstrate attention to detail and accuracy, time management skills, and follow-through.
• Ability to work effectively independently and collaboratively within a team. Must be highly motivated, responsible, dependable.
• Effective problem-solving skills; must demonstrate sound judgment and good decision-making.
• Must demonstrate flexibility, ability to work under pressure and willingness to work in a fast-paced, changing environment, and conform to shifting priorities, demands, timelines.
• Be proficient in Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, Zoom and other video streaming.
• Must demonstrate willingness to learn new techniques, procedures, processes, and computer programs as needed.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Standard kitchen working environment.
• In person attendance required with some virtual meetings and administrative time;
• Face to face interactions with colleagues, supervisors and customers
• Employees will perform significant fine finger dexterity,cutting, food preparation, lifting, bending, stooping, carrying, pushing, pulling and/or extended walking and standing.
• Ability to lift 10-20 pounds and stand for long periods of time.
• Flexibility in work hours will involve some evening work and occasional weekends.
• Reliable transportation for shopping/ food pickup.

Compensation and Benefits

This is a 6 month temporary position offering a competitive hourly range of $20-$28 per hour based on experience. Groundwork offers flexible work hours and a positive, team-oriented work environment. This 6-month position is a pilot that could turn into an extended opportunity if future funding is secured.

To Apply:

Please apply using the Groundwork Employment Application, and please be aware that the application will require you to upload both a cover letter and résumé. Applications will be accepted until 5:00pm on Friday, May 15, 2026.

Groundwork is committed to creating a diverse workplace and seeks a wide-range of perspectives and backgrounds. People of color, persons with disabilities, veterans, and LGBTQ+ candidates are encouraged to apply. Groundwork is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its employment decisions. Applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation at any point in the employment process.