Employment opportunities

Holy Wisdom Monastery is seeking a talented, creative Junior Sous Chef to prepare delicious, healthy meals in our beautiful kitchen, feeding all who come to our retreat and guest house, programs, weddings, memorial services and special events.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Assists the Culinary Director – CDC with meal planning, purchasing, and preparing healthy, high-quality meals in accordance with established guidelines. Requires active utilization and preservation of produce from the monastery gardens and orchards.
• Helps establish and maintain standards for food quality, sanitation, kitchen safety, and cost controls across all culinary facilities at Holy Wisdom Monastery.
• Prepares meals in full compliance with local, state, and national food safety regulations.
• Assumes operational leadership of the kitchen in the absence of the Culinary Director – CDC.
• Maintains general kitchen cleanliness, food prep areas, and station sanitation.
• Assists with guest food service needs and collaborates on culinary events as required, maintaining flexibility to work weekends, evenings, and variable hours based on event and retreat schedules.

Culinary Operations & Production

• Menu & Prep: Executes daily meal preparation incorporating fresh garden and orchard produce into seasonal menus; preserves excess harvests (canning, freezing, pickling) for year-round use.
• Quality & Consistency: Assists the Chef in analyzing menu costs, dietary needs, and nutritional value to deliver high-quality, cost-effective meals.
• Guest Houses: Coordinates with team members to ensure retreat and guest house kitchenettes remain stocked with breakfast items.

Kitchen Management & Sanitation

• Facility Upkeep: Ensures all line stations, walk-ins, prep areas, appliances, and tools are kept clean, orderly and sanitary.
• Equipment Maintenance: Inspects kitchen machinery and tools regularly; reports or addresses maintenance needs promptly.
• Linen Care: Assists with laundering kitchen towels and aprons when coverage is needed.
• Compliance: Strictly adheres to health codes, safety procedures, and organizational policies.

Leadership & Administration

• Communication: Maintains daily communication with the Monastery Chef and Culinary team regarding meal counts, dietary restrictions, and inventory needs.
• Volunteer Supervision: Directs, trains, and collaborates with kitchen volunteers during prep and service.
• Financial Awareness: Assists with inventory control, ordering, and minimizing food waste to align with operational budgets.
• Meetings: Participates in culinary staff meetings, all-staff gatherings, and menu planning sessions.

Education & Experience

• Education: High school diploma (or equivalent) paired with formal culinary training (Associate Degree in Culinary Arts preferred) or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience: 2+ years of professional kitchen experience in high-volume meal prep, line cooking, or catering (serving groups from 4 to 200+).
• Certifications: ServSafe Manager Certification required (or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire).

Technical & Culinary Skills

• Solid knife skills, food prep knowledge, and familiarity with seasonal cooking/food preservation techniques.
• Working knowledge of local, state, and federal food safety and sanitation codes.
• Basic computer proficiency for inventory tracking and email communication.

Physical & Schedule Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
• Ability to lift, push, and carry up to 50 lbs. (pots, pans, food crates).
• Comfortable working in typical kitchen environments (heat, steam, cold walk-ins).
• Availability to work a flexible schedule, including weekends, holidays, and extended hours as dictated by operational needs and events.

Core Competencies & Values

• Strong communication, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Ability to self-start, multitask under pressure, and lead volunteers with patience and clarity.
• Appreciation for Christian values, the Benedictine tradition, environmental stewardship, and community life.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation for occasional culinary errands or purchasing.

Apply today

Please send your resume to info@holywisdommonastery.org.

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Holy Wisdom Monastery is located in Middleton, Wisconsin on 190 acres of tall grass prairie, oak savanna and woods. Holy Wisdom Monastery is home to Benedictine sisters, and a Retreat & Guest House, with overnight guest rooms, meeting rooms, two hermitages, nature trails, gardens and glacial lake. The campus is a net-zero energy campus and the monastery’s main building is one of the highest rated eco-friendly buildings in the country. It houses an assembly room that accommodates 300 people, an oratory for morning, midday and evening prayer, a spirituality library and two dining rooms, where our chefs prepare delicious garden-to-table food for guests and the sisters. Our mission is to weave prayer, hospitality, justice and care for the earth into a shared way of life. You can learn more about our community of communities and life at the monastery at https://holywisdommonastery.org/