Culinary Coordinator / Property Assistant

Position Description: Culinary Coordinator / Property Assistant

Employment Dates: Mid Feb.-Mid Dec. 2025

Wage: $14/hr during training. $16/hr when able to work independently.

Benefits: Paid Vacation, Sick Time, and Personal Days. Tee-shirt uniforms provided. Retail store discounts.

Weekly Hours: Minimum 20 hrs/wk. Average 25-30 hrs/wk. Busy weeks up to 40 hrs/wk.

Pay Schedule: Pay period is weekly; from Wednesday through Tuesday with weekly pay on Friday. 

Schedule & Working Hours: Varying Schedule including weekdays and weekends on-site at Mulberry Gap. Position is seasonal, part-time to full-time beginning in February  & ending mid-December

About Mulberry Gap: 

Mulberry Gap serves as a rustic haven in the beautiful southern Appalachian Mountains for Mountain Bikers, Hikers, Trail Runners, and all outdoor enthusiasts! Often described as a year-round “summer camp for adults,” we offer outdoor enthusiasts of all ages an adventurous home away from home. We provide cabins and campsite stays, special events, clinics & instruction, shuttles to trailheads, and venue rental for weddings or other large events. We’re known for our amazing mountain bike trails, southern hospitality, and home-cooked meals. Mulberry Gap is made up of a friendly and adventurous team who work hard to ensure the happiness of our guests. The culture of our small staff crew is to support one another, laugh while we work, treat each other with respect, and get the job done. With a small team of 5-6 staff members, we’re a well-rounded group of individuals with diverse knowledge, skills, and abilities. 

About the Culinary Department: 

In addition to being located right on the Pinhoti Trail for outdoor pursuits, we are best known for having EXCELLENT home-cooked meals! We serve breakfast and dinner meals in “The Barn” each week from Thursday Dinner through Monday Breakfast, alongside filling “to-go” lunches for guests heading out on the trails. Dinner guests enjoy a hearty “family recipe” style menu centering around favorite items like smoked brisket, pulled pork, grilled chicken, and a range of great sides. At breakfast, guests look forward to items like homemade fresh waffles, pancakes, french toast, and all the fixings. Guests taking a to-go lunch can expect creative and robust sandwiches/wraps, fruits, sides, and desserts. Mulberry Gap food isn’t so much about complexity, but more about quality and healthy ingredients that deliver a great product! :) We generally serve between 12 and 50 guests simultaneously each meal depending on time of year. 

Job Description - The Culinary Coordinator:

- THE MENU - Check out the Mulberry Gap Menu here: https://www.mulberrygap.com/home-cooked-meals-craft-beer

- SOLO ROLE- Generally works as a solo member of the department, responsible for planning, preparation, serving, cleaning, and managing the kitchen and dining room. Guests are all served simultaneously (8:30 am Breakfast and 6:00 pm Dinner) so the Culinary Coordinator will balance their day to include cleaning and preparation in the kitchen as well as maintaining the dining area, then will set up and monitor the buffet-style meals, and clean up after dessert is served. 

- SHIFTS- Depending on guest load and season, morning shifts are 6:00-6:30 am - 9:30-10:30 am. Afternoon/evening shifts are 3:00-3:30 pm - 7:00-7:30 pm. 

- DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP - Will lead and have full responsibility for all aspects of the Culinary Program at Mulberry Gap. This includes menu planning, food preparation, supervision of any culinary team members/volunteers assisting during busy times, supply ordering, in-person shopping, sourcing from local vendors/farmers markets, facility maintenance, budget management, receipt categorization for budget tracking, and compliance with all aspects of health and safety for food service. 

- FRONT & BACK OF HOUSE - Will be responsible for coordinating all aspects of both front and back of house operations including food prep, cleaning, guest service, etc. This includes being the friendly and welcoming host to guests visiting The Barn or joining us for meals. 

- DELIVERING ESTABLISHED MENU - Will be responsible for preparing healthy, guest-friendly, and unique meals in a family-style setting in accordance with the Mulberry Gap menu of favorite meals, and planning alternate menus for special diets and providing a high-quality vegetarian option at all times. This individual must be skilled in delivering menus to accommodate vegetarian, vegan, kosher-style, and gluten-free diners, as well as those with common food allergies with high-quality options free from cross-contamination. Our guests are often involved in high-exertion activities, so generous portions are part of the Mulberry Gap experience. 

- COMPLIANCE - Will be responsible for ensuring compliance with any local/county code permit requirements. 

- Should have at least 3 years of experience in meal preparation and service in a restaurant or other professional cooking situation, and should maintain professional certifications and engage in continuing professional development. 

- Will be responsible for utilizing the guest registration system (Checkfront) in managing guest meal rosters, confirming meal numbers, and ensuring that all dietary needs are confirmed in advance.

- Will actively work towards connecting with guests! Mulberry Gap is dedicated to forming relationships, knowing the names of most of our guests, and creating authentic relationships. We make it a point to have a smile on our faces and to reach out with a greeting and conversation every time we encounter guests throughout the day. 

- Will coordinate the culinary aspects of special events including races, clinics, retreats, weddings, etc. 

- Will coordinate and/or support various other projects as determined by supervisors. This will include assisting with projects in other departments frequently, especially during quiet times of the year, or periods of closure. These tasks may involve working with property maintenance, guest services/office support, retail sales, marketing, etc.  

- IMPORTANT!: As a small team, all positions, including this one, will be responsible for assisting in other areas of operation as needed. Generally this will include light property, housekeeping, and driving duties/ 

Required Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities: 

• Confident in all areas of managing portion/shopping planning from a menu, budgeting, and ordering 

  • Comfortable minimizing waste, managing waste logs, and tracking the monetary value of waste and in-stock food supplies 

• Ability to work as a primary cook as well as manage the front and back of the house simultaneously

• Ability to work solo at most times in the kitchen from prep through clean-up. (A second team member can be assigned to assist if needed when meal numbers exceed 20)  

• Must be willing to undergo drug testing & must have a clear background check. 

• Must be punctual and reliable 

• Have a welcoming and friendly disposition during customer interactions. 

• Keep calm while faced with challenging circumstances and guests. 

• Available to work flexible hours on weekends and holidays. Midweek work can also be a requirement during special events. 

• A respect for guest confidentiality. 

• A positive team-player attitude. 

• Exceptional English communication skills; written and verbal. 

• Background in customer service or hospitality with demonstrated responsibility and friendliness.

• Must be proficient and honest in handling money and other transactions. 

• At least 25+ years of age with a valid driver's license and the ability to pass a drivers check and drive company vehicles. 

•  Able to work efficiently in an environment that can be fast-paced at times. 

• Equipment Needed, Computer Skills & Experience Requirements: (or willingness to learn) 

• Must have reliable transportation 

• Must own a private (non-shared) laptop with the ability to connect to the internet and wifi 

• Proficient in MS Office, Word, and Excel. 

• Experience in Google Docs/Sheets and working in Google Drive. 

• Tech savvy with user-friendly website templates; experience and ability to update the website frequently.

• Experience with the following or similar program programs or willingness to learn Google Calendar - Reservations Checkfront – Reservation Software Clover – POS system 

Physical Requirements: 

• Requires continuous sitting or bending, eye/hand coordination, near vision, hearing, and speech. 

• Must be able to stand/walk for up to 6 hours at a time and as many as 10 hours a day. 

• Requires frequent kneeling, manual dexterity, gross motor skills, and color definition. 

• Must be able to walk on the property over uneven terrain (rocks, gravel, dirt paths, etc.) 

• Must be able to lift 75 lbs. 

• Must be able to lift and carry 50 lbs over 20 feet over uneven surfaces. 

• Must be able to lift and lower 25 lbs above shoulder level. 

• Must be able to climb a stepladder up to 6 feet in height. 

• Must be able to work in extreme temperatures throughout various seasons. 

• Must be able to walk up and down a grade of 14%. 

Drug-Free Workplace 

Mulberry Gap is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in compliance with applicable state and federal laws. The unlawful possession, use, distribution, dispensation, sale, or manufacture of controlled substances is prohibited on the premises. Use of alcoholic beverages is prohibited except when in alignment with the alcohol policy.

Employee violation of this policy may be cause for action including, but not limited to, referral to appropriate agency or agencies for evaluation and to determine the appropriate treatment or rehabilitation, participation in a drug rehabilitation program, separation from university duty, termination of employment, and/or referral for prosecution. Participation in a treatment program will not affect future employment or career advancement, nor will participation protect employees from disciplinary action for substandard job performance. 

Room & Board: 

Although room & board are not included as a standard part of this position, onsite housing in a private bedroom with shared access to staff only bath/shower room, free laundry, and staff kitchenette (plus access to the main kitchen) is available for a reasonable rate (~$250/week) if the candidate would be interested in living on-site. The bedroom comes with basic furnishings (bed frame, mattress, dresser, desk, nightstand and access to linens, basic dishes, and kitchen appliances, etc.) Fiber internet is included! Housing is pet-friendly for small well behaved pets with an additional pet fee. (~$25/month)