Founded in 2009, CCUA works to enhance our community’s health by connecting people to agriculture and the land through hands-on learning opportunities from seed to plate. CCUA is opening The Ag Park Kitchen in Spring/Summer of 2026. This new shared-use kitchen will be used to make healthy meals for hunger relief, rented by farmers at Columbia Farmers Market to create value-added products, and to support CCUA’s educational programs, community outreach, and fundraising efforts. 

Position

Reporting to the Executive Director (ED), the Kitchen Director (KD) is responsible for maintaining the 2,000 sqft kitchen space and managing the programs that make it run smoothly. This role entails a mix of customer service, administration, food preparation and maintenance of the kitchen itself. We are looking for someone to take ownership of the space and deliver an incredible experience for all of the stakeholders (farmers, program participants, community partners, CCUA staff, and volunteers) who use and benefit from the space. 

Responsibilities:

• Prior to the kitchen opening:

• This position starts before the Ag Park Kitchen opens, so initially, the KD will work to establish management systems for this new space, this includes procedures for daily operations, safety protocols, and facility maintenance. 

• After the kitchen opening:

• This full time position is expected to directly participate in the planning, ordering, scheduling, cooking and implementation of all kitchen uses. When the kitchen opens, the KD will hire and supervise an assistant foodservice worker. The KD is expected to work with volunteers who will perform kitchen duties such as food preparation. Ongoing the KD will pursue opportunities for program growth in collaboration with the ED.

• Meal Prep / Hot Meals (55%)

• KD is responsible for preparing over 200 hot meals per day (Monday - Friday). KD will be responsible for all ordering, meal preparation, recipe creation / standardization, menu planning, and communication with hunger-relief partners.

• The KD will also be responsible for producing additional meals that are sold as catering service, to other vendors, and/or offered for sale in CCUA’s Resource Library.

• The KD will establish relationships with local farmers to purchase wholesale products for these meals. 

• The KD is responsible for managing food costs, while providing fresh, healthy meals that include locally-sourced ingredients. 

• Kitchen Rentals by Columbia Farmers Market Vendors (25%)

• Overseeing daily kitchen operations.

• Scheduling renters and coordinating billing.

• Training renters to ensure compliance with safety and sanitation standards.

• Enforcing compliance with safety and sanitation standards.

• Monitoring and maintaining kitchen equipment and facilities.

• Implementing and managing technology systems for farmer-renter management.

• Coordinating kitchen use by staff and outside groups for educational purposes. (10%)

• CCUA’s program staff and community partners will use the kitchen for nutrition education programming. The KD will coordinate the use of the space and ensure these educators can access what they need to be successful. Examples include: working with MU Extension nutrition educators who will teach cooking classes in the space, or working with CCUA staff who want to host a salsa making event in the kitchen for program participants. 

• Food prep for educational, outreach and fundraising programs (10%)

• The KD will periodically prepare snacks, meals, or ingredients that will be used by staff for educational, outreach, and/or fundraising purposes. The KD will coordinate with relevant staff to determine the needs. Examples include: providing chopped vegetables to staff educators so program participants can easily make a salad, catering fundraising events, or preparing samples of healthy products for outreach events. 

Qualifications

This is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual with kitchen management experience to help an established organization launch a new program. The successful candidate will lead the kitchen operations and programming, partner with the ED, and work collaboratively with a high performing team. Specific requirements include:

• Experience in kitchen management or a similar role.

• Experience with menu planning and meal planning

• Experience creating and preparing standardized recipes

• Experience with healthy recipe creation that accommodates dietary restrictions

• Knowledge of food safety and sanitation regulations.

• Strong organizational and multitasking abilities.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• ServSafe certification (training can occur after hiring)

General Requirements 

• Be able to work 40 hrs/wk, primarily Monday - Friday, and Saturdays to purchase local products from farmers at Columbia Farmers Market

• Maintain a current status as one of the following: U.S. citizen, national, or legal resident

• Successfully pass a background check

• Valid Driver's License and a reliable means of traveling to the worksite (CCUA vehicles can be used after arriving onsite)

• Comfortable working with people of all ages, especially children and elderly 

• Comfortable collecting and recording data daily

• Personal qualities of integrity, reliability, and commitment to the mission and values of CCUA

• Commitment to equity and inclusion of people with all backgrounds and lived experiences

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Organizational and time management skills

• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively with others

Required Physical Qualifications: 

This position requires completing a variety of physical tasks. The ideal candidate must be able to complete all physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation. These physical requirements include: 

• Able to safely carry 50lbs at variable distances 

• Ability to withstand repetitive movements including: bending, reaching, lifting, typing, and any movements required for food preparation

• On your feet and frequently mobile for long periods of time

• Remain in a stationary position for extended periods of time

• Comfortable with the typical distractions of a bustling kitchen environment

• Comfortable with the conditions of a commercial kitchen environment, including: heat, cold, steam, and equipment noise

Compensation:

• Salary Range: $45,000 - $55,000  depending on experience.

• Annual raises based on performance

• Health and Dental Insurance- 100% covered by CCUA, employee can buy up into variety of plans

• Vision and Life Insurance options can be bought into.

• 3% Retirement Matching

• 200 Hours (25 days) of PTO

• 9 paid holidays

• 3 weeks Paid Parental Leave

• Vegetable and garden supply stipend

• Plants and seeds for your garden

• Employee Assistance Program

• Professional Development Opportunities including workshops, staff lunch and learns, occasional conferences, and one on one training.