Base camp Cook

With over 50 years of innovation in experiential and outdoor education in the Pacific Northwest, Northwest Outward Bound School (NWOBS) continues to change lives through challenge and discovery. Our transformative and educational wilderness courses are set in some of the most dramatic and stunning parts of the United States. NWOBS was founded in 1965 and facilitates wilderness-based programs in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, and also serves urban youth and schools in the Portland metropolitan area. As an Outward Bound School, we are committed to the core values of compassion, integrity, excellence, equity, inclusion and diversity, and strive to achieve the following outcomes: building character, developing leadership skills, and creating an ethic of social and environmental responsibility.

Job Overview

The Cook is responsible for food planning; including inventory, preparing orders and food preparation for the Northwest Outward Bound School program staff. A successful Base camp cook will enjoy creating nutritious, delicious, and balanced lunches and dinners for base camp staff. The cook must be enthusiastically able to accommodate special diets and food preferences with reasonable alternatives. At times, the cook may be asked to plan meals for special events of up to 55+ people. In addition to meal preparation, the cook will ensure an ample supply of healthy and hearty snacks, breakfast items, and ingredients for cooking on days off. The cook must set a tone of inclusion and welcome at mealtimes, and be able and willing to work productively with others.

Anticipated Start Date: Mid-March (Oregon) and May 1, 2023 (Washington)

Primary Roles and Responsibilities

Food Inventory, Ordering, and Stocking

• Regularly inventory, order, and restock Base camp food.
• Collaborate with the Logistics Manager (LM) to ensure coverage of food deliveries.
• Purchase food locally as needed in coordination with the LM.
• Work within budgetary guidelines when purchasing food, and submit all receipts and/or invoices to the LM.
• Develop relationships with local food producers in order to integrate more local and sustainably-grown foods into our food program.
• Maintain an organized and tidy kitchen, walk-in fridge, and freezer.

Kitchen Sanitation

• Supervise and maintain the dining hall and kitchen cleanliness and sanitation.
• Deep clean kitchen once per week.
  • Maintain clean stocks of kitchen rags and aprons.
  • Ensure clean sinks, dish washer, and refrigerators.
• Conduct a thorough season-end deep clean over the course of several days.
• Ensure the kitchen is properly stocked and all aspects are clean.
• Conduct a thorough season-end deep clean over the course of several days.

Uphold NWOBS values and expectations on course and at base:

We commit to personal growth in areas of equity, and inclusion; to act with integrity, role modeling excellence and craftsmanship while demonstrating compassion and respect for the diverse lived experiences of peers, students and families.

Special Benefits

• Room and Board
• Employee Assistance Plan
  • Counseling, up to 5 sessions per occurrence
  • 24/7 Crisis line
  • Employer paid 100%
  • Provides up-to-date screened national resources and referrals including childcare, eldercare, legal, financial, well-being coaching, and case coordination
  • Valued at $1000 per case

• Industry Pro-Deals, discounts from partner brands and other top outdoor gear providers
• 50% course tuition discounts for staff and their family members

Minimum Requirements

• Must be 21 years of age or older.
• Must be available mid-March through the end of September 2023 for the Oregon Base, and late April through the end of September 2023 for the Washington Base. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis.
• Possess a current Food Handler's Permit, or willing to obtain one before start date.
• Basic First-Aid and CPR required.
• 1-3 years of comparable experience including knowledge of cooking for large groups, food handling, meal planning, kitchen and food sanitation, nutrition, and special diets.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups of people, to create an environment of inclusion and cooperation on course and at Base camp.
• Have the willingness to actively engage in anti-racist, sexist, ableist, and all other oppressions, and continually implement new skill and learning to support the liberation of those within your sphere of influence.
• Ability to take ownership and practice humility in your personal journey toward building a more inclusive and increasingly safer workspace.
• Awareness of personal biases and the impact (as opposed to intention) that your language, behavior, or assumptions, may have on those around you.
• Ability to have open, honest, and difficult conversations, including the ability to give and receive feedback.
• Must be sufficiently fit to participate in all duties as assigned and maintain ample energy and focus.
• Strong personal motivation, initiative, commitment, follow through, and passion for NWOBS’ mission.

Preferred Skills

• Wilderness First Aid preferred
• Prior supervisory experience preferred