Residential Cook
About Tara Mandala
Tara Mandala is a vibrant international Buddhist Community with groups around the world. It was established in 1993 by Lama Tsultrim Allione and her late husband, David Petit, to foster the development of innate wisdom for the benefit of all beings. The hub of the Tara Mandala community is the 700-acre dharma center in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Through the center and the Satellite Sanghas, Tara Mandala offers a complete path of meditation practice, study, and deep retreat in the tradition of Vajrayana Buddhism. Tara Mandala is dedicated to bringing people to realization through Buddhist teachings. Tara Mandala is committed to fostering a welcoming atmosphere for all people to explore the teachings of the Buddha, and we are committed to cultivating a community that values diversity and inclusion.
“Tara Mandala was created to bring people together to support each other, practice, and do retreat in order to reach realization. The second purpose of Tara Mandala is to be a temenos for the emergence of the sacred feminine, through the lens of Vajrayana, leading to the balance of genuine partnership between the masculine and feminine in our world.” – Lama Tsultrim Allione
Tara Mandala seeks candidates who are familiar with and live by Buddhist principles, including the five precepts and the 10 virtuous actions. We strive to have an open heart, cultivate compassion and empathy for others whether co-workers, visitors, or retreatants. We are here to serve the Dharma first and foremost. Tara Mandala runs a predominantly organic vegetarian kitchen. Tara Mandala Leadership Values can be reviewed here
This is a residential position at Tara Mandala Retreat Center in Pagaso Springs, and includes room and board. This position is hourly from 20 to 30 hours per week, and full time during retreat season.
Job Summary
- Prepares vegetarian meal(s) for Staff/Residents during the off season and Onsite Retreats during the retreat season (may serve as prep cook in retreat season)
- Ordering and Inventory of kitchen supplies, equipment, and food products
- Scheduling, menu and recipe creation, cooking, and cleaning,
- Adherence to all public health code standards, training, inspections, and permit requirements, including Covid protocols
- Managing temporary kitchen staff or work exchange students
- Assists in overseeing karma yogi help in the kitchen and dining room during retreats
- The Residential Cook reports directly to the Kitchen Manager and/or Operations Director.
Overview of Duties and Areas of Oversight
- With the Kitchen Manager and Operations Director, the Residential Cook of Tara Mandala oversees a small community and commercial kitchen serving up to three, primarily organic vegetarian meals and a snack each day during formal onsite retreats.
- As Residential Cook, serves approximately 10-15 staff members during non-onsite-retreat season (fall to early spring) with lunch 5 days a week and some soups/stews for dinner. Breakfast, weekends, and some evenings are self-serve with leftovers or residents cook for themselves.
- During retreats assists in meal preparation for 50 to 100 or more participants during retreat season in a buffet style. Responsible with Kitchen Manager or Director of Operations for all kitchen functions including scheduling, menu creation, recipe creation, cooking and kitchen clean up
- Adherence to all Tara Mandala policies and Health Code standards, general sanitation, and cleanliness, including changing Covid protocols and restrictions.
- Training other kitchen employees and temporary help in methods of cooking, preparation, presentation, and cleanliness, as needed.
- Assists in managing costs by using food and supplies efficiently, and storing food properly, and by working with Kitchen Manager or Director of Operations
- Upholds Tara Mandala’s vision and mission while working with paid staff and program participants (some who may have no professional kitchen experience).
Day to Day Responsibilities
- Ensures that all food and products are consistently prepared and served according to the existing or created recipes.
- Prepares a variety of organic vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and other food items using broilers, ovens, grills, and a variety of other kitchen equipment.
- We gather data on food preferences and restrictions from staff and retreatants and do our best to accommodate them, within reason.
- Assumes 100% responsibility for quality of meals and products served.
- Creates weekly menus, daily prep lists and is responsible for dish recipes.
- Knows and complies consistently with recipes, cooking methods, quality standards and kitchen rules, policies. and procedures.
- Stocks and maintains sufficient levels of food products while also preventing excessive waste.
- Receives all food orders, checks quantities and qualities, and notes any items not acceptable and/or not delivered, so credits can be requested of vendors.
- Maintains a clean and sanitary work-station area including tables, shelves, grills, broilers, sauté burners, convection oven, refrigeration equipment, and entire dining room area.
- Handles, stores, and rotates all products properly following FIFO standards.
- Responsible for food prep alongside other cooks or Kitchen Manager during retreat season.
- Opens, closes, and cleans the kitchen properly and follows checklists.
- Working with the Kitchen Manager or Operations Director, schedules and attends holds weekly meetings with kitchen staff during retreat season.
- Oversees community and retreatant dining experiences working with staff to improve whenever possible, including maintaining a meditative work space.
- Prepares all food for ritual events, tsogs (feast offerings), and sometimes with little notice.
- Participates as a member of the community in attending practice and special events when possible.
Required Education, Skills & Competencies
- Two to three years of kitchen experience and cooking experience, retreat cooking., managing kitchens or teams of similar size, scope, and complexity.
- Must possess a ServSafe Manager certification
- Capacity to remain compassionate and equanimous under pressure.
- Ability to adapt to and manage through uncertainty and be flexible.
- Ability to inspire and motivate others, as well as collaborate and build relationships effectively.
- Clear and kind verbal communication skills, including the ability to hear and appreciate other points of view, including those of a diverse and cross-cultural nature.
- Organized and resourceful with ability to prioritize, problem solve, and take initiative.
- Adept in the Google Suite including emails and calendars.
- Must be able to work non-traditional hours including evenings, weekends, and holidays during retreat season and occasionally during the off season.
- Interested in Buddhist practice and connection to the lineages at Tara Mandala.
- Attends monthly community council when offered – talking circles.
- Upholds Tara Mandala Leadership Values and Code of Conduct, and acts as a role model for residents.
Personal Characteristics
- Organized
- Empathetic and Compassionate
- Independent, Problem solving and Responsible
- Holds confidentiality, Integrity, Honest and Trustworthy
- Dependable and Flexible
For residential positions: Tara Mandala’s Residential Agreement and Code of Conduct and Ethics is available for review here.
Other Duties: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time as needed by the organization.
Tara Mandala is an equal opportunity employer and seeks diversity with respect to race, religion, ethnicity, culture, gender, age, sexual orientation, and physical abilities.