Food Responsibilities

• Prepare 8-10 weekday meals for 15-20 (lunch) and 10-15 (dinner) during residencies (residencies average 5 weeks)

• Plan shopping lists, menus and prep lists for Kitchen Assistant

• Emphasize local, seasonal and organic products, by purchasing from existing vendors, as well as developing new relationships with regional farmers, purveyors and businesses

• Integrate produce available on the property - collaborate with Gardener on growing vegetables, fruits, citrus, edible plants, herbs, etc.

• Participate in CSA (December thru April)

• Update/maintain CIR purveyor docs, refining procedures for the residency common kitchen

• Maintain Zero Waste goal

• Track expenses and adhere to budget parameters

Community Outreach/Programming

• Opportunities may include, but are not limited to, the following: Partner with local/regional organization/s to engage in programming in the area of food justice/food equity

• Engagement may consist of going off site and working in local communities, such as with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, and bringing those issues and programs back to the Residency. There also is the opportunity to engage in partnerships on the property.

• Develop and present community programs around relevant food topics. Audiences/participants may include island dwellers, students, families from nearby communities, and may include programming on and off the RR property.

• Work with the James Beard Foundation’s Impact team to identify and foster a local chef coalition to work on the communities’s priorities.

Facilities & Staff

Robert Rauschenberg’s 20 acres on Captiva Island, Florida, which was his home and studio for 40 years, has been transformed into a creative center that invites artists from around the world to live, work and create. The Rauschenberg Residency welcomes artists and other creative individuals of exceptional talent from a diverse mix of disciplines, backgrounds, ages and career levels.

There are nine buildings: residences, studio spaces, office spaces and a community house with a dedicated kitchen. There is a 60'x60’ vegetable and herb garden. There are beehives, maintained by a regional beekeeper. Composting and recycling are part of our zero waste goal.

There are five full-time residency staff, one part-time kitchen assistant, and one part-time residency intern. House cleaning is outsourced. Chefs participate in staff meetings and workshops/trainings, as applicable. The Foundation is committed to the values of diversity, equity and inclusion, in the workplace and in interaction with the resident artists. Staff participate in trainings and initiatives to improve their capacity to be better personal and professional allies.

Qualified candidates should have experience working in a commercial kitchen and/or preparing food for large groups of people. They will have experience utilizing organic vegetables, plants and herbs. They must be proficient in ordering, organizing inventory, as well as food cost management. In addition, they must be familiar and experienced in farm-to-table concept; knowledgeable in nutritional value of foods and common food allergies and sensitivities; able to develop menu options around food allergens; knowledgeable of the culinary development of sustainable food systems; and committed to zero waste. Ideally, they will have 5+ years experience in a commercial kitchen with at least two years in management.

The preferred candidate will be comfortable in a social environment, open to collaborative opportunities, and able to interact with a diverse mix of personalities and food preferences. Candidates must be comfortable living in a relatively isolated island environment.

A valid driver’s license and clean driving record are required. A command of the English language is necessary, but it is not necessary that English is the candidate’s first language. Candidates must possess a work visa for the US for the duration of their stay.

The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.

Compensation

The annual compensation is competitive. On-site, furnished, 600 ft studio apartment; use of a company Prius for work purposes; and individual health and dental benefits are provided for a modest co-insurance payment.