Who We Are

Penland School of Craft is an international center for craft education offering residential workshops, residencies, community education programs, and exhibitions. Located on 420 acres in the NC Mountains, Penland has 16 teaching studios and 60 historic and contemporary buildings. We are an equal opportunity employer with a staff of 70. Penland operates with a $54 million endowment and an annual operating budget of $7.7 million. We are located about an hour northeast of Asheville, NC.  Our mission supports making lives meaningful through making.

 

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Penland welcomes everyone. Black, Indigenous, Latine, Asian, and other people who identify as people of color or BIPOC individuals are encouraged to apply, as are people holding other marginalized identities related to gender, sexual orientation, ability, and class background.

 

We believe that equity, diversity, and inclusion are essential to fulfilling our mission. We want to inspire and nurture the human spirit, and we value the perspectives and contributions of all people. We want the Penland experience to include varied ideas, world views, and personal characteristics. Penland is committed to being a community that welcomes and respects everyone regardless of age, ability, ethnicity, race, religion, philosophical or political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, nationality, geographic origin, and socioeconomic status. We are committed to providing an environment free of discrimination. 

 

Position Summary

The Dining Hall Coordinator is responsible for coordinating all aspects of the operation of the dining hall during programming. This includes inventory management, managing the setup for and clean up after meal service, providing supplementary cleaning, and keeping the dining hall facilities and equipment maintained and in a sanitary condition. This position also performs student check in during meals and coordinates the work/study crews while working closely with the kitchen staff and core fellows to provide consistency in dining hall operations. The ability to work as a team member with many overlapping segments of the school is crucial for success in this job, as well as the ability to work effectively and respectfully with a diverse student population. This position reports to the food services manager and is a full-time, seasonal, hourly position. 

 

Primary Responsibilities

• Coordinates and ensures the smooth operations of the Penland Pines Dining Hall. Works five days a week from 10am – 6pm.  
• Supervises and trains work/study crews setting up for and cleaning up after meal service. 
• Cleans all additional dishes and pots produced by meal service as needed. Oversees the temporary summer dishwasher. 
• Maintains a functional and sanitary dining hall, dish and pots rooms, and outdoor dining areas.
• Works “yellowbox” during the lunch shift, including checking in program participants on meal plan and doing the attendant accounting and reporting.
• Keeps all supplies in the dining hall and storage areas in the basement organized.
• Maintains the inventory of dining hall supplies such as coffee, tea, cleaning, and paper products. 
• Provides supplementary support for kitchen staff as needed.
• Provides support to services and kitchen staff during “work weeks” between programming.
• Keeps all signage and display areas in the dining hall up to date and organized.
• Other duties as assigned.

 

Qualifications

• To accomplish the job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the responsibilities discussed above satisfactorily. 
• Experience in restaurants or similar environments is preferred.  
• Knowledge of and commitment to health and safety as it applies to the dining and dishroom  operation and materials handling regulations. 
• Ability to work independently, proactively, and also collaboratively. Must be able to manage volunteers and navigate rotating teams of people. 

 

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand for long periods of time and to walk. The employee is required to use hands to handle or touch objects, tools, or controls and to speak fluently and to hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move objects weighing up to 75 pounds. Specific vision required by this job is close vision.

 

Compensation

Compensation discussions are a part of the interviewing process, but the starting wage range for this position is $15.00 – $15.83 per hour. This position will work 40 hours per week between late February through mid-November and approximately 1560 hours annually. This starting salary will be adjusted based on the experience and skills you bring to the position. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, retirement plan, discounts, and other perks. Employees at Penland enjoy competitive pay, a full-time benefits package, and a lively, creative work environment. 

 

To Apply

The position will remain open until filled. Send a letter of interest and resume to Alyse Ostreicher, director of people & culture, employment@penland.org. Please include Dining Hall Coordinator as the subject of your email.