Employment

The High Mountain Institute is seeking a Food Educator & Kitchen Manager, a full-time position at the High Mountain Institute. This position is based on HMI’s campus in Leadville, CO; on-campus housing is included in the compensation package. Reporting to the Semester Director of Students and Residential Life, responsibilities include on-campus food service, menu planning, ordering, budgeting, training others, catering large HMI events, and developing and teaching HMI’s food & nutrition curriculum.

The ideal job candidate has prior experience in supervising others in a food service setting, cooking for large groups, and leading/supporting food education efforts.

Primary Job Responsibilities:

Culinary

• Prepare meals from scratch, serving 40+, that meet our value “Simple in Means, Rich in Ends”
• Plan and execute a healthy, varied menus for HMI programs (Semester, Gap, Summer Term, & short programs)
• Teach students to plan and cook meals for a variety of diets 
• Lead student cook crews (4-5 students plus apprentice/staff member) ~5 days a week
• Lead culinary services for 6-10 large events annually (Family Weekend, Board Meetings, school celebrations, etc.) 

Kitchen Management 

• Oversee all HMI on-campus food service when programs are in session 
• Oversee cleanliness of all food service areas
• Oversee health and other code compliance in prep, storage, and serving areas
• Maintain a high awareness of and respect for allergies, dietary restrictions, and food preferences within the HMI community  
• Train faculty, staff, and apprentices on meal preparation, kitchen supervision, and health code compliance
• Manage inventory and order all on-campus food, backcountry rations, and service-related supplies 
• Manage food budget
• Supervise and support the Kitchen & Wilderness Fellow (or similar) in their kitchen duties

Food Education

• Work appropriately with young adults in a school environment 
• Promote a fun, healthy, and safe atmosphere in the kitchen
• Teach students general principles of nutrition, culinary arts, and food safety
• Promote open-mindedness toward a variety of diets
• Promote and model a healthy relationship to food 

General

• Participate in Professional Development, both on and off-campus
• Periodically serve on hiring and other committees as needed
• In general, serve the HMI mission however needed

Key Collaboration Points

• WIth the Semester DIrector of Students & Residential Life and Programs Director, review incoming students for each program, planning for allergies, dietary restrictions, and other nutritional needs
• With the Head of School, plan for special HMI events
• With the Apprentice Program Coordinator, plan kitchen orientation for HMI Semester apprentices
• With the Director of Programs, manage the Kitchen & Wilderness Fellow

Essential Qualifications: 

• High School Diploma or GED
• 1-2 years of prior food service experience

Desired Qualifications: 

• Experience supervising others in a food service setting
• Experience cooking for groups of 30+
• Food Protection Manager Certification (current or willingness to obtain)

Start Date: July 27, 2026

Position Pay & Benefits: 

• Annual salary: $34,000-$40,000; Total Compensation $43,000-$49,000, inclusive of on-campus housing value or, when housing is unavailable, a housing stipend. 
• Health, dental, and vision benefits
• Paid parental/FAMLI leave benefits
• 4-9% retirement benefits match after 1 year 
• Significant PTO when programs are not in session

Housing at HMI: HMI is proud to offer recently-constructed on-campus housing to its employees. Living on campus is a condition of employment. Total Compensation is the combination of cash salary plus the value of on-campus housing. For example, a Total Compensation of $47,000 typically represents a cash salary of $38,000 and $9,000 of housing value. Actual figures vary by employee and living arrangement, with typical on-campus housing value of $9,000 for most employees.

How to Apply: Please submit a cover letter and resume via email to foodeducator@hminet.org and fill out the HMI Prospective Employment Form online. We will review applications on a rolling basis and will continue reviewing applications until the position is filled. Correspondence via e-mail is preferred.

About the High Mountain Institute: Founded in 1995, HMI is a nonprofit independent school with a focus on outdoor, experiential, and place-based education. HMI serves approximately 150 students per year across its high school, summer, and gap programming. About 30% of students receive financial aid, and a similar percentage identify as people of color. All HMI students participate in extended wilderness expeditions lasting from 10-21 days. HMI is not a rehabilitative or wilderness therapy program. HMI students are high-achieving, healthy students seeking challenge, a strong community, and a deeper connection to nature. HMI has about 25 year-round staff, most of whom live on campus. Learn more at: www.hminet.org

Equity and Inclusion at HMI: The High Mountain Institute is committed to building a more diverse and affirming school and outdoor industry. HMI is an equal opportunity employer that strives for diversity by honoring the differences of each member of our community. We seek to build a community (of faculty, staff, students, and trustees) that is ethnically, socio-economically, and geographically diverse and that brings a diversity of experience, background, talent, and perspective. People of color, LGBTQ and gender nonbinary people, and people with other historically marginalized identities are encouraged to apply. Learn more at: www.hminet.org/dei.

The school reserves the right to change or add to this job description at any time.