Kitchen Manager

Kitchen Manager

(Part-Time Position with Growth)

Company Overview:

LaunchSpace is a nonprofit makerspace and creative community hub based in Orange and Athol, Massachusetts. We provide hands-on access to tools, equipment, studios, and training that help people build creative skills, explore career pathways, and strengthen community connection. Our work includes youth programs, workforce development, entrepreneurship support, and low-barrier creative space for residents across the greater North Quabbin region and beyond.

LaunchSpace Kitchen:

LaunchSpace is developing the former Pleasant Street School into a community food hub, which will, over time, include community gardens, small-scale agriculture, food education, food serving training, meal pick-ups and/or deliveries, business incubation, and other forms of community nutrition programs. LaunchSpace Kitchen, a fully licensed shared-use commissary kitchen, is the heart of this work. Together, these efforts will strengthen the local food system and connect local producers to all community members.

Position Summary:

The Kitchen Manager is the person who makes LaunchSpace Kitchen work for the members who build their businesses here, the community members who learn here, and the partners who use the space. Members, classes, and events all share one kitchen, one calendar, and one set of standards, and this role keeps them working together, ensuring a high-quality experience for members, staff, and participants while maintaining safety, efficiency, and operational excellence. Hours flex with the kitchen’s calendar: the role starts with a 15–20 hour base week, with additional hours scheduled during weeks with events, classes, and programs.

Scope & Hours:

This role covers members, kitchen operations, and community programs from day one, but not all at the same intensity every week. The responsibilities below reflect the full range of the work, not what needs to fit into every 15–20 hour week.

Base hours (15–20 hours/week): Day-to-day member support, kitchen operations, scheduling, ordering and inventory, sanitation, compliance, and member outreach.

Event and program weeks: When events, classes, camps, or catering are scheduled, hours increase that week to meet the need. Additional hours are planned and approved with the CEO in advance, so program work is never expected to fit inside base hours.

Growing to full-time: As membership, programs, and earned income grow, base hours will increase, with the goal of becoming a full-time position with full-time benefits.

Key Responsibilities

One kitchen, many uses. Members, classes, and events share the same space, calendar, and standards. Each part of this role supports the others: members sustain the kitchen, a well-run kitchen makes everything possible, and classes and events bring in the next generation of members.

Supporting Our Members

Memberships are LaunchSpace Kitchen’s primary revenue stream, and everything else in this role is built around keeping the kitchen a reliable home for members’ businesses.

• Serve as members’ primary point of contact, from onboarding and daily support to billing and offboarding
• Grow membership through personalized, relationship-based outreach, and keep member records current in Food Corridor CRM.

Running a Safe, Ready Kitchen

A well-run kitchen makes everything else possible for members, instructors, and guests.

• Maintain one shared kitchen calendar and schedule across member bookings, classes, and events in our kitchen CRM (Food Corridor)
• Uphold sanitation, safety, and kitchen standards for everyone who uses the space
• Independently manage ordering, inventory, repairs, and vendor relationships
• Serve as the primary contact with the Board of Health and inspectors, and keep compliance records organized
• Resolve day-to-day issues and urgent operational challenges as they arise

Bringing the Kitchen to the Community

Classes, camps, and events bring new people through the door and introduce future members to the kitchen.

• Plan and run events, classes, camps, and special programs, including logistics and coordination with staff, instructors, and partners
• Support LaunchSpace Kitchen’s food workforce development and job training programs once implemented in 2027

How We Work Together

We are a small team looking for someone who takes ownership, communicates proactively, and represents LaunchSpace with care.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in kitchen management, hospitality, or operations
• Strong organizational and multitasking skills
• Excellent communication and customer service abilities
• Knowledge of food safety, sanitation, and compliance standards
• Experience coordinating events, classes, or programs preferred
• Comfort with relationship-based outreach and sales to grow a membership base
• Commitment to LaunchSpace’s mission, including community food access, local food businesses, and workforce training
• Ability to work independently and solve problems in a fast-paced environment, managing your own schedule, vendors, and follow-up without day-to-day oversight
• Able to take direction, receive feedback constructively, and work collaboratively
• Ability to stand for periods of time
• Ability to lift 50 pounds
• Ability to pass a CORI background check
• Must have a valid driver's license
• Availability for some evenings and weekends for events, classes, and member needs
• ServSafe Manager and Massachusetts Allergen Certifications obtained within 30 days

Compensation and Benefits

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Apply to: Send a cover letter and resume to Brianna Drohen at .

Compensation: $25.00-$28.00 per hour, depending on experience.

Additional Compensation: Opportunity to instruct in classes and programs outside of Kitchen Manager hours.

This is a new role starting at 15-20 hours per week, with the goal of increasing hours to full-time as earned income and program activity expand. Additional hours are scheduled during weeks with events, classes, and programs; see “Scope & Hours” above.

LaunchSpace is an equal opportunity employer, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply. We thank all applicants for their interest, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Benefits Overview

All eligible employees may receive the following benefits:

• Health & Dental Insurance for full-time staff
• Paid time off includes vacation time, sick/personal leave, bereavement and national holidays
• Non-matching 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Makerspace Membership
• LaunchSpace Kitchen Membership for your own food business (subject to kitchen policies and member scheduling)
• Community Garden Membership
• YMCA-Orange gym membership pass
• Flexible scheduling to allow staff to prioritize work-life balance.
• $300 off cell phone expenses for full-time staff, unless approved by the CEO.

Pay: $25.00 - $28.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Paid time off
• Paid training

Work Location: In person

Salary : $25 - $28