Summer 2026 Culinary Internship - Dollywood Theme Park - Seasonal

At Dollywood Parks & Resorts, we create memories worth repeating. We do this every day across all properties, all located in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. Ask anyone who has visited Dollywood Parks & Resorts, and they will tell you this place is different. It’s not a difference that you can touch or see - it’s a difference you can feel. We are seeking candidates who will embody the heart and soul of our mission of creating memories worth repeating while bringing families closer together. This person also brings a spirit of fun, authenticity, collaboration, creativity, and genuine hospitality to the lives of our guests.

We want to work alongside someone who acts as an extension of our mission, values, and culture. This individual is driven to create meaningful experiences for our hosts, guests, and community while ensuring the success and profitability of our unique offerings. We seek an individual who can bring the vision of the resorts to life. The right Culinary Intern checklist will include equal parts curious learner, innovator, administrator, detail driver, mentor, and motivator.

The intern will support kitchen operations in roles such as dishwasher, receiving clerk, prep cook, line cook, banquets production, ingredient inventory management, and administrative duties within Dollywood Theme Park.  In turn, the intern will satisfactorily complete individual program requirements to satisfy college/university credit and/or course study requirements if needed. The Dollywood Company will provide the intern:

• The opportunity to complete course credit for the term of the internship
• Practical experience within a fast-paced and ever-changing work environment
• Opportunity to apply theory with practice

Summary of Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Attend Leadership Development classes as available
• Attend weekly intern meetings to discuss jobs of the week and learn about the different functions of a theme park
• Train and work in the following sections of the internship:
  • Dishwasher - To participate in all activities, including food preparation, merchandise handling, ware washing, and cleanliness and sanitation procedures
  • Receiving Clerk - Manage the loading dock. Responsible for maintaining a clean and safe work environment. Checking in orders, putting up food and non-food inventories. Coding invoices according to the standardized accounting process
  • Prep Cook - To participate in all activities, including food preparation, merchandise handling, ware washing, and cleanliness and sanitation procedures
  • Line Cook - To participate in all activities, including food preparation, merchandise handling, ware washing, and cleanliness and sanitation procedures
  • Baker - To participate in all activities, including food preparation, merchandise handling, ware washing, and cleanliness and sanitation procedures
• Act as a quality assurance inspector for food, ensuring high quality
• Responsible for the implementation and possible creation of “Plate Perfect” recipes
• Know, understand, & enforce the use of the “Start Fresh” program when necessary
• Be available/willing to work at different locations throughout The Dollywood Company
• Responsible for all aspects of the P&L, including but not limited to labor management (scheduling, time keeping, etc.),  Cost Analysis to include Cost of Sales, product mix, and Spending Per Person
• Assisting with creating and implementing improvements to profit contribution and cost savings through menu creation
• Execute special project benefiting the Foods area as determined by Management

Management reserves the right to change and/or add to these duties at any time.

Education and Experience Required 

• Must be enrolled in a continuing education/college program
• Must have basic computer skills and must be proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Valid driver’s license and proof of personal liability insurance according to state law
• Able to pass a drug screen and background check

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Able to project Dollywood’s image by being genuinely friendly and caring, and by taking pride in their work
• Must be self-motivated and disciplined
• Must be able to prioritize and complete work assignments on a timely basis
• Must maintain strict confidentiality and judgment regarding privileged information
• Must display and live out our Lead with Love principles by being: patient, kind, trusting, unselfish, truthful, forgiving, and dedicated
• Must be willing to constantly improve
• Must have a professional appearance with good personal hygiene
• Must promote and support a “team” work environment by cooperating and helping co-workers
• Must adapt to changes easily
• Must tolerate a fast-paced, hectic environment
• Must show appreciation to others
• Must be sensitive to the needs of our Guests and feel empowered to take action to meet their needs within company guidelines
• Must enjoy working with people of varied ages, experiences, and education levels
• Must have a positive and enthusiastic attitude towards the job, tasks, coworkers, other hosts, and guests
• Must have a professional demeanor, be mature, focused, and articulate
• Must be willing to accept changes in work schedule and work assignments
• Must be able to maintain required attendance
• Must be self-motivated and able to deal with a fast-paced, stressful environment
• Able to display and live out our Lead with Love principles by being patient, kind, trusting, unselfish, truthful, forgiving, and dedicated
• Able to maintain good personal hygiene
• Able to get along with other employees to work out problems and resolve conflicts
• Able to comprehend instructions and retain information
• Able to maintain dependable work attendance and flexibility with assigned work schedules, including any required overtime, evenings, weekends, and holidays
• Able to tolerate a fast-paced, hectic environment
• Able to be flexible to handle frequent changes in priorities
• Able to prioritize tasks and complete assignments on time
• Able to work outdoors
• Able to walk quickly, kneel, twist, reach, and bend
• Must have depth perception and the ability to see near and far
• Able to operate a fire extinguisher
• Able to think clearly and react quickly and calmly to changing situations
• Able to move about and react quickly in emergencies
• Able to learn quickly and multitask
• Able to tolerate all outdoor elements – wind, rain, high/low humidity, direct sun, temperatures from -40˚ F to 110˚ F
• Able to tolerate noise
• Able to tolerate heights
• Able to climb steps and has good balance
• Able to make sound decisions
• Able to tolerate approved exposure levels of various chemicals found in cleaning solvents
• Able to memorize written safety procedures
• Able to perform reading, writing, and math skills necessary to:
  • take messages, professionally communicate in writing
  • contribute to written team communications
  • add, subtract, multiply, divide, calculate, make change, and operate a register
  • analyze statistical information
• Able to remain alert and attentive
• Able to operate a Point of Sale System
• Able to perform other duties as assigned. Must be able to lift 30 pounds with or without a 2-person lift. 30 pounds require a 2-person lift
• Must take Start Fresh training, as well as implement all safety aspects of Start Fresh training
• Must comply with all Health Dept., ServSafe, and Company regulations pertaining to Food Safety Handling Procedures

The Dollywood Company is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. The Dollywood Company drives a welcoming culture where ideas and decisions from all people support our efforts to be relevant in an ever-changing world.