In-home Cook at Province Of Our Lady Of Guadalupe Inc – Santa Barbara, California

In-House Cook (Full-time)

Franciscan Friars – Our Lady of Guadalupe, Inc

Santa Barbara, CA

Organizational background and Mission

We Franciscans owe our inspiration to Francesco di Bernardone, an affluent young merchant from the Italian town of Assisi, who in 1206 renounced his wealth and social status in favor of a life dedicated to God and the poor. His life and ministry inspired other men to join him and become the first Franciscan friars.

Today, Francesco is known as St. Francis of Assisi, and the Order of Friars Minor comprises more than 100 provinces located around the world. The Franciscan Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a unified, US coast-to-coast Catholic brotherhood devoted to living the Gospel in the manner of St. Francis of Assisi and in imitation of Jesus Christ. They serve the poor, the forgotten and the marginalized alongside people of goodwill located across the United States, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Alaska, and Jamaica. 

Founded in October 2023, the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe was formed from friars coming together from six legacy provinces, which are part of the long history of the Order of Friars Minor in the United States. Combining their gifts has allowed them to renew their Franciscan witness to American society and begin an exciting new chapter of their history in the United States.

A bit about the role:

Under direction of the local leader, the cook will prepare nutritious meals for 25 religious men living in a fraternal home. Days & hours of working will be from Sunday-Wednesday, 11:30am-6:30pm plus some additional time for menu planning, supply management and supply ordering.

Key Responsibilities:

• Prepare 4 dinners per week according to an established meal plan and present meals meeting state, local and friar food safety standards. Assume responsibility for quality of products served.
• Work cooperatively with designated supervisor to develop meal plans at least two weeks in advance.
• Prepare a variety of meats, seafood, poultry, vegetables and other food items using equipment such as oven, grill, fryer and other pieces of equipment.
• Prepare ingredients for broiling, grilling, frying or other cooking methods by portioning, battering, seasoning and/ or marinating.
• Manage supply of all perishable and non-perishable food items plus miscellaneous supplies required for a kitchen and meal preparation operation. Order food and kitchen supplies from approved vendors with friar supervisor approval.
• Maintain a clean and sanitary kitchen and workspace. Ensure all kitchen equipment is properly cleaned and maintained in good & safe working order.
• Handle, store, label, and rotate all products to our standard.
• Execute special events and dinners for guests and fraternal members - - 6 - 8 times per year with advance notice.

Required Qualifications and Attributes:

• 5-7 years full-service institutional/commercial kitchen and cooking experience - - CA Safe Serve certification a must.
• Experience with kitchen equipment operation, cleaning, maintenance, and replacement.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills and ability to read and follow a recipe.
• Demonstrated ability to develop relationships and collaborate.
• Demonstrated self-directed work style with sensitivity and maturity as this is a private home to the Franciscan Friars.
• Ability to stand, reach, bend, stoop and frequently life up to 40 lbs.

Celebrating difference, together stronger

Franciscan values suggest we don’t just accept difference — we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it as we demonstrate our spirituality for the benefit of people, particularly the underserved and marginalized. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect and make the world a better place.