Seasonal Culinary Program Assistant

Who We Are:

Founded in 1891 by a group of visionary volunteers, The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) is the nation’s premier conservation and preservation organization. The Trustees’ preserves, for public use and enjoyment, properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value in Massachusetts. Our properties are open to all, and we thrive by involving as many people as possible in all that we do. We aim to protect special places for future generations to enjoy in perpetuity, and have helped protect more than 50,000 acres, including 27,000+ acres on more than 120 reservations that are open to the public. As a non-profit conservation organization, we are funded and supported entirely by our visitors, supporters, volunteers, and our 100,000 Member households. We encourage you to learn more about The Trustees on our website, www.thetrustees.org.

Posting Information:

Salary/Hourly Rate: $19- $21 

Hours per week: 24, weekend availability required 

Job Classification: Nonexempt, Limited Term 

Job Type: Onsite 

Duration: 5/20/25 - 10/31/25 

Location: Appleton Farms, Ipswich, MA

What You’ll Do:

Your Impact:

The Trustees seeks to strengthen local communities, demonstrate the viability of sustainable, grass-based livestock practices, increase public demand for local, sustainably produced food, and increase support for the conservation of agricultural land. The Trustees expects Appleton Farms to be a model for publicly accessible, sustainable, grass-based livestock operations.   

The Role:

As a Seasonal Culinary Program Assistant, you will work with our in-house Culinary Team in the high season to assist with packaging, loading in/out for on-site pop-ups, front-of-house sales, customer service, and more. Our team comes from a” no job too small” mentality. We all help each other and do what it takes to create and sell scratch-made products we’re proud of.    

Specifically, you’ll:

• Safely packaging baked goods & prepared foods   

• Assisting with food preparation as needed, i.e. processing farm vegetables, baking off products with instruction  

• Loading in/out at our Farmer’s Market style pop-ups  

• Operating our POS System (Square) and ringing up customers at small and large events as Front of House staff  

• Ability to follow SOPs for cash handling  

• Ability to multitask and work quickly under pressure  

• Upholding high standards of customer service, including greeting every customer, educating them about Appleton Farms and The Trustees, and helping them in a friendly manner  

• Upholding Standard Operating Procedures for the commercial kitchen  

• Maintaining high standards of sanitation, food safety and a clean and safe work environment   

• Supporting Culinary Program & Food Service Manager and all kitchen staff as needed.   

• Cooperate with superior communication, customer service and interpersonal skills   

• All other duties as assigned   

This is a limited-term nonexempt position reporting directly to the Culinary Program and Food Service Manager. 

Requirements

What You’ll Need:

Skills and Experience:

Required:

• 1 – 3 years of related work experience 

• Excellent interpersonal communication and customer service skills along with the ability to work independently and as a part of a team are critical  

• Strong work ethic, willingness to be flexible and a positive attitude and a commitment to achieving the goals of the The Trustees are essential  

• Possess a strong appreciation for working with local farms, the land, and the agricultural and cultural history of Massachusetts    

• Must be willing to work weekends and holidays  

• Ability to manage multiple projects at once 

• Must be able to lift upwards of 50 lbs 

• Must be able to push and pull upwards of 150 lbs 

• Must be able to work in various environmental environments and elemental conditions. Occasional work in coolers & freezers required. Work with cleaning chemicals required.  

• Ability to stand for long periods of time 

Preferred: 

• An associate’s degree or vocational/technical school. 

Eligibility Criteria:

• Current authorization to work in the United States – a candidate must have such authorization by his or her first day of employment. 

• A valid driver’s license, as well as a satisfactory driving record as outlined in The Trustees’ driving policy. 

• This position will be driving vehicles under 10k lbs. 

• A satisfactory criminal background (CORI) check. 

Don’t quite have all the skills and experience listed above? We still want to hear from you! Research shows that historically marginalized groups are less likely to apply if they do not meet every single requirement. We are committed to building a diverse team and encourage you to apply even if you are missing some of the skills and experience above.

Questions? Contact our People team at people@thetrustees.org

Benefits

Your Benefits:

• Sick Time: Mass Sick Time 

• Reciprocity: Employees have access to free and discounted admission and membership to more than 50 nearby museums and cultural institutions.  

• Discounts: Enjoy free entry to all Trustees properties, discount event tickets, and discounted merchandise at our stores and on stays at our inns.  

Equal Opportunity and Diversity:

The Trustees is a proud equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any protected status including, but not limited to, age, race, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual preferences, nation of origin, religion, or disability status and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with varying abilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants. We aspire to reflect and effectively serve the residents and communities of Massachusetts, who are at the core of our mission.

The Trustees’ commitment to advancing the organization’s vision for this work may be found here: Diversity, Belonging, Inclusion and Equity.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible work environment. To request reasonable accommodations during the application or interview process, please contact us at people@thetrustees.org.