Job description

About the Machaca Hill Lodge:

Machaca Hill Lodge, a luxury 12-room ecotourism resort in Punta Gorda, Belize, has a 6-month live/work abroad opportunity for a Sous Chef. Perched in the verdant hills above the Caribbean coast of southern Belize, the lodge is a self-contained sanctuary from the everyday world. We adhere to strictly maintained guidelines that ensure that our native plant and animal species survive and thrive. Our teak woodlots guarantee no extraction of rare tropical hardwoods for human consumption. Our education outreach to local indigenous populations aims to replace slash-and-burn cultivation with a more earth-friendly approach, which will provide arable and productive land for future generations. 

About the position:

The ideal candidate will be an enthusiastic and skilled contributor to the culinary program at Machaca Hill for a 6-month period.  The Sous Chef will report directly to the Executive Chef and will become a part of a vibrant agritourism and value-added food program. The Sous Chef will assist in all culinary projects at Machaca Hill Lodge including a three-meal daily menu, high quality value products for resale and special event menus at the lodge’s agritourism center. The ideal candidate must have a passion for food, for Belizian culture, and for Central America’s rich gastronomic heritage. 

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for assisting in all tasks relating to the culinary vision of Executive Chef,

• Assist in execution of culinary relevant operations such as sourcing of ingredients from the Machaca farm, receiving, walk-in and storage organization as well as any and all  tasks the Executive Chef may assign,

• Adhere to company standards and service levels.

Qualifications:

 • At least 2-5 years experience as a sous chef in a restaurant or resort, experience in food products (jams, cheese, etc.) a plus,

• Knowledge of computers sufficient to assist in management functions (MS Word and Excel),

• Willingness to learn Belizian farming and seasonality

• Willingness to engage in and embrace Central American food traditions.    

• Comfortable standing, bending, stooping, twisting, lifting products and supplies weighing 45 pounds,

• Ability to work with hot, cold, and hazardous equipment,

• Proficiency with phones, computers, fax machines, copiers, and other office equipment.  

Personal Skills:

• Self-discipline, initiative and enthusiasm,  

• Highly organized with attention to detail and precision,

• Must be flexible and able to handle the pressures of a wide range of activities in a fast paced environment,

• Must possess good communication skills. 

Compensation:

• Room & Board at Machaca Hill included
• Roundtrip airfare from home town to Belize
• $6,000 stipend

Compensation

this position is:

Application instructions

Deadline

no deadline