Director of Kitchen & Hospitality Ministry

About the role

This isn’t just a cooking position. It’s a ministry. Every meal we serve is a chance to love God by serving others, love people through genuine care, and make disciples by developing servant leaders.

Responsibilities

• Kitchen Operations & Culinary Leadership
  • Plan, prepare, and oversee all recurring meals: Wednesday night dinners, monthly Senior Adult Gatherings, and Sunday morning hospitality
  • Ensure consistent quality, variety, and appropriate volume for each event and season
  • Maintain safe food handling practices and full compliance with local health codes (ServSafe certification required or obtainable within 6 months)
  • Keep the kitchen clean, organized, and ready for both scheduled events and unexpected needs
  • Manage procurement, vendor relationships, and grocery ordering (Sam’s, Costco, US Foods, or similar) to maintain quality while stewarding budget
  • Manage kitchen inventory, supplies, and equipment maintenance
• Volunteer Team Development
  • Recruit, train, schedule, and shepherd a growing team of kitchen volunteers and volunteer team leaders
  • Develop specialized teams for different ministry areas (Senior Adult, Wednesday night, special events, care meals, etc.)
  • Cook out volunteer team leaders so they can eventually run their areas independently, embracing a Hero Maker philosophy
  • Create entry points for new volunteers and pathways for growth and deeper ownership
  • Attend or send a representative to event planning meetings for anything involving food
• Event Coordination & Expanding Ministry
  • Cook kitchen support for special events: funeral receptions, outreach gatherings, staff training days, student and children’s ministry events, church-wide celebrations, and more
  • Proactively identify opportunities to expand hospitality support across ministry areas
  • Partner with ministry leaders across the church to plan menus, logistics, and volunteer coverage for events well in advance
  • Support benevolence and emergency meal needs as they arise
• Administration & Stewardship
  • Develop and manage the kitchen ministry budget; track expenses and report regularly
  • Maintain volunteer schedules and communication through Planning Center or equivalent systems
  • Meet regularly with the Pastor of Organizational Leadership for direction, coaching, and prayer
  • Work in harmony with the broader staff team and support the whole-church mission

Who We’re Looking For

• Faith & Character
  • A committed follower of Jesus Christ whose daily life reflects the character of someone pursuing and equipping others
  • Active member of Severns Valley Baptist Church, or willing to become one
  • A servant heart with genuine love for people, not just cooking for them, but caring about them
  • Humble, teachable, and self-motivated; able to work independently and hold a team accountable with grace
• Experience & Skills
  • Meaningful experience in kitchen management, food service, or culinary work (professional training is a plus, not a requirement)
  • Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and encourage volunteers or staff teams
  • Strong organizational and time-management skills; able to coordinate multiple events across a calendar
  • Working knowledge of safe food handling and sanitation practices; ServSafe certified or willing to obtain certification
  • Budget-awareness and basic procurement experience
  • Warm, approachable communication style with staff, volunteers, and church family

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand for extended periods and lift up to 40 lbs
• Comfort working in a commercial kitchen environment with variable temperatures and activity levels

About Severns Valley

Severns Valley Baptist Church is a multi-generational church family in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. We exist to love God, love people, and make disciples by helping people fulfill their role in God’s story. Our three environments: Ministries, Groups, and Missions, shape everything we do, and our welcome is simple: there is always room for one more.

Compensation

$35,000.00 - $45,000.00 per year

How to Apply

Interested candidates are invited to submit a resume, a brief cover letter (tell us why you see this as ministry, not just a job), and two references to:

Brian Combs, Pastor of Organizational Leadership
brian@sv.church
(270) 765-7822

Questions are welcome. We’re looking for the right person more than the fastest applicant.