Job Description

Join Chef Thomas Keller’s Yountville Culinary Garden team as a Farm Hand ! We’re seeking enthusiastic individuals to work under the guidance of our Garden and Estate Managers.Your responsibilities will include planting, irrigation, pest control, and harvesting, all to ensure our culinary gardens flourish. Embrace the opportunity to contribute to the magic of The French Laundry in Yountville, CA.

This is a seasonal position aligned with our growing and harvest cycles, with the potential for continued or permanent employment based on performance and business needs.

This position is primarily outdoors, exposing individuals to various weather elements. Candidates must be able to lift up to 50 lbs and perform physical work in diverse positions and heights, including bending, stooping, reaching, and twisting. The role also requires standing for up to 8 hours and operating light and heavy machinery, such as a tractor.

Responsibilities:

• Maintain and develop the pristine aesthetic of the garden plots, projecting an organized and positive image.
• Ensure all guests to the garden feel welcome, receiving responsive, professional, and gracious service at all times.
• Support the Manager by providing timely updates on available produce and forecasting future harvests.
• Maintain all equipment, tools, and storage areas with an emphasis on efficiency, organization, and cleanliness, in line with the Restaurant’s and Chef Thomas Keller’s philosophy, mission statement, and standards of excellence.
• Assist in the identification and maintenance of a seasonal rotation of culinary plantings to benefit the restaurants, understanding planting cycles to supply the restaurants appropriately throughout the season.
• Keep detailed records of soils, plantings, conditions, and harvesting, including the quantity and quality of produce, as directed.

Qualifications:

• 2 years of experience in manual labor and/or farming.
• High School Diploma required; Certified Master Gardener preferred.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate clearly and concisely.
• Ability to work in varying weather conditions (extreme heat, wet, cold, etc.).
• Capable of reaching, bending, stooping, and frequently lifting up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to work 50–60 hours per week.
• Proficient in operating light and heavy machinery, such as a tractor.
• Ability to work in a standing position for extended periods (up to 10 hours).

Chef Keller’s collection of restaurants is founded on a culture of mentorship and provides a solid foundation of skills to support our profession. We are proud to offer:

• 401K plan with matching contributions up to 4% of earnings and no waiting periods.
• Company-sponsored medical and dental plans*
• Voluntary plans such as vision, life and AD&D insurance, accident, hospitalization, critical illness plans, pet insurance and long-term disability insurance.
• Opportunities for growth and advancement
• Daily family meal
• Scholarship programs
• Peer mentorship program
• Employee discounts at Chef Thomas Keller’s casual properties
• Gym membership discount

Who we are:

With more than 10 properties and 800 employees, the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group (TKRG) has grown from one restaurant to a large family of businesses.

TKRG proudly represents The French Laundry, Per Se, The Surf Club Restaurant, Bouchon Bistro, Bouchon Bakery, Ad Hoc, and RO Restaurant & Lounge. The properties and people Chef Keller inspires are known for setting new standards in cuisine, service and employment experiences. Our goal is to collaborate with talented restaurant professionals and offer opportunities to learn and grow within the hospitality profession. As we have expanded over time, the expectations that set apart our restaurants have not changed: ensuring that every guest feels special, and every guest experience is exceptional. A guest can walk into The French Laundry or one of the Bouchon Bakeries and have the most enjoyable, unique and memorable experience. A chef will find the same blue aprons and green tape in each of our kitchens—symbols of a common striving for excellence. Outside the kitchens, every action we take must reflect the generosity, nurturing and finesse within. As members of the TKRG family, we have the responsibility to ensure this consistency. Beyond it all is a mission, perhaps summed up best by Chef Keller himself. “To make people happy, one guest at a time,” he says. “That is what cooking is all about.”

Looking for other opportunities with our group? Check out open positions on:   ThomasKeller.com/careers

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We take affirmative action to ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics.

* Company contribution depends on your plan selection. Benefit offerings are subject to change over time.  

Job Tags

Permanent employment, Full time, Casual work

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