Nantucket Summer Chef
Mid-June through Mid-September
We’re seeking a talented, professional Chef to join a dynamic household in Nantucket for the summer season. The environment is active and family-focused, with young children around and a steady rhythm of informal gatherings and daily routines. The ideal Chef is warm, calm under pressure, and knows how to navigate a lively household with grace—someone who understands when to engage and when to give the family space, always bringing a grounded, positive presence to the home.
The role includes preparing two meals daily (lunch and dinner), as well as setting up self-serve breakfast options and preparing thoughtful snacks for the family to enjoy throughout the day. You’ll oversee all aspects of the kitchen—menu planning, grocery sourcing, inventory, and maintaining a clean, well-organized space—with the support of a seasonal kitchen assistant.
Success in this role means taking real ownership of the kitchen, bringing creativity to your menus, and infusing care into every dish. A strong sense of professionalism, attention to detail, and pride in your craft are essential.
Schedule:
- Meal preparation and service expected 6 days/week, with 2 meals served daily (lunch, dinner); self-service breakfasts, grab-and-go items and snacks should always be available for Family and Guests
- The season extends from mid/late-June through early/mid-September, unless otherwise directed – candidates must live-in and accommodations are provided
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
- Menu planning and development (10%)
- Grocery purchasing and inventory management (15%)
- Food preparation and service (60%)
- Cleaning and organization (10%)
- Staff supervision and administrative tasks (5%)
Responsibilities:
- Menu planning, including draft development and submission, and regular meetings and communication with Principals and Property Manager
- Grocery shopping and inventory management, including procurement and provision of supplies for the preparation of meals, grab-and-go snacks and general pantry stock in multiple locations (Main House, Guest House, Pool House)
- Coordination of supply vendors; collaboration with on-site produce gardeners
- Preparation and service of meals in accordance with Family preferences and mutually developed menus:
- Preferences will be clearly communicated if and as they change, but generally consist of fresh, farm-to-table meals which balance light, healthy fare (i.e. fresh vegetables, chopped salads with simple grains), grilled proteins, and heavier, more traditional “meat and potato”-type options
- Daily kid’s meals focusing on healthy additions to typical kid-friendly offerings
- Two meals to be served daily (lunch, dinner):
- Lunch is typically served family-style
- Dinner can alternate between family-style and plated, more formal than lunch but still casual
- Provision for self-service breakfasts and grab-and-go items (cut vegetables and fruits, sandwiches, deli meats and cheeses, snacks, etc.)
- Setting and supervision of indoor and outdoor tables, with a careful eye for detail (linen, flatware and glassware placements, flower arrangements, etc.)
- Maintenance of refrigerators and pantry storage areas, including cleaning, stocking and management of leftovers
- Maintenance of organized and sanitary kitchen and service areas:
- Performance and/or oversight of cleaning during meal preparation and following meal service, including dish washing and the cleaning of pots/pans
- Daily cleaning, including but not limited to kitchen floors and all surfaces
- Removal of garbage, recycling and compost
- Coordination of linen cleaning and pressing with housekeeping staff
- Cleaning of grills and associated areas/tools
- Administrative tasks including but not limited to the supervision of a seasonal Chef’s Assistant, tracking and submission of payroll, purchasing and expense submissions (Chef will be issued a credit card and be given access to petty cash as needed)
- Coordination with Principals, Property Manager and Executive Assistants regarding Family calendar (dinners out, hosting events, etc.)
- Performance of related duties as assigned
Job Skills & Qualifications:
- Formal culinary training with 5+ years of experience as a Personal Chef
- Willingness to relocate to Nantucket for the duration of the position and living on-site in provided housing
- Comprehensive understanding of industry-standard practices and protocols
- Excellent communication skills; ability to communicate effectively with Principals, Family, Guests, staff and vendors
- Excellent menu planning and food preparation skills; ability to understand and execute on Family and Guest culinary preferences
- Strong leadership skills; ability to develop and manage an assistant and work alongside household staff with humility and a team-focused attitude
- Highly organized, ethical, and discreet
- Strong technical skills, including the ability to use email, texts and related software tools for communication and organization
- Prompt and dependable
- Warm, friendly and flexible demeanor; ability to work comfortably with large groups, young children, and around household pets
- Proactive and forward-thinking; ability to anticipate the needs of Principals, Family and Guests
- Ability to accept feedback and suggestions
- Comprehensive understanding of workplace safety practices and protocols
- Solid basic math skills
- Good physical condition, stamina and dexterity; ability to move, lift, carry, push, pull and/or place objects up to 50lbs. without assistance
- Valid Driver’s License
- Strong written and spoken English; ability to work legally in the United States
- Excellent references and ability to pass a thorough background check
DM Estate Staffing is a domestic staffing firm based in Silicon Valley, California. We place highly skilled Private Service Professionals with private clients and family offices. While our roots are in Silicon Valley, our reach is nationwide, encompassing key markets such as Aspen, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Palm Beach, Silicon Valley, and Washington, DC.
You may know us as Domestic | Match and Private Chef | Match. After 12 years of expansion, we’ve evolved into the top choice for domestic staffing services. As our journey has unfolded, we’ve expanded beyond the constraints of our original brand, spreading our reach to encompass a broad spectrum of roles within the private estate and family office sectors.
What Makes Us Unique
Drawing upon over 70 years of collective expertise in private service, luxury hospitality, and yachting, DM Estate Staffing’s team boasts a deep understanding of the intimate relationship between private employers and their household staff. Our team’s personal experience in these roles fuels our continued passion and commitment to our recruitment efforts today. We approach our work with zeal and are dedicated to ensuring that clients and candidates alike discover the ideal match.
Please visit our Job Board to see our current openings!