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Personal cook and caregiver (Brattleboro)
I am seeking a reliable, detail-oriented individual with experience in cooking—either as a dedicated home cook or with a professional culinary background—who values the connection between food and health. This role combines personal cooking with light caregiving support in my home.
You’ll be responsible for preparing all of my meals twice per week (Mondays and Thursdays), cooking and portioning enough food for 3–4 days at a time. The hours on Monday would be approximately 11:30am-7:30pm (8hrs), and on Thursday would be approximately 10:30am-5:30pm (7hrs).
Strong multitasking skills, the ability to follow written instructions, and digital communication via text are essential. You’ll also assist with grocery shopping, meal planning, and maintaining a clean, organized kitchen.
You will be cooking in my home. My kitchen is well equipped with appliances and essential kitchen tools, and I have a fairly large selection of spices and condiments. I have a collection of several hundred recipes that we have tailored to my specific needs, and I also enjoy trying new things and adding new recipes to the collection.
About me: I am a disabled female science educator, musician and artist in my early 50s who uses a wheelchair. I don't have much use of my hands, so I need help with almost all aspects of my life and health at home. I also had a jaw injury last year which makes it difficult for me to talk, and I can only talk in small amounts at a time. So I do a lot of my communication via dictation/texting.
Food is an important aspect of my health/healing plan. I used to cook a lot and worked in several restaurants in my 20s, and even though I can’t cook anymore I still love planning my meals, eating interesting, varied, and healthy foods. Which is where you come in!! I especially love Japanese food, Vietnamese, and Korean food. I also eat a lot of simple New England style meals, vegetable soups, pan seared seafood, salads, etc.. I enjoy trying new things!
This role is ideal for someone who:
-Loves cooking and experimenting with healthy recipes
-Is comfortable with being part of a caregiving team and respectful of my physical and logistical limitations
-Can manage several cooking and household tasks efficiently
-Understands the connection between nutrition and well-being
Key Responsibilities
Cooking & Meal Preparation
-Prepare and portion 3–4 days’ worth of meals (3 meals/day) twice per week -
-Follow specific dietary needs: pescatarian, gluten-free, anti-inflammatory, sometimes other modifications such as dairy-free, low- acid depending on my health needs
-Update and modify recipes as needed (using provided formatting guidelines)
-Harvest fresh produce from indoor hydroponic setup (year-round) and outdoor garden (seasonal)
-Maintain a clean, organized kitchen workspace
Meal Planning & Grocery Shopping
-Take regular inventory of pantry, fridge, and freezer
-Create and maintain grocery lists
-Grocery shopping (combination of in-person, curbside pickup, or delivery apps like DoorDash)
Caregiving & Light Household Support (usually no more than 15–30 minutes/day)
-Set out meals as needed
-Light household tasks such as tidying the kitchen, washing dishes, caring for my cat, or occasionally helping with an errand or something I need a hand with
-Be part of a team-oriented caregiving environment, help cover for other caregivers if needed to put out a meal or do simple household tasks.
-If possible, assist with putting on my compression stockings. This is the only hands-on caregiving I would need you to assist with and it would only be as a sub/if I don't have another caregiver that day. (this is not required, but would really make my scheduling a lot easier and would be a strong plus)
Skills & Requirements
-Strong ability to follow written directions and synthesize instructions from multiple sources
-Ability to multitask and manage several dishes at once
-Effective time management to complete all tasks within scheduled hours
-Competent knife skills and comfort using standard kitchen tools
-Attention to detail regarding cleanliness, food safety, freshness of ingredients, etc.
-Familiarity with or willingness to learn how to follow specific dietary guidelines
-Physical ability to perform job duties, including: Standing for 5–8 hours while cooking, lifting and transporting groceries, and bending and kneeling to harvest from the garden or access things in cupboards
-Compassionate, patient, and emotionally attuned when working around pain and physical limitations
-Adaptable to changes in the meal plan, dietary needs shifting, ingredient substitutions, etc.
-Good communication skills and willingness to collaborate with me and with other caregivers
-Proactive communicator, problem solver, collaborator
-Reliable, prompt, dependable, trustworthy
-Tech-savvy: must be comfortable using digital devices (texting, iPad apps, MacBook, etc.)
-Must use a personal smartphone for work-related communication
-Must be able to use your own vehicle for errands and shopping
Additional Notes
-I am immunocompromised and you will need to wear a mask while in the house please.
-This is a non-smoking home with an indoor cat; please consider any allergies or sensitivities
-Street parking is available outside the home
Compensation
-Starting pay is $25-$35 per hour (based on experience), with the possibility for bonuses and raises over time.
A portion of the pay comes through Vermont Medicaid, and I pay the rest out-of-pocket because I want to pay my employees fairly when I can.
Everyone whom I hire must have a successful background check required by the State of VT.
To Apply:
Please respond by telling us a little bit about yourself. Make sure to include the following information:
1. Your skills and interest in the various aspects of the position
2. Tell us about any prior caregiving, cooking/chef experience, office management, and/or other relevant experience (a resume would be helpful)
3. Your vaccination/booster status
4. How far are you from Brattleboro? I am ideally looking for someone within 15-20 miles of Brattleboro who has a reliable vehicle that can handle the snow.
5. Confirm that you have a valid drivers license. Confirm that you have reliable transportation and snow tires or 4 wheel drive.
6. Confirm that you are willing to commit to a minimum of a year (if the job is a good fit) and that a part-time job will fit your longer-term goals (I have hired several part-time people in the past, only to have them leave when they are offered full-time work, or change their life path). Really, I am looking for someone who is available indefinitely, for two years or longer. The best benefits come once we get to know each other and you can learn my needs and we develop a good working relationship.
7. What is your daily availability? While the position has set hours, it’s helpful to know if you’re ever available at other times — for example, to cover a shift or swap days on occasion. The job can begin within the next few weeks.
8. When you apply, please email me 3 references and your contact info. A resume is helpful also.
Thanks so much and I look forward to speaking with you!
193 Meeting House Ln, Brattleboro, VT 05301, USA
$25-35/hour
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