Kiawah Island Golf Resort Culinary/Baking & Pastry Externship Opportunities | Spring/Summer 2026

Kiawah Island Golf Resort is a premier luxury resort located on Kiawah Island, South Carolina, renowned for its breathtaking natural surroundings and world-class amenities. Established as a top destination for golf enthusiasts and vacationers alike, the resort offers an unparalleled experience with its five championship golf courses, pristine beaches, and an extensive range of recreational activities. With a commitment to excellence in hospitality and guest service, the resort has earned multiple accolades and continues to set industry standards in luxury accommodations and guest satisfaction. The resort is also known for its diverse and inclusive workplace culture, fostering growth and opportunities for its employees. Employment with Kiawah Island Golf Resort offers a dynamic and rewarding environment that caters to individuals passionate about hospitality and service industry careers. The Culinary and Baking & Pastry Externship program at Kiawah Island Golf Resort is a paid opportunity designed specifically for current college students enrolled in accredited Culinary Institutes or Universities. These externships provide invaluable hands-on experience in the resort's distinguished culinary operations, with a focus on both culinary arts and baking & pastry disciplines. Students participating in this program will be exposed to a variety of departmental functions, honing skills that will be essential to their future careers. The program runs seasonally with a wage rate of $16 per hour and includes compensation for overtime hours worked, although holiday pay is not offered to seasonal employees. For interns who choose to stay on beyond their externship, full-time positions become available that come with additional benefits such as health, dental, and vision insurance after 60 days of employment, as well as the option to participate in the 401(k) retirement program. Participants in the externship gain not only practical kitchen experience but also take advantage of the resort's dedicated training programs led by the Human Resources Training Department. New interns begin with a comprehensive Resort Orientation covering company values, expectations, and an overview of operations. Throughout their time with the resort, students have access to more than 25 specialized training classes annually, including topics such as business budgeting, leadership development, diverse workplace cultures, Microsoft Office proficiency, supervisor skills, sexual harassment training, and food safety certifications like Serve Safe. These educational opportunities are designed to build both culinary expertise and essential professional skills. Moreover, the externship encourages professional growth beyond the kitchen through job shadowing opportunities across various departments such as Food & Beverage, Conference Services, Sales & Marketing, Nature Program, Recreation Programming, Front Desk, Tennis, and Golf. This exposure enables students to gain a broader understanding of the hospitality industry and helps inform their career paths. As a seasonal employee benefit, Kiawah Island Golf Resort offers optional employee housing located approximately 25 miles from the resort. These shared accommodations require residents to provide their own transportation and involve a security deposit with payment deducted bi-weekly from paychecks. Housing costs vary based on unit size and occupancy, averaging between $320 and $350 per paycheck. Despite the commute, this benefit helps ease the cost of living for seasonal interns. Employment at Kiawah Island Golf Resort is contingent upon a thorough background check to ensure a safe and trustworthy working environment. The resort maintains an equal opportunity employment policy, welcoming diverse candidates without discrimination based on age, race, religion, color, disability, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, or pregnancy. Overall, the Culinary and Baking & Pastry Externship at Kiawah Island Golf Resort offers a comprehensive, paid training experience for ambitious culinary students looking to advance their skills and careers within a supportive, resort-based hospitality environment.

• currently enrolled in an accredited Culinary Institute or University
• able to communicate in English with guests, co-workers, and management
• possess basic computer skills
• adhere to KIGR appearance standards