Culinary Instructor

Culinary Instructor

Join the team at the Merage Jewish Community Center of Orange County, where passion meets purpose! Located in the heart of Irvine, our state-of-the-art facility is more than just a workplace—it's a community. We offer a dynamic environment where you can make a meaningful impact, whether you're involved in fitness, cultural arts, education, or community services. At the Merage JCC, you'll be part of a team that values diversity, fosters personal and professional growth, and is dedicated to enriching the lives of our members. If you're looking for a rewarding career in a vibrant and supportive setting, the Merage JCC is the place for you!

Position Purpose

The Culinary Instructor job requires planning and forethought; proactive, resourcefulness and creative problem-solving skills. Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail and effective communication are required. She/he must be skilled in teaching and making presentations to groups (of students/participants) and in explaining culinary techniques at fundamental to advanced levels. She/he should be self-motivated and possess strong interpersonal and excellent customer service skills. The ability to function and act independently while at the same time working well with others in a team environment is crucial. Under the guidance of the Culinary Arts Director, this position works to develop cooking classes for children and adults that are fun and educational. Job requires some regular evening and weekend shifts.

Major Areas of Responsibility:

Include the following key areas and duties, which may be modified or increased as necessary:

Developing Curriculum

Work directly with the Culinary Arts Director to develop curriculum and researching culinary trends. Curriculum for daily cooking classes for children, families and adults, as well as specialty cooking workshops i.e., holiday cuisine, challah baking, Jewish ethnic cooking, etc.

Teaching a Variety of Cooking Classes

Teaching cooking classes in an engaging and interactive way, promoting a positive learning environment with hands-on learning. ClubJ, Preschool, and adult classes.

Administrative

Type up recipes, update recipes for website/cooking page, class registrations, class descriptions and inventory.

Kitchen Prep

Testing recipes, shopping for ingredients, prep ingredients for classes.

Kitchen Etiquette

Maintaining a sanitary and safe teaching/demonstration kitchen, following JCC protocols at all times. Assisting in management of kitchen and equipment to ensure proper working order and operation. Preparing set up and breakdown for each class.

Primary Results Accountable For Achieving

Other specific results will be assigned and measured.

Supervisory Responsibilities

The Culinary Instructor does not have supervisory responsibilities. This position reports to: Culinary Arts Director

Relationship Building

Requires regular contact both inside and outside the company at all organizational levels, and involves considerable tact, discretion and persuasion in order to obtain willing action and consent.

Decision Making

Requires the use of judgment to plan, perform; general decisions are made to solve a problem or select a course of action for a standard or recognized method of operation.

Supervision Received

Type of Supervision: General Supervision

Typical Assignments:

Exercises considerable latitude in determining objectives and approach to assignments.

Review of Work:

Completed work is reviewed from a long-time perspective for desired results.

Typical Job Level:

Professional, technical and administrative specialists and upper, middle managers.

Skill Sets/Accountabilities

Innovative, passionate, and capability to grow the Culinary Arts program, ability to operate independently in a fast-paced environment, strong customer service skills; ability to handle constituents with a helpful and calm demeanor, proficient in Microsoft office applications and social media tools and ability to stay within the budget.

Education and/or Experience

The minimum amount of formal or informal education required to successfully perform the position is education or job knowledge equivalent to college or university undergraduate education in culinary and the minimum amount of working with children to successfully perform it, is at least 2 years.

Skills Required

The Culinary Instructor must have and be able to consistently apply the following skills at the levels indicated to produce assigned results.

• Math Skills
• Communication Skills
• Reasoning Skills
• Computer Skills
• Leadership Skills
• Analytical Skills
• Administrative Skills
• Networking Skills
• Cooking Skills
• Teaching Skills

Physical Requirements

The Culinary Instructor has to spend on-the-job time on the following physical activities:

• Stand
• Walk
• Sit
• Talk/Hear
• Use hands to finger, handle or feel
• Climb or balance
• Stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl
• Reach with hands or arms
• Taste or smell
• There is a 25 – 50 pounds lifting weight requirement in this position.

Work Environment

The Culinary Instructor will not be required to work in special environments. The typical level of noise for the work environment of this position is: Moderate Noise (business office with computer printers, light traffic) some outdoor events and wet and/or humid conditions. There are no job duties affected by the environmental conditions.

Schedule

• Day Shift Hours - Average weekly hours 31 to 40.
• Evening Shifts will be as needed; such as for evening events

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Experience:

• Cooking: 2 years (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Irvine, CA 92603 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Irvine, CA 92603: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person *We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate based on any protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law. *