Cooking Instructor, Vacation Camp / School Break Camp

Share your love of cooking by leading school break enrichment activities and cooking classes for children. JCC Greater Boston, located in Newton, runs school break Vacation Camps for December break, February break, Passover break and spring break in April for children grades K – 8. Camp Counselors and activity specialists guide campers in sports, swimming, arts and crafts, and much more as they develop and build self-confidence and have a blast with friends. The energy of the camp is lively, playful and warm, and we are looking for fun, responsible role models to plan and lead activities for the campers.

  JCC Greater Boston is deeply committed to valuing and celebrating the uniqueness of each constituent. We welcome staff and participants from diverse backgrounds. While being proudly Jewish, we strive in every way to provide an open and welcoming setting for all, irrespective of personal practices, beliefs, or background. We are guided by JCC Greater Boston’s core values - Belonging, Joyfulness, Collaboration, and Transformation - which resonate with many who do not identify as Jewish.

Primary responsibilities include, and are not limited to:

• Ensure the safety and well-being of campers during activities
• Create a fun/joyful dynamic
• Work in partnership with peers and Camp Leadership to provide a happy, safe and Memorable day for the children 
• Lead or co-lead activities 
• Prepare and manage supplies
• Plan and implement fun and engaging acvities for children in grades K – 8
• Participate in and support supervision of the children during special events and large group activities
  
  

Standard staff expectations include and are not limited to:

• Actively create a welcoming dynamic that contributes to an environment where each individual is valued and respected
• Actively participate as an essential team member
• Support JCC Greater Boston’s mission, vision, and values of belonging, joyfulness, collaboration, and transformation, including through role modeling
• Enthusiastically representing the organization, model excellence and achievement
• Attend JCCGB meetings and trainings as assigned
• Other duties as assigned
  
  

This is a great chance to join JCC Greater Boston's respected and valued, people-orientated workplace of diverse community services providers, which is rapidly growing!

JOB DETAILS: This is an hourly position with 4 – 8 hour shifts available. Offering great perks, including JCC Health & Fitness center access, a supportive, vibrant in-person work environment, and a competitive starting pay rate of $18 per hour. The pay rate offered will ultimately be determined by relevant qualifications, experience, and JCC's internal equity.

Available Dates:

December Camp: December 23, 24, 26, 27, 30 

February Camp: February 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 

Passover Camp: April 15, 16, 17, 18 

Spring Break Camp: April 21, 22, 23, 24, 25

Please note – candidates do not need to commit to all the above dates. We schedule staff by the day and the below shift options.

Available Shifts Each Day:

Full Day 8:30am – 4:30pm, 8 hours

Morning Shift 8:30am – 12:30pm, 4 hours

Afternoon Shift 12:30pm - 4:30pm, 4 hours

About JCC Greater Boston

Since opening its doors in 1983, JCC Greater Boston has been committed to creating a vibrant, inclusive, diverse community by nurturing meaningful, lasting relationships. Through our network of early learning centers, day camps, regional teen and family programs, health and wellness offerings, and adult arts and ideas classes, JCC Greater Boston provides highly valued connections, learning, and experiences for the Jewish community and friends.

JCC Greater Boston staff enjoy working in an innovative, friendly, and welcoming environment where their talents and contributions are appreciated. In our recent employee survey, staff rated their direct management and organizational alignment experiences close to 90% positive. If you want to upgrade your working experience and have a better work-life balance, we encourage you to explore becoming part of the JCC team!

The JCC is deeply committed to valuing and celebrating the uniqueness of each constituent. We welcome staff and participants from diverse backgrounds. While being proudly Jewish, we strive in every way to provide an open and welcoming setting for all, irrespective of personal practices, beliefs, or background. We are guided by JCC Greater Boston's core values: Belonging, Joyfulness, Collaboration, and Transformation, which we hope resonate with all.

To learn more about what makes JCC Greater Boston a wonderful place to work, please visit our careers page at

JCC Greater Boston is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any individual or group on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or disability. In a continuing effort to maintain and enrich a diverse environment, we actively encourage applications from women and members of underrepresented groups.

Requirements

Education and Experience:

• High school degree preferred
• College degree, concentration, certification, or equivalent experience in cooking, nutrition, or related field preferred
• 1+ season (summer camp, semester, other) instructor experience planning and leading cooking activities for children
• Customer service experience preferred

Equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted at the JCC’s discretion to meet minimum criteria.

Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent group management skills
• Flexibility in plans and positive attitude
• Ability to work with a variety of cooking supplies and equipment
• Ability to work with allergy and dietary restrictions as needed
• Enjoy working with children and a strong desire to make a difference every day 
• Safety awareness and ability to communicate any issues and concerns with supervisors
• Ability to ensure safety of participants when working with cooking supplies, tools and variety of ingredients and food
• Exhibits leadership skills, including teamwork, patience, flexibility, and diplomacy 
• Demonstrates positive attitude at all times
• Commitment to build strong relationships with campers, co-workers, and camp leadership
• Self-starter who takes the initiative
• Ability to manage situations effectively and diplomatically and ask for help, guidance, or clarification when needed
• Must be able to work well with others, building/sustaining collaborative solid relationships
  
  

Physical Requirements:  

• Able to work well in a busy, dynamic, and sometimes noisy environment involving multiple tasks and priorities.
• Able to lift and carry objects weighing 30-40 pounds (boxes of supplies, children’s backpacks, etc.
• Able to sit and kneel; getting down at eye level with children regularly.

 
ADA Statement: Individuals must possess these criteria for knowledge, skills, and abilities or be able to explain and demonstrate that the individual can perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation and using some other combination of skills and abilities.

Benefits

In addition to offering rewarding work and great career opportunities within our mission-driven, values-driven, and family-centric environment , JCC Greater Boston proudly offers employees the generous benefits listed below.

JCCGB Perks! Each employee is eligible for a free individual membership to JCC Greater Boston's top class fitness, recreation and wellness facility in Newton – offering virtual and in-person programs including indoor swimming, many fitness classes, and workout facilities, as well as discounts to many JCCGB events, classes, outdoor pool, and more! Complimentary individual membership includes:

• Use of the Fitness Center at Leventhal-Sidman
• Access to group fit classes, Arts & Culture adult programming at member rates,
• Discounts on a variety JCCGB's fitness/wellness programs and services
• Free wellness events!

Benefits are subject to review and change by the Organization, and plan documents are the primary determinant.

A Great Place to Work! JCC Greater Boston is consciously evolving as a great place to work! In our recent 2023 employee engagement survey, at least 88% of our staff gave us top ratings on:

• Supportive colleagues
• Team camaraderie
• How their managers treat them
• Individual autonomy
• Knowing what their work contributes to and how it impacts others
• Pride in working for the JCC
• Program and service quality
• Holding ourselves accountable
  
  

Our staff and leadership bring experience, excellence, and commitment to everything we offer and we are dedicated to a culture where all our employees may thrive. Our culture is built on our values, driven by our mission, and nurtured through the expert contributions of our professionals.