Soups and Sweets Instructor

Overview

SAMOST JEWISH FAMILY AND CHILDREN’S SERVICE OF SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY

Job Description: Soups and Sweets Instructor

Reports to: Soups and Sweets Manager, Disability Services Department

Schedule: Part-Time – 24 hours per week

Salary Range: $21-$24 per hour

The Soups & Sweets Culinary Instructor is responsible for delivering high-quality culinary instruction, mentorship, and hands-on training to individuals participating in the Soups & Sweets Culinary Training Program. This role blends professional kitchen expertise with an instructional approach, ensuring trainees gain the technical, safety, and work-readiness skills necessary to thrive in food service environments.

• Culinary Instruction & Training
  • Teach culinary fundamentals, advanced techniques, and industry best practices in a professional kitchen setting.
  • Provide hands-on training in food preparation, cooking, baking, plating, and presentation.
  • Instruct trainees in proper use of commercial kitchen equipment, sanitation protocols, and food safety standards (Serv Safe compliance).
  • Model professional kitchen organization, time management, and workflow efficiency.
• Program Development & Delivery
  • Enhance and collaborate with the team to develop and maintain the Culinary, Café, and Market Training Manual.
  • Collaborate to design additional lesson plans, recipes, and training modules that accommodate varying skill levels and learning styles. Co-lead discussions during Work Readiness Classes.
  • Integrate customer service, teamwork, and hospitality principles into instruction.
• Trainee Support & Evaluation
  • Conduct intake assessments for potential trainees to determine skill level and training goals.
  • Track attendance, performance, and skill progression, providing feedback to trainees and families as appropriate.
  • Assist with evaluations as required by funding agencies (DVRS, DDD) and ensure compliance with reporting requirements.
  • With the Manager’s assistance, maintain compliance for students funded through DDD, including developing Annual Report / Emergency Cards / Fire Drill Reports.
• Operational Support
  • Assist with product inventory, packaging, and delivery as needed.
  • Support outreach and marketing efforts for the Soups & Sweets Culinary Training Program.
  • Maintain a clean, organized, and hazard-free training kitchen in compliance with health department standards.

Education: Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Culinary Arts (or equivalent professional training) preferred. Experience with customer-based operations preferred.

Experience: Minimum two years as a chef, sous chef, or culinary instructor in a professional kitchen or food service operation. Experience in bakery, café, or catering settings highly valued.

• Ability to break down complex kitchen tasks into teachable steps.
• Excellent communication skills and patience when working with individuals with diverse abilities.
• Knowledge of adaptive teaching strategies in a culinary environment.
• Valid driver’s license, registration, and insurance preferred.

• Ethics – Treat staff and donors with respect, work with integrity and ethics.
• Interpersonal Skills & Donor Relations – Maintain relationships with co-workers, donors, and leadership; manage difficult situations.
• Teamwork – Build a positive team spirit; prioritize team success.
• Strategic Thinking – Develop strategies to achieve organization goals; involve appropriate people in decisions.
• Project Management – Prioritize and manage time; communicate progress; complete projects on time.
• Written Communication – Write clearly; edit for spelling and grammar; present data effectively.
• Problem Solving – Identify problems and develop solutions; improve processes and quality.
• Dependability – Be accurate, thorough, and punctual; maintain confidentiality.
• Initiative – Seek increased responsibilities and self-improvement.
• Diversity – Respect cultural differences; promote a harassment-free environment.

The Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey, and our family of agencies, is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon a person’s gender, race, creed, color, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital/civil union status, domestic partnership status, familial status, religion, national origin, age, veteran or military status, disability that does not prohibit performance of essential job functions, or other legally protected characteristics.

The Federation participates in the E-Verify program. The Federation is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us via the link on this posting. EOE