Soups and Sweets Instructor

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

Primary Responsibilities : To instruct and evaluate the students in the Soups and Sweets Culinary Training Program, and assist the Soups and Sweets Manager with all programmatic needs

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 (ServSafe 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 with the team 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 assistance of the Manager, maintain compliance for any students funded

through DDD, including developing: Annual Report / Emergency Cards / Fire Drill

Reports

Promote a safe and supportive learning environment, intervening in conflicts and

modeling positive workplace communication.

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.

Required Education & Experience:

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.

Additional Technical

Requirements: 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

GENERAL COMPETENCIES:

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Thorough understanding of Federation's mission, policies, values, strengths, and weaknesses. Understanding of the tri-county Jewish community. Creatively identify problems and develop and implement solutions to achieve organization goals.

Ethics - Treat staff and donors with respect, regardless of their status or position. Work with integrity and ethically.

Interpersonal Skills and Donor Relations - Adapt to changing work environments and maintain a good working relationship with co-workers, donors, lay leadership, and members. Manage difficult or emotional staff or volunteer situations.

Teamwork-Exhibit objectivity and openness to others' views. Contribute to building a positive team spirit. Put success of team over own interests.

Strategic Thinking - Develops strategies to achieve organization goals. Understands organization's strengths and weaknesses. Adapts strategies to changing conditions. Displays willingness to make decisions. Includes appropriate people in decision-making process. Takes calculated risks to accomplish goals.

Project Management - Prioritizes and manages time effectively. Communicates changes and progress. Completes projects on time.

Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively. Edits work for spelling and grammar. Presents numerical data effectively.

Problem Solving - Displays original thinking and creativity. Identifies problems and develops solutions. Works well in group situations. Looks for ways to improve work processes and quality.