Culinary Instructor - Premises

Full Time Culinary Instructor – Merage JCC of Orange County

Location:

Irvine, CA 92603. Applicants must be able to commute and relocate to Irvine before the start of employment.

The Culinary Instructor plans and delivers cooking classes for children, families, and adults. The instructor teaches fundamental to advanced culinary techniques, creates engaging lesson plans, and maintains a safe and sanitary teaching kitchen. The role requires working evenings and weekends as needed.

• Collaborate with the Culinary Arts Director to develop curriculum and research culinary trends.
• Teach a variety of cooking classes—including daily classes for children, families, and adults, as well as specialty workshops such as holiday cuisine, challah baking, and Jewish ethnic cooking.
• Use interactive teaching methods to promote a positive learning environment.
• Type and update recipes, class descriptions, and website content.
• Manage class registrations and inventory.
• Maintain a sanitary and safe teaching/demonstration kitchen, following JCC protocols.
• Assist in the management of kitchen equipment to ensure proper working order.
• Prepare set‑up and breakdown for each class.

• Minimum of 2 years of cooking experience.
• College or university undergraduate education in culinary arts.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and social media tools.
• Excellent communication, leadership, analytical, and administrative skills.
• Strong customer service orientation and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

• Stand, walk, sit, and talk for extended periods.
• Use hands and fingers for cooking and food handling.
• Climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl as needed.
• Reach with hands or arms.
• Lift 25–50 pounds.

The instructor works in a kitchen and classroom setting with moderate noise from office equipment and occasional outdoor events. The setting may be humid or wet.

Full‑time; average weekly hours 31–40.

Day shifts with evening shifts as needed for special events.

$24/hr to $28/hr.

• Health benefits package.
• Paid time off.
• Retirement plan.
• Complimentary fitness center membership.
• Employee discount to JCC events and amenities.
• Health, life, and vision insurance.

The instructor reports directly to the Culinary Arts Director.

Equality is exercised in all employment decisions. The JCC is an equal employment opportunity employer.