Commercial Kitchen Exhaust System Cleaning Instructor

Job Summary

The Community College of Rhode Island invites applicants to apply as a Commercial Kitchen Exhaust System Cleaning Instructor within the Division of Workforce Partnerships.

The Division of Workforce Partnerships is seeking an experienced commercial kitchen exhaust system cleaning professional to help build, refine, and deliver a short-term certification training program for commercial kitchen exhaust system cleaners. This program is being developed in partnership with the Rhode Island State Fire Marshal's Office in response to pending state legislation requiring certification for commercial kitchen exhaust system cleaners by January 1, 2029.

The program will be built to launch in 2027.

The instructor will support the development and delivery of an approximately one-week training program that combines classroom instruction and hands‑on training. The program will prepare incumbent workers and new entrants to safely inspect, clean, document, and service commercial kitchen exhaust systems in alignment with NFPA 96 requirements, state certification expectations, and industry best practices.

This position is part-time and based at CCRI workforce training locations, with schedules that may include day, evening, and/or weekend hours in response to employer and workforce needs. The program is expected to launch by early 2027 at the latest.

• Build, refine, and deliver a short-term certification training curriculum for commercial kitchen exhaust system cleaners.
• Provide classroom and hands‑on instruction on commercial kitchen exhaust systems, including hoods, filters, ductwork, access panels, exhaust fans, and related components.
• Teach NFPA 96 requirements, applicable state expectations, industry standards, and best practices related to commercial kitchen exhaust system inspection, cleaning, documentation, and maintenance.
• Instruct students on fire hazards associated with grease accumulation, improper maintenance, poor cleaning practices, equipment protection failures, and failure to properly shut down or secure utilities.
• Teach proper cleaning sequence and procedures, beginning with system evaluation, pre‑cleaning assessment, jobsite preparation, and equipment protection, followed by cleaning from the roof fan down through the system, final inspection, and completion of the cleaning process.
• Demonstrate proper pressure washing techniques and cleaning procedures for hoods, filters, ductwork, access panels, exhaust fans, and other system components.
• Train students in the identification, selection, inspection, and proper use of tools, equipment, cleaning chemicals, and personal protective equipment required for commercial kitchen exhaust system cleaning.
• Provide instruction on safety procedures, including lockout/tagout practices, utility shutdown procedures, working at heights, fall prevention, hazard identification, chemical safety, and safe jobsite practices.
• Teach inspection techniques, pre‑cleaning assessments, deficiency identification, and proper documentation of service needs.
• Incorporate real‑world case examples and lessons learned, including fire risks caused by improper cleaning, incomplete service, equipment protection failures, and utility shutdown failures.
• Support hands‑on training using a mock or non‑active hood system setup designed to simulate real commercial kitchen exhaust system cleaning conditions, including roof and interior components where available.
• Identify, recommend, and support the setup of tools, equipment, chemicals, PPE, and training props needed to deliver safe, hands‑on instruction, including mock or non‑active hood systems, roof fan components, filters, ductwork, access panels, pressure washing equipment, containment materials, and…