We're hiring Cooking Class Instructors for our Newton and Groton locations. To our guests, you'll be their chef. Internally, we hire for something broader
— a host, teacher, and operator who happens to love food. Our best instructors have come from teaching, theater, hospitality, summer camp, and second-act
careers — not necessarily restaurant kitchens.
WHO THRIVES IN THIS ROLE
- Lights up when running a room of 12 strangers (or 12 nine-year-olds) and can keep the energy up for three hours straight.
- Follows a recipe accurately and recovers gracefully when someone burns the garlic.
- Equally comfortable with a corporate team of 30 marketers and a birthday party of giggling kids.
- Treats "no drama" as how they actually work — reliable, on time, kind to the dish washers, calm when something goes sideways.
BACKGROUNDS WE LOVE — YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A CAREER CHEF
- Classroom teachers, especially elementary, music, or theater
- Summer camp counselors and directors
- Theater performers, improvisers, kids' party hosts
- Restaurant servers and bartenders looking for daytime + weekend work
- Culinary students and serious home cooks
- Bakery owners, food-shop managers, second-act career changers
WHO THIS ROLE ISN'T FOR
- People who've spent years on a restaurant line and want a quieter place to do the same work. The job is teaching, hosting, and performing — cooking is
the medium.
- People who'd rather not work with kids.
- People who can't commit to nights and weekends.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Set up the kitchen and check inventory at least 1 hour before class.
- Teach 1–3 hours of hands-on instruction depending on the booking.
- Adapt teaching style to a wide range of audiences (kids, teens, adults, beginners, advanced).
- For corporate and private bookings, lead with the recipe. For birthdays, lead with the experience.
- Provide outstanding customer service to all guests at all times.
- Ensure all food items are cooked and served properly under sanitary conditions.
- Maintain the highest standards of safety and cleanliness.
- Leave the kitchen organized for the cleaning crew per the provided checklist — equipment off, dirty dishes staged for dishwashers, leftover inventory and
equipment returned to their proper locations.
ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Schedule includes nights and weekends.
- Wear TSK-approved uniform when instructing or representing TSK.
- Other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
- ServSafe Food Handler certification (we'll help you get it if you don't have it yet).
- Ability to pass a CORI background check.
- Reliable transportation to Newton or Groton.
- Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Culinary degree not required. Teaching, hospitality, performance, or kids' programming experience is equally valuable to us.
HOW WE HIRE — NO HOMEWORK, NO AUDITION TAPE
1. Apply with one short answer: "Tell us about a time you ran a group of 10 or more people through something they hadn't done before. What went sideways,
and how did you recover?"
2. A 30-minute conversation — in person or video, your choice.
3. A 10-minute mini-teach at the end of the interview: we'll hand you three ingredients and ask you to teach us something. We're looking for energy and
clarity, not technique.
4. One paid trial shift on a real event before any offer.
PAY
- $25 – $30 per hour for class time, prep, and cleanup (we pay for all of it, not just floor time).
- Birthday and private events: $75 per event for Lead Instructor, $25 for Assistant Instructor.
- Schedules published 2–3 weeks in advance.
PERKS
- Free spot for your kid in TSK Summer Camp (~$1,250 value).
- Two locations means more shifts and more flexibility.
- A real ladder: Assistant Instructors learn alongside Leads and grow into the lead role at their own pace.
WORK HOURS
- This is a part-time, per diem position paid by the class.
- Weekend and nighttime availability is required.
- Class schedules will vary by week.
- Number of classes scheduled will vary based on demand, skill set, and availability.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- Ability to lift 25 pounds; stand, kneel, sit, and walk for extended periods.
- Instructors will be on their feet for up to 5 hours at a time.
- Handle and lift heavy kitchen equipment, chairs, and tables.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
- This job occurs primarily in commercial kitchens, which may vary in temperature and humidity.
Job Types: Part-time, Contract
Pay: $25.00 - $30.00 per hour
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
