Culinary Instructor
Organization: Feed the Mass
Location: Portland, Oregon
Position: Part-time, approximately 24 hours per week
Compensation: $25–$27 per hour, depending on experience
Schedule: Flexible schedule required, including occasional evenings and weekends for classes, events, and content production
Position Summary
Feed the Mass is seeking an enthusiastic and engaging Culinary Instructor who is passionate about food, education, and serving the community.
This position is ideal for someone who is confident and charismatic when speaking in front of groups and appearing on camera. The Culinary Instructor will teach hands-on cooking classes, develop and test recipes, support private events, and help record short-form cooking and educational content for Feed the Mass.
The instructor must be able to adapt their teaching style to effectively educate children, teenagers, adults, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. The right candidate will make cooking approachable, enjoyable, and empowering for people with different learning styles, abilities, cultures, and levels of kitchen experience.
Primary Responsibilities
Culinary Education
- Plan and teach at least three cooking or nutrition classes per week.
- Educate children, teenagers, adults, seniors, and individuals with disabilities.
- Adjust recipes, demonstrations, instructions, and activities to meet different learning and accessibility needs.
- Create a welcoming classroom environment where participants feel respected, included, and encouraged.
- Teach kitchen safety, sanitation, nutrition, food preparation, basic cooking techniques, teamwork, and confidence in the kitchen.
- Prepare lesson plans, recipes, ingredient lists, and class materials.
- Monitor participants closely and maintain a safe learning environment.
- Assist with private cooking classes, community events, and educational programs.
Recipe Development
- Develop, test, and improve recipes for cooking classes, community programs, events, meal products, and digital content.
- Create recipes that are flavorful, culturally inclusive, affordable, nutritious, and easy to follow.
- Standardize recipes with accurate measurements, portions, preparation steps, yields, and estimated food costs.
- Modify recipes when needed to accommodate common dietary restrictions, food allergies, and accessibility needs.
- Collaborate with program and culinary staff on seasonal menus and new food concepts.
Food Content and On-Camera Work
- Serve as an enthusiastic and knowledgeable representative of Feed the Mass in videos and public demonstrations.
- Present cooking tips, recipes, nutrition information, and food education in a clear and engaging way.
- Participate in the planning and recording of short-form content for Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and other platforms.
- Demonstrate recipes and culinary techniques confidently in front of the camera.
- Work with the content team to prepare talking points, recipes, ingredients, and demonstrations for recording.
- Communicate in a warm, natural, and approachable style that reflects the Feed the Mass mission and brand.
Kitchen and Program Operations
- Assist with planning menus and preparing food for groups of different sizes.
- Estimate food and supply needs based on class size, event requirements, and expected attendance.
- Purchase or request ingredients and verify the quality and quantity of food and kitchen supplies.
- Help manage food costs, class budgets, inventory, and kitchen supplies.
- Maintain clean and sanitary workstations, equipment, appliances, storage areas, and teaching spaces.
- Follow all food-safety, sanitation, allergen, and illness-reporting procedures.
- Report equipment problems, safety concerns, participant incidents, and workplace injuries to the supervisor immediately.
- Support kitchen setup, food preparation, service, cleanup, and proper storage.
Required Qualifications
- At least two years of experience working in or leading a commercial kitchen.
- Experience teaching, training, presenting, or leading groups.
- Strong enthusiasm for food, cooking, and community education.
- Confident, energetic, and engaging when speaking in front of groups and appearing on camera.
- Ability to communicate instructions clearly and respectfully.
- Ability to work effectively with children and adults from diverse backgrounds.
- Ability to adapt lessons for individuals with disabilities and different learning needs.
- Working knowledge of basic food safety, sanitation, allergen awareness, and commercial kitchen practices.
- Strong organization, time-management, and preparation skills.
- Ability to work independently while also collaborating with culinary, program, and content teams.
- Dependable transportation and the ability to work a flexible schedule.
- Current Oregon Food Handler Card or ability to obtain one before beginning work.
- Ability to pass any background screening required for working with youth or vulnerable populations.
Preferred Qualifications
- Culinary degree, culinary certificate, or equivalent professional experience.
- Previous experience teaching children, teenagers, seniors, or individuals with disabilities.
- Experience developing, testing, costing, or standardizing recipes.
- Experience with nutrition education or culturally responsive food programming.
- Previous on-camera, public-speaking, social-media, or food-demonstration experience.
- Experience working in a nonprofit, school, community center, or community-based food program.
- CPR and First Aid certification.
Physical Requirements
With or without reasonable accommodation, the employee must be able to:
- Stand and move throughout the kitchen or classroom for extended periods.
- Perform repetitive food-preparation and kitchen tasks.
- Safely use commercial kitchen tools and equipment.
- Lift, carry, push, or move ingredients, supplies, and equipment related to the position.
- Work in environments that may include heat, steam, cold storage, food allergens, and kitchen noise.
Workplace Expectations
- Arrive on time and prepared for scheduled shifts, classes, meetings, events, and recordings.
- Communicate schedule changes or absences to the supervisor as soon as possible.
- Attend required team and individual meetings unless excused by the supervisor.
- Maintain professional and respectful communication with participants, volunteers, employees, partners, and guests.
- Follow Feed the Mass policies regarding attendance, food safety, illness, confidentiality, social media, workplace conduct, and incident reporting.
- Protect confidential information and Feed the Mass intellectual property.
- Recipes, educational materials, videos, photographs, and other content created as part of the position are the property of Feed the Mass unless otherwise agreed to in writing.
- Do not report to work when experiencing symptoms that could create a food-safety or health risk. Notify the supervisor and follow the organization’s illness-reporting procedures.
About Feed the Mass
Feed the Mass is a Portland-based nonprofit organization that empowers, educates, and serves communities through food. Through culinary education, workforce development, community meals, and food-access programs, we use food to build health, confidence, connection, and opportunity.
Feed the Mass is committed to maintaining an inclusive and respectful workplace. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and provide reasonable accommodations throughout the hiring process and employment.
Pay: $25.00 - $27.00 per hour
Expected hours: 24.0 – 32.0 per week
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Paid sick time
- Paid time off
- Paid training
- Parental leave
- Professional development assistance
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Have you worked with Children?
- Are you comfortable being on camera?
Education:
Experience:
- Culinary instructor: 2 years (Required)
- Recipe Development: 1 year (Preferred)
License/Certification:
- Food Handler Certification (Required)
Work Location: In person
