The Culinary Café Instructor & Hospitality Faculty member is responsible for delivering high-quality instruction while managing the daily operations of a campus café that serves as a live learning laboratory for culinary students. This role combines teaching, student mentorship, and operational leadership to create an experiential learning environment
aligned with industry standards. The faculty members will teach at least one course per term while overseeing café staffing, production, service, catering, community engagement, and financial sustainability.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Program Chair, Department Chair, or Dean)
CLASSIFICATION: Full-Time Faculty
Compensation: $48,000-$52,000/ 9 month contract
IMPACT OF THE ROLE
This position is essential in preparing students for careers in the culinary and hospitality industry by combining academic instruction with real-world café and catering operations. The faculty member serves as both educator and industry professional, ensuring students graduate with practical skills, professionalism, and workforce readiness.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES
- Facilitates student learning by delivering assigned classes in accordance with college policy, course objectives, and established syllabi.
- Integrate café operations into curriculum to provide hands-on, experiential learning opportunities.
- Develops and maintains course materials including syllabi, lesson plans,
assignments, assessments, and instructional resources.
- Maintains accurate student records, attendance, grades, and other required documentation.
- Engages students using active learning strategies that promote critical thinking, teamwork, and real-world application.
- Oversee all aspects of daily campus café operations, including food production, service, and sanitation.
- Develop menus that support instructional goals, reflect current culinary trends, and maintain cost efficiency.
- Supervises student participation in café operations as part of their educational experience.
- Ensure compliance with all health, safety, and sanitation regulations.
- Manages inventory, purchasing, vendor relationships, and cost controls.
- Monitors financial performance including sales, food cost, and labor metrics.
- Maintains high standards of food quality, presentation, and customer service.
- Plans, executes, and evaluates campus catering events, including internal functions, special events, and institutional gatherings.
- Supervises students in catering production and service to ensure high-quality, professional experience.
Retention and Student Success
- Provides coaching, mentoring, and performance feedback to students in a professional kitchen environment.
- Promotes teamwork, accountability, and workplace professionalism.
- Provides academic-related coaching and monitoring to students in collaboration with advising staff.
- Monitors and documents of student performance initiate early interventions and referrals as needed.
- Maintains office hours and student engagement hours per campus expectations.
- Promotes student recruitment, retention, and completion through outreach and engagement efforts.
This is not to be construed as an exhaustive list. Other duties logically associated with this position may be assigned. All responsibilities will be conducted within the parameters of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), other applicable regulatory requirements, and professional standards.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
A qualified faculty member in the School of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management
must meet the following criteria:
1. Holds professional certification in the culinary or hospitality field.
2. Has five (5) or more years of directly related industry experience.
EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s degree in culinary arts, Hospitality Management, or related field
preferred.
- Strong working knowledge of current technologies relevant to instruction and café operations.
- Meets faculty credential requirements as outlined in ASOM 7.1.
- Knowledge of food safety and sanitation practices (ServSafe certification preferred).
- Demonstrates respect for diversity of people, styles, and perspectives.
Ivy Tech is committed to supporting the well-being, growth, and financial security of our full-time faculty and staff. Our comprehensive benefits package includes:
Health & Wellness
Multiple medical plan options paired with a Health Savings Account with a generous employer contribution
Dental plan with no-cost preventive services and coverage for orthodontia
Vision plan with low-cost exams and allowances for glasses or contact lenses
Employee Assistance Program offering no-cost confidential counseling sessions, legal consultations, financial planning consultations, and other resources
Wellness program with opportunities to earn $250 in Wellness Rewards
Flexible Spending Accounts for healthcare (limited purpose) and dependent care
Retirement & Financial Security
10% employer retirement contribution, fully vested after two years
Basic life insurance equal to annual salary paid by the College, with optional supplemental coverage
Short-term and long-term disability benefits
Educational Benefits
Fee remission for employees, spouses, and dependent children
Tuition assistance for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs
Paid professional development opportunities
Work‑Life Balance
Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, holidays, and winter recess
Flexible work arrangements where available
Paid childbirth recovery leave (8 weeks)
Paid parental leave (4 weeks)
Additional Perks
Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness
Additional discounts on gym memberships, transportation, and various retail services
Ivy Tech is proud to offer benefits that support your health, your family, and your future—because when our employees thrive, our students and communities thrive too. For more information on Ivy Tech Benefits, visit https://careers.ivytech.edu/benefits.
Note: Employees who re-hire with the College within 180 days of leaving a full-time position with the College may be eligible for additional benefits depending on their bridged seniority date.
Ivy Tech Community College is an accredited, equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, marital status, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age or veteran status. As required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Ivy Tech Community College does not discriminate on the basis of sex, including sexual harassment in its educational programs and activities, including employment and admissions. Questions specific to Title IX may be referred to the College’s Title IX Coordinator or to the US Department of Education Office of Civil Rights.
