Bilingual Chef Instructor - Los Angeles (Part-time)

Common Threads is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching children and families about cooking and nutrition education to promote health and wellness. Established with a mission to equip under-resourced communities, Common Threads reaches thousands of participants across 11 major program locations, serving approximately 30,000 children, parents, and teachers during the 2020-2021 period. The organization emphasizes the importance of fresh, quality ingredients and cultural diversity in its educational approach, helping participants develop affordable, nutritious, and appealing food choices that honor cultural traditions and contribute to overall well-being. With a strong commitment to inclusivity and diversity, Common Threads fosters an environment where food is not only seen as nourishment but as a way to connect with culture and family heritage. The organization maintains its presence through an active online community, including social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter, under the handle @CommonThreadsOrg and @CommonThreadsUS respectively. The role of Chef Instructor with Common Threads in Los Angeles, CA, is a dynamic part-time position designed for individuals passionate about cooking, nutrition, and education. This position seeks a 'teacher-who-can-cook' or a 'cook-who-can-teach' who is fluent in both English and Spanish, capable of working with children from Kindergarten through 8th grade, as well as their families. The Chef Instructor serves as the face of Common Threads in the community, delivering interactive, hands-on cooking classes and nutrition lessons in school kitchens and community settings, both in person and virtually via platforms such as Zoom. Chef Instructors are responsible for fostering a welcoming and educational environment, managing classrooms of up to 20 participants plus volunteers, and building strong relationships with schools, students, families, and partner organizations. The curriculum is thoughtfully designed to teach healthy cooking and eating habits through weekly lessons that explore cuisines from different countries and regions, incorporating tasting sessions to expose participants to diverse flavors and cultures. This position offers a flexible schedule, typically requiring 5-10 hours of work per week when classes are in session, which may include evenings and weekends. Compensation is grant-funded and varies by activity, with pay ranging from $75 to $150 per class session and $20 per hour for administrative and training duties. As Common Threads employees, Chef Instructors also benefit from paid sick time, professional development opportunities, and access to employee assistance resources. The ideal candidate for this role will possess culinary training or food industry experience, hold current food service sanitation certifications, and demonstrate basic knowledge of nutrition. Prior experience teaching or working with children, along with reliability, strong communication skills, and flexibility to adapt to variable schedules, are highly valued. The ability to conduct classes in both English and Spanish is essential, and candidates should be comfortable teaching in virtual environments with necessary technology such as a laptop, high-speed internet, and audio-visual equipment. Candidates must have access to a vehicle and a valid driver’s license to navigate between class locations. The role also requires passing a background check and residing within the Los Angeles area. Overall, the Common Threads Chef Instructor position offers a rewarding opportunity to impact community health and wellness by inspiring young minds and their families to embrace nutritious cooking and eating habits through culturally rich and engaging culinary education.