Culinary Café Instructor & Hospitality Faculty

Ivy Tech Community College is a well-established public community college dedicated to providing accessible, affordable, and high-quality education to diverse student populations across its campuses. Known for its commitment to student success and workforce development, the institution offers a wide array of academic programs designed to prepare students for careers in various industries. The School of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management at Ivy Tech focuses on blending academic instruction with practical, hands-on experience to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary for success in the culinary and hospitality fields. This approach ensures graduates are workforce-ready and capable of meeting industry standards with professionalism and expertise.

The role of Culinary Café Instructor & Hospitality Faculty member at Ivy Tech Community College is a full-time faculty position with a salary range of $48,000 to $52,000 on a 9-month contract. This role is integral to the college’s culinary arts program as it not only involves delivering high-quality instruction but also managing the daily operations of a campus café that serves as a live learning laboratory for students. The position requires a unique combination of teaching, mentorship, and operational leadership to foster an experiential learning environment aligned with current culinary and hospitality industry standards. Faculty members in this role are expected to teach at least one course per term and oversee a variety of campus café operations including staffing, food production, service, catering, community engagement, and ensuring the financial sustainability of the café.

This multi-faceted role has a significant impact on student preparation and success by integrating real-world café and catering operations into academic instruction. The Culinary Café Instructor is responsible for designing and delivering course content, developing curricula that include practical hands-on components, and providing ongoing coaching and support to students within the professional kitchen environment. Responsibilities also include menu development that reflects culinary trends and instructional goals while maintaining cost efficiency, supervising students participating in cafeteria and catering operations, and ensuring compliance with health, safety, and sanitation regulations.

Operational leadership extends to managing inventory, purchasing, vendor relationships, and financial controls, all critical to maintaining a successful café operation. Additionally, the faculty member plans, executes, and evaluates campus catering events, thus providing students with professional experiences in catering production and service. The role is also heavily involved with student retention and success, encouraging teamwork, accountability, and professionalism. Faculty members maintain office hours to engage with students, monitor their progress, provide academic coaching in collaboration with advising staff, and promote student recruitment and completion.

This position requires a faculty member who is deeply committed to education and the culinary and hospitality professions, with experience that bridges academic theory and practical application. Ivy Tech values diversity and expects faculty members to demonstrate respect for diverse perspectives and backgrounds. The instructor must hold professional certification in the culinary or hospitality field and bring at least five years of relevant industry experience. An understanding of food safety practices, preferably through ServSafe certification, along with proficiency in current instructional technologies, is crucial. Educationally, a bachelor’s degree in culinary arts, hospitality management, or a related field is preferred.

Ivy Tech offers a comprehensive benefits package that supports the health, growth, and financial security of its faculty. These benefits include multiple medical plans with health savings accounts, dental and vision coverage, employee assistance programs, retirement contributions, life insurance, disability benefits, tuition remission and assistance, paid professional development, and generous paid time off. The college fosters a supportive work environment emphasizing work-life balance with flexible arrangements when available and dedicated parental leave benefits.

Overall, the Culinary Café Instructor & Hospitality Faculty member position at Ivy Tech Community College is an exciting opportunity for a passionate culinary professional and educator to contribute to student success and the college’s mission. This role is essential not only for teaching but for ensuring that students graduate with the practical skills and professionalism required by today’s culinary and hospitality industries. Faculty members at Ivy Tech take pride in fostering a dynamic learning environment that blends academic excellence with real-world experience, preparing the next generation of culinary and hospitality professionals for rewarding careers.