Adjunct Instructor – Culinary Arts

Tennessee Board of Regents; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 35,000 - 65,000; Part time

Job summary

Pellissippi State Community College is seeking an experienced Adjunct Culinary Instructor to lead hands-on cooking courses, guiding students through foundational and advanced techniques to prepare for culinary careers. You will teach in the Culinary Arts department, plan demonstrations, and assess student progress in a dynamic kitchen classroom.

The role emphasizes safety, teamwork, and staying current with industry practices, with opportunities to contribute to course offerings and student

Qualifications

• Associate's degree or higher in Culinary Arts, Hospitality Management, or related field, or equivalent industry experience.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in the culinary industry, including kitchen management and food preparation.
• Teaching experience at the college level preferred, but not required.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
• Ability to withstand 10 plus hours on your feet.
• Current ServSafe certification (or equivalent food safety certification) preferred.
• Passion for teaching and mentoring students pursuing careers in the culinary arts.

Responsibilities

• Teach assigned culinary courses in alignment with the department's curriculum.
• Provide instruction on a variety of culinary techniques, including knife skills, cooking methods, and food safety.
• Plan and execute class lectures, practical demonstrations, and assessments.
• Foster a positive, supportive learning environment that encourages student engagement and growth.
• Assess student performance, provide constructive feedback, and offer mentorship and guidance.
• Maintain a professional kitchen environment, ensuring safety and cleanliness standards are upheld.
• Collaborate with full‑time faculty and staff to continuously improve course offerings.
• Stay current on culinary trends and industry best practices.
• Assist culinary staff in planning and execution of off‑site catering events

Skills

Strong communication

Team collaboration

Teaching ability

Stamina standing 10+ hours

Education

Associate's degree or higher in Culinary Arts or related field

Equivalent industry experience

Tools

ServSafe certification

Job description

Title: Adjunct Instructor – Culinary Arts

Required Documents Needed to Upload at Time of Application:

• Resume
• Unofficial Transcripts

Position Summary:

The Pellissippi State Culinary Institute is seeking an experienced and passionate culinary professional to join our team as an Adjunct Culinary Instructor. The successful candidate will be responsible for teaching hands‑on culinary courses, guiding students through foundational and advanced cooking techniques, and preparing them for careers in the culinary industry. This position requires an individual with a strong background in culinary arts, excellent communication skills, and a commitment to student success.

Department:

Culinary Arts

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Teach assigned culinary courses in alignment with the department's curriculum.
• Provide instruction on a variety of culinary techniques, including knife skills, cooking methods, and food safety.
• Plan and execute class lectures, practical demonstrations, and assessments.
• Foster a positive, supportive learning environment that encourages student engagement and growth.
• Assess student performance, provide constructive feedback, and offer mentorship and guidance.
• Maintain a professional kitchen environment, ensuring safety and cleanliness standards are upheld.
• Collaborate with full‑time faculty and staff to continuously improve course offerings.
• Stay current on culinary trends and industry best practices.
• Assist culinary staff in planning and execution of off‑site catering events

This position requires the ability to stand, walk, sit, manipulate kitchen instruments with the hands, operate a variety of kitchen equipment, and generally be mobile 100% of the time while on and between campuses. The position requires the ability to lift bulk food products and equipment or supplies (which could include items weighing up to 50 pounds).

This position requires the ability to hear. In a relatively noisy kitchen environment, this position must be able to hear a student who has injured him/herself and requires immediate medical attention. The position requires the ability to communicate orally with others in the English language and to understand responses given.

This position requires visual acuity. In an active kitchen with multiple students engaged in different tasks, this position must be able to observe and stop any activity that is potentially dangerous or poses a risk to health and safety.

The position requires the ability to determine if food items are prepared properly (appealing to the eye of a customer or judge) or fit to be used (not spoiled or rotten). The position must be able to visually judge student work effectively. This position requires the ability to tolerate frequent temperature shifts (frozen to extreme heat), ability to drive a vehicle, and work both indoors and outdoors. The work environment is usually either a commercial kitchen or a classroom.

1. 1. Planning and teaching classes as assigned and as outlined in the course descriptions and course syllabi.
2. 2. Supervising the study and learning activities of students assigned.
3. 3. Submitting requests through the department head, program coordinator, or lead teacher for equipment, supplies, textbooks, and other instructional aids.
4. 4. Evaluating the academic progress of students.
5. 5. Demonstrating knowledge of services, regulations, and procedures as defined in the Adjunct Faculty Handbook.
6. 6. Submitting course grades and performing other administrative duties as required.
7. 7. Scheduling two office hours. For extenuating circumstances in which office hours cannot be scheduled, the adjunct faculty member must submit a written plan to the Dean describing how students can access the instructor. Office hours are not paid during the summer session.

Required Qualifications:

• Associate's degree or higher in Culinary Arts, Hospitality Management, or related field, or equivalent industry experience.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in the culinary industry, including experience in kitchen management and food preparation.
• Teaching experience at the college level preferred, but not required.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
• Ability to withstand 10 plus hours on your feet
• Current ServSafe certification (or equivalent food safety certification) preferred.
• Passion for teaching and mentoring students pursuing careers in the culinary arts.

Note: The College reserves the right to assign every employee work that fulfills the strategic priorities and mission of the College

Availability/Closing Date:

This posting is not a guarantee of an open position. Applications for adjunct faculty positions are accepted continuously and reviewed by the department if openings are available. Adjuncts are hired on an as‑needed basis. Future teaching assignments are on a term‑by‑term basis, which may include fall, spring, and summer. Postings close yearly on January 31; to maintain your application within the system, you will need to re‑apply each year.

Pellissippi State Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, disability, age (40+), status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or any other class protected by Federal or State laws and regulations and by Tennessee Board of Regents policies concerning all employment and education programs and activities. View the nondiscrimination policy. For questions or concerns, please contact George Underwood at [e-mail] or 865-539-7354.

Pellissippi State Community College participates in the E-Verify program, a free, web-based system that electronically confirms the identity and employment eligibility of new hires. By using E-Verify, we ensure compliance with federal employment eligibility verification requirements and help maintain a legal workforce. For more information, visit the official E-Verify website Home | E-Verify.

If you have any problems or questions, please contact Pellissippi State Community College’s Human Resource Office at 865-694-6607 or by email at [e-mail].

Advertised: 01 Feb 2026 Eastern Standard Time

Applications close: 31 Jan 2027 Eastern Standard Time