Chef Instructor

Advocate Health Care; Barrington (IL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Advocate Health Care in Barrington, IL seeks a skilled culinary instructor to design and deliver engaging courses aligned with educational standards. You will lead hands-on cooking sessions, maintain safety and sanitation, tailor demonstrations, and support participants through the full learning experience.

The role requires a Serve Safe Certification, an associate degree in culinary arts, and teaching experience; experience in a team-based clinical environment is valued.

Qualifications

• Must have problem solving and decision-making skills.
• Proficiency in meat roasting and preparation of sauces, gravies, vegetables, meats, cereal, hors d’oeuvres, eggs, soup, casseroles, frying, broiling, steaming, baking, and grilling.
• Experience working in a team-based or clinical environment.
• Experience teaching participants both in-person and virtually.
• 3 or more years of teaching experience.
• 3 or more years of experience in a large volume food preparation and distribution operation.
• Serve Safe Certification required at hire.

Responsibilities

• Designs and develops engaging culinary courses and curricula that align with educational standards and participants' needs. Delivers clear and concise lectures, demonstrating cooking techniques, and guiding participants through hands-on exercises and facilitating discussions.
• Ensures a safe and clean working environment by adhering to food safety regulations and maintaining kitchen equipment. Completes weekly sanitation checklist and develops action plans as needed.
• Monitors the atmosphere of the location to include music, scent, lighting, temperature, and overall cleanliness; adjusts as necessary to participants' needs or preferences.
• Anticipates the needs of class participants; sets up each participant's station to support the curriculum and ensures that they remain engaged throughout their entire experience.
• Monitors general department operations, establishes work reschedules, issues daily work assignments and responds to requests for service.
• Prepares general and special diet items in accordance with established standardized recipes. Decides on recipe ingredient substitutions or garnishes based on diet requirements.
• Estimates food requirements and controls serving portions, eliminating waste and leftovers. Reviews weekly food usage and completes weekly inventory. Completes class production forecasting sheet.
• Prepares catered and specialized events including luncheons, buffets, and dinners as needed.

Skills

Culinary teaching

Food safety

Menu planning

Team collaboration

Bilingual

Education

Associate degree in culinary arts

Job description

• Designs and develops engaging culinary courses and curricula that align with educational standards and participants' needs. Delivers clear and concise lectures, demonstrating cooking techniques, and guiding participants through hands-on exercises and facilitating discussions.
• Ensures a safe and clean working environment by adhering to food safety regulations and maintaining kitchen equipment. Completes weekly sanitation checklist and develops action plans as needed.
• Monitors the atmosphere of the location to include music, scent, lighting, temperature, and overall cleanliness; adjusts as necessary to participants' needs or preferences.
• Anticipates the needs of class participants; sets up each participant's station to support the curriculum and ensures that they remain engaged throughout their entire experience.
• Monitors general department operations, establishes work reschedules, issues daily work assignments and responds to requests for service.
• Prepares general and special diet items in accordance with established standardized recipes. Decides on recipe ingredient substitutions or garnishes based on diet requirements.
• Estimates food requirements and controls serving portions, eliminating waste and leftovers. Reviews weekly food usage and completes weekly inventory. Completes class production forecasting sheet.
• Prepares catered and specialized events including luncheons, buffets, and dinners as needed.

Major Responsibilities

• Designs and develops engaging culinary courses and curricula that align with educational standards and participants' needs. Delivers clear and concise lectures, demonstrating cooking techniques, and guiding participants through hands-on exercises and facilitating discussions.
• Ensures a safe and clean working environment by adhering to food safety regulations and maintaining kitchen equipment. Completes weekly sanitation checklist and develops action plans as needed.
• Monitors the atmosphere of the location to include music, scent, lighting, temperature, and overall cleanliness; adjusts as necessary to participants' needs or preferences.
• Anticipates the needs of class participants; sets up each participant's station to support the curriculum and ensures that they remain engaged throughout their entire experience.
• Monitors general department operations, establishes work reschedules, issues daily work assignments and responds to requests for service.
• Prepares general and special diet items in accordance with established standardized recipes. Decides on recipe ingredient substitutions or garnishes based on diet requirements.
• Estimates food requirements and controls serving portions, eliminating waste and leftovers. Reviews weekly food usage and completes weekly inventory. Completes class production forecasting sheet.
• Prepares catered and specialized events including luncheons, buffets, and dinners as needed.

Licensure, Registration, And/or Certification Required

• Serve Safe Certification required at hire.

Education Required

• Associate’s degree in culinary arts or related field, or equivalent experience.

Experience Required

• 1 year of culinary teaching or related teaching experience required.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required

• Must have problem solving and decision‑making skills.
• Proficiency in meat roasting and preparation of sauces, gravies, vegetables, meats, cereal, hors d’oeuvres, eggs, soup, casseroles, frying, broiling, steaming, baking, and grilling.

Physical Requirements And Working Conditions

• Operates all equipment necessary to perform the duties of the job.
• Stands, walks, and reaches above shoulders the majority of the workday as well as squats, bends, twists, kneels and climbs throughout.
• Continuously lifts up to 10 lbs., frequently lifts up to 20 lbs. and occasionally lifts up to 50 lbs.
• Working atmosphere may contain odors from food and dust from flour, spices, etc.
• May be exposed to mechanical, electrical and chemical hazards. Protective clothing must be worn as necessary.
• Will be exposed to sharp knives, other sharp cooking utensils, heat from ovens and other hazards in a cooking environment.

Preferred Job Requirements

• Experience working in a team-based or clinical environment
• Experience teaching participants both in-person and virtually
• 3 or more years of teaching experience
• 3 or more years of experience in a large volume food preparation and distribution operation.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required

• Bilingual preferred

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.