Part-Time Sous Chef

NorthWest Arkansas Community College; Brightwater (AR); On-site; USD 15,911 - 22,661; Part time

Job summary

NorthWest Arkansas Community College is hiring a Chef Assistant/Sous Chef to support the Chef Instructor and lead children's culinary classes. This role involves setting up cooking activities, ensuring safety compliance, and providing guidance to young campers.

Prospective candidates should have culinary experience, be 18 years or older, and enjoy working with kids. The position offers an hourly pay rate of $14.00. Apply before 7/1/2026 for full consideration.

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Culinary arts or baking experience required.
• Experience working with children is necessary.
• Understanding of food safety is essential.

Responsibilities

• Support Chef Instructor by setting up equipment.
• Monitor campers to ensure compliance with camp rules.
• Check ingredient cart and make a list of missing ingredients.
• Assist with cooking or baking demonstrations.
• Ensure proper food safety.
• Help campers with their recipes as needed.

Skills

Culinary arts experience

Experience with children

Food safety understanding

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

Culinary arts or baking schooling

Job description

NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) provides quality and affordable higher education to empower lives and strengthen communities within Northwest Arkansas and surrounding areas. As the largest community college in Arkansas, NWACC is recognized as a leader in education. NWACC offers a full range of associate degrees, certificates and workforce training programs that prepare students for rewarding futures and careers. NWACC employees are dedicated to fostering a diverse educational community and cultural learning environment that supports student success. Chef assistants/sous chefs provide crucial support to the Chef Instructor. Applicants need to be competent in the kitchen and be willing to lead children participating in culinary consumer based classes/ culinary camps when necessary.

Essential Duties

• Support Chef Instructor by setting up equipment and mis en place for daily cooking/baking activities
• Monitor customers/campers to ensure compliance with camp rules and ensure safety
• Check ingredient cart and make a list of any missing ingredients
• Assist with and/or lead cooking or baking demos with oversight from Chef Instructor as needed
• Ensure proper food safety
• Help customer campers with their recipes as needed, and assist with plating up for lunch or snack
• Prep recipes
• Assist with cleaning tasks as needed
• Additional duties may be assigned as necessary to support the goals and objectives of the department and college

Rate of Pay

$14.00 hourly

Completed applications received by 7/1/2026 will be assured full consideration. Late Applications will be reviewed as necessary to fill the position.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be 18 years of age or older
• Culinary arts or baking experience or schooling
• Experience working with children
• Understanding of food safety

Preferred Qualifications

• Food safety certification is helpful, but not required

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• To succeed as a chef assistant, the candidate should be confident in the kitchen or bakeshop, upbeat, responsible, and enjoy working with kids
• This position provides a great opportunity to develop leadership skills
• Ability to pass a background check, and proof of immunizations
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• High level of responsibility and accountability
• Upbeat and positive attitude

Physical Demands

The following physical activities described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and expectations.

The Employee Must Be Able To

• Lift and/or move up to 50 pounds such as cases of food items or kitchen equipment.
• Push or pull items such as kitchen carts and equipment.
• Interact with other staff members.
• Climb a step stool or ladder and reach above shoulders.
• Ability to frequently stand and walk; bend, stoop, squat, kneel and reach overhead.
• Reach above the head and reach forward.
• Stand, walk, use hands and fingers to handle, or feel objects, equipment, or controls; use hand strength to grasp items; and to talk and hear.
• Frequently bend or twist at the neck and turn.

Environmental Conditions

The following work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

NWACC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, please see our EEO policy.