Culinary Instructor - Cook

Springs Rescue Mission•Colorado Springs, CO

About The Position

Springs Rescue Mission is seeking a Culinary Instructor to help facilitate training across kitchen functions and food service work initiatives. The instructor assists the Food Services team with preparing and providing meals and quality hospitality services for SRM programs, clients, residents, guests, and the Colorado Springs community. The role supports Culinary Arts students through hands-on instruction and encourages their personal and interpersonal growth in a Christian environment. It also involves training and overseeing volunteers, maintaining food safety and documentation standards, and supporting SRM’s mission to serve people experiencing homelessness, addiction, mental illness, and poverty. The position requires frequent standing, reaching, bending, carrying, and lifting up to 50 pounds, with occasional climbing. The instructor uses commercial kitchen equipment and office and point-of-sale tools. The stated pay is $18.00 per hour, depending on experience (DOE).

Requirements

High school degree or equivalent.
At least three years of experience supervising or cooking in a professional kitchen.
Associate degree from an accredited institution or equivalent applicable work experience.
Maintain a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, be a constant witness, exemplify Christian character, and uphold SRM’s Statement of Faith.
Demonstrate a Christ-centered, compassionate attitude and treat people, including people experiencing homelessness, with dignity and respect.
Strong leadership skills and extensive cooking knowledge and hands-on experience.
Ability to teach culinary arts through hands-on demonstration.
Knowledge of critical food safety and handling practices, including ServSafe practices and applicable state, county, and city regulations.
Ability to prepare tasteful, attractively presented meals while following standard recipes and procedures.
Good eye-hand motor skills; precision, care, and safety consciousness.
Clear written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to promote teamwork and apply problem-solving skills.
Ability to work with diverse groups of people.
Computer literacy, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and ability to learn new programs.
Valid Colorado driver’s license.
Ability to meet the stated physical demands, including frequently lifting up to 50 pounds.

Nice To Haves

ServSafe certification preferred; certification must be obtained within six months of employment.
American Culinary Federation or National Restaurant Association affiliation.
Previous experience working with people experiencing homelessness, addiction, or mental illness.
Knowledge of 12-step programs, recovery, or mental illness.

Responsibilities

Assist in training SRM Culinary Arts students through work initiatives, encouraging their growth and development and facilitating teamwork, time management, and problem resolution.
Support Culinary Arts students’ interpersonal growth in a Christian environment.
Prepare meals through culinary arts training for SRM guests, clients, and residents.
Train and oversee volunteers, communicate effectively with unpaid staff, and support volunteer training, recognition, and meaningful engagement.
Ensure proper use, cleaning, and storage of equipment.
Assist with food ordering and donation intake; ensure proper food handling, storage, and documentation.
Follow established health and safety standards and procedures, including USDA, OSHA, and ServSafe requirements.
Inspect food deliveries for freshness and quality upon arrival.
Ensure food service documentation is correctly entered and stored.
Prepare and submit formal and informal reports or presentations to the Executive Chef, Management Team, external audiences, or other groups as requested.
Attend required or expected meetings and regularly review SRM emails.
Perform duties on an ongoing and rotational basis; management may add, remove, or change responsibilities.

Benefits

Medical coverage, with Springs Rescue Mission covering 78% of the employee premium on the base medical plan.
Voluntary dental and vision coverage.
Employer-paid life insurance.
403(b) retirement plan with employer matching contributions up to 5% after one year of employment; 100% vesting begins on the date of hire.
Voluntary Group Accident Plan.
Eight paid holidays.
Paid time off beginning at 21 days annually, accrued each pay period, subject to the stated accrual, balance, and rollover limits.
Employer-paid long-term disability.
Pay on Demand option.
Tuition assistance of up to $12,000 per year, subject to the current tuition policy.