Culinary Program Curriculum Developer

Western Nevada College•Carson City, NV

About The Position

The Culinary Program Curriculum Developer works under the general direction of the Continuing Education Manager, who serves as Project Director for the grant. The Project Director approves the initial work plan, interview protocol, and stakeholder list. The employee then schedules and carries out the work independently, with regular check-ins and quarterly progress reviews. The Project Director reviews and approves all deliverables, including the final pathway structure, credential alignments, and course specifications, before they are used. The position does not supervise other staff. The role engages culinary and hospitality employers and workforce partners; researches employer demand, job postings, and labor-market patterns; designs stackable credential pathways; and prepares course specifications. It also maintains organized records and submits quarterly and final grant reports. Travel within WNC’s service area may be needed for in-person meetings.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in business, economics, education, workforce development, hospitality management, culinary arts, public administration, or a related field; an equivalent combination of education and professional experience in workforce development, labor market research, economic development, or career pathway design may substitute.
At least three years of professional experience in workforce development, labor market or economic research, economic development, career and technical education program design, or employer and industry partnership development.

Nice To Haves

Experience conducting structured interviews or needs assessments with employers, industry groups, or community partners and summarizing findings in written reports.
Ability to collect, analyze, and interpret labor market data such as job postings, wages, and credential requirements.
Strong written communication skills, including writing clear reports and recommendations for decision-makers.
Ability to work independently, manage a project timeline, and meet quarterly deadlines with general direction.
Ability to travel within WNC’s service area, including Carson City, Douglas, Lyon, and Churchill counties and the Lake Tahoe area, for in-person meetings with employers and partners.

Responsibilities

Schedule and conduct structured interviews with at least 15 culinary and hospitality employers across WNC’s service area, document interviews using the approved protocol, and maintain a contact log.
Bring draft pathways to employers for review and feedback, and identify employers interested in an advisory committee, work-based learning, or interviewing graduates.
Combine interview and job-posting data to identify recurring skill gaps, entry points, and advancement barriers, including differences among Tahoe, Carson City, and rural employers.
Design a stackable credential pathway with defined entry and exit points and the job titles and wage ranges associated with each level.
Map each pathway level and course to industry-recognized credentials and develop a credential crosswalk.
Collect and analyze local job postings for culinary, food service, and hospitality roles, tracking job titles, credentials, skills, wages, and hiring volume; use public data such as Nevada DETR and BLS to confirm patterns.
Write a WNC-template specification for each recommended course, including learning outcomes, contact hours, credential alignment, and required kitchen space and equipment; set each course’s build priority.
Brief the curriculum developer on course specifications and answer questions.
Interview at least five workforce and economic development partners and gather information about hiring demand, training gaps, and regional workforce priorities.
Submit quarterly and final reports on schedule and meet regularly with the Project Director to discuss progress, findings, and decisions.
Maintain organized interview, data-source, and contact records for federal grant reporting and records retention, and keep employer interview information confidential.