Instructor - Culinary Arts (emphasis in Savory Foods)

emphasis in Savory Foods • Lake Charles, LA

8d • Hybrid

About The Position

SOWELA is seeking an Instructor for Culinary Arts with an emphasis in Savory Foods to join the School of Business & Applied Technology within Academic Affairs. This is an unclassified, 12-month faculty appointment. The instructor will be responsible for teaching courses, developing curriculum, ensuring student success, and maintaining a professional learning environment. The role requires active participation in local business and industry activities, curriculum review, and evaluation. The instructor will also provide advisement services, evaluate program effectiveness through follow-up data, and demonstrate professional growth. Maintaining current reference materials, a safe learning environment, and requesting necessary equipment and supplies are also key responsibilities. The ideal candidate is a committed, motivated self-starter who can work independently or as part of a team, attend commencement ceremonies, meetings, and prepare reports as needed. Other duties may be assigned.

Requirements

• Associate’s degree in culinary arts.
• Must meet Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) credentialing requirements and American Culinary Federation Education Foundation (ACFEF) credentialing requirements.
• Three years of experience as a full-time culinary professional including supervision of food preparation and/or in teaching culinary arts.
• Ability to adhere to all applicable Louisiana Community and Technical Colleges (LCTC) policies.
• Ability to instruct students in the completion of relevant projects.
• Proficiency in the use of standard office equipment and computers, utilizing a variety of software is essential, including but not limited to the Internet, Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Technology must be used effectively and appropriately in the curriculum.
• Ability to create a positive learning environment for students using innovative, effective, and diverse teaching methods to engage students in their own learning and enhance student success.
• Collaborate effectively with colleagues and students of various cultural (including traditional, non-traditional, and international students) and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Ability to use technology effectively and appropriately in the curriculum.
• Ability to create a positive learning environment for students using innovative, effective, and diverse teaching methods to engage students in their own learning and enhance student success.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues and students of various cultural (including traditional, non-traditional, and international students) and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Ability to ensure tests and other means of assessing the achievement of students are sufficiently accurate.
• Ability to be a committed, motivated self-starter who can initiate and complete work with little supervision and/or as a part of a team on larger projects.
• Promote technical and community college education.
• Ability to make independent decisions while demonstrating good judgment.
• Proficiency in the use of standard office equipment and networked personal computers.
• Proficiency in a variety of software, including but not limited to Microsoft Office.
• Oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to perform basic mathematical computations needed to complete job tasks.
• Skilled at planning, organizing, and prioritizing job duties to meet deadlines.
• Maintaining interpersonal professional working relationships at all levels – students, peers, and Executives.
• Frequent (50% or more) sitting, standing, and walking.
• Reach, stoop, kneel, and crouch as required for filing and storage of office supplies and other work-related equipment.
• Personal computer and related equipment.
• Digital textbook and learning platforms for effective classroom instruction, including but not limited to Canvas learning management system, Zoom, and Webex.
• Use of kitchen equipment.
• Office equipment such as a copier and a telephone.
• Office environment.
• Read and interpret documents and data that may be in small print.
• Perform basic mathematical computations needed to complete job duties.
• Work at least forty (40) hours a week on average, maintaining a physical presence on campus. This includes work on and off campus during the contract period.
• Travel, as required as well as work at different campuses or locations as required.
• ServSafe® certification.
• American Culinary Federation (ACF) certification as a Culinary Educator or eligibility to attain it within two years from date of hire.
• ServSafe® Instructor/Proctor certification required upon hiring.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree in culinary arts or a closely related field.
• Five years of post-secondary teaching experience.
• Online teaching experience.

Responsibilities

• Participates in local business and industry activities.
• Participates in curriculum establishment, review, and evaluation.
• Teaches courses in accordance with the descriptions in the College Catalog and Student Handbook, the syllabi, and the published schedule of classes.
• Utilizes the approved curriculum.
• Develops clearly stated course objectives and learning outcomes.
• Ensures the objectives and content of the courses taught are current.
• Organizes instruction in classrooms, shops, and laboratories as evidenced by course outlines, lesson plans, competency tests, and instructional materials such as textbooks, instruction sheets, and audiovisuals.
• Provides sufficient practice with equipment to develop skill proficiency.
• Utilizes a committee to ensure that desirable, relevant, and current practices of the occupation are being taught.
• Responsible for student completion, placement, and retention rates, ensuring they meet accrediting agencies' standards.
• Responsible for providing training in the competencies essential to success in the occupation, including attitudes, job knowledge, and skills.
• Provides advisement services to assigned advisees.
• Evaluates follow-up data from completers and employers to obtain information concerning program effectiveness and relevance to improve the quality of the program, where needed.
• Demonstrate and encourage professional growth and improvement.
• Demonstrate appropriate work ethic (attendance, cooperation, etc.).
• Project a professional attitude.
• Maintain a professional appearance.
• Maintain current standard reference books, periodicals, and manuals of a business, professional, technical, and industrial nature to facilitate the educational program objectives.
• Maintain a healthful, safe, and secure classroom/lab environment.
• Post emergency evacuation routes in case of natural or other disasters.
• Request adequate equipment and supplies to support the program.
• Ensure all instructional equipment and supplies meet safety standards.
• Ensures tests and other means of assessing student achievement are sufficiently accurate.
• Individual must be a committed, motivated self-starter who can initiate and complete work with little supervision and/or as a part of a team on larger projects.
• Attends all commencement ceremonies.
• Attend meetings and prepare reports, as necessary.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Retirement
• Multiple medical insurance options
• Supplemental insurances (dental, term life, disability, accident, vision, etc.)
• Tax Saver Flexible Benefits Plan (saves tax dollars on some child care and medical expenses)
• Holidays (14 per year, typically includes longer break at Christmas)
• Generous annual (vacation) and sick leave benefits
• Employee Assistance Program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree