Instructor - Culinary Arts (emphasis in Savory Foods)

Louisiana Community and Technical College System • Lake Charles, LA

10d • Hybrid

About The Position

SOWELA Technical Community College is seeking a qualified individual to join the Academic Affairs department as an Instructor in Culinary Arts, with an emphasis in Savory Foods. This is an unclassified, 12-month faculty appointment. The instructor will be responsible for teaching courses, developing curriculum, and ensuring student success in accordance with college and accrediting agency standards. The role involves active participation in local business and industry activities, providing advisement services, and evaluating program effectiveness. The instructor must maintain a safe and effective learning environment, request necessary equipment and supplies, and demonstrate professional growth and a strong work ethic. The position requires the ability to work independently and as part of a team, attend all commencement ceremonies, and perform other assigned duties.

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. Much of faculty work occurs at designated times each week (such as classes, office hours, meetings, etc.). However, the workload of a professional educator at the college level requires that the hours a faculty member fulfills their non-scheduled responsibilities will be based on effective communication and approval from one’s supervisor. Since the College offers learning opportunities seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day, and because in certain instances faculty work can be accomplished off campus, an 8 to 5, Monday through Friday schedule may be impractical. Therefore, in these instances and upon approval by the instructor’s assigned supervisor, a typical faculty member may have a work schedule which varies from semester to semester (scheduled responsibilities) and week to week (non-scheduled responsibilities) to best accommodate student learning, professional development, and service to the College.
• 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. The committee is composed of at least three members external to the College, meets at least twice per year, and keeps minutes to document committee activities.
• 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: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree