Wellness Exchange Program Specialist

Center for People•Lincoln, NE

10d•Onsite

About The Position

The Wellness Exchange Program Specialist supports the delivery of community-based nutrition, wellness, and self-sufficiency programming at the Center for People. This position plays a key role in facilitating hands-on learning experiences that help individuals and families build practical skills related to healthy cooking, nutrition, food budgeting, and small-scale food production. Working closely with the Wellness Exchange Program Manager, the Specialist helps implement educational programming designed to improve food security, health outcomes, and long-term independence. Programming may include cooking demonstrations, nutrition workshops, food preparation instruction, and introductory gardening or food-growing education. This role serves as a primary facilitator and educator, translating program design into accessible and engaging learning experiences. The Specialist helps create welcoming, dignity-centered learning environments that encourage curiosity, participation, and practical skill-building. The Wellness Exchange Program Specialist approaches all programming with cultural humility and an understanding that food traditions, cooking practices, and wellness perspectives vary across cultures and communities. Educational sessions intentionally incorporate culturally diverse ingredients, recipes, and food traditions to reflect the experiences of participants while expanding access to healthy and affordable food options. This position regularly works with individuals and families experiencing poverty, food insecurity, housing instability, or other barriers. The Specialist demonstrates empathy, patience, and trauma-informed awareness while fostering a respectful and inclusive space where participants feel safe to learn and participate. All interactions are guided by dignity, respect, and a strengths-based mindset that recognizes the knowledge, resilience, and lived experiences individuals bring to the learning environment.

Requirements

Strong facilitation and group engagement skills
Ability to teach practical cooking, nutrition, and gardening skills in clear, accessible language
Knowledge of basic nutrition principles, food preparation, and safe food handling practices
Ability to adapt lessons and recipes based on available ingredients and participant needs
Cultural humility and respect for diverse food traditions and lived experiences
Ability to work effectively and compassionately with individuals experiencing poverty or food insecurity
Strong interpersonal and communication skills
Ability to work independently while collaborating with program leadership
Creativity, adaptability, and problem-solving in hands-on learning environments
Commitment to dignity-centered service and community empowerment

Nice To Haves

Education or experience in Nutrition, Culinary Arts, Public Health, Community Health, Education, Horticulture, or a related field
Experience facilitating cooking classes, nutrition workshops, or community education programs
Experience teaching gardening or food-growing concepts
Experience working with individuals experiencing economic hardship or food insecurity
ServSafe or other food safety certification (or willingness to obtain)
Experience in community-based or adult learning environment.

Responsibilities

Facilitate hands-on workshops focused on cooking, nutrition, meal preparation, and practical food skills
Demonstrate safe food handling practices, cooking techniques, and efficient kitchen skills
Lead interactive sessions that emphasize low-cost, accessible meal preparation using commonly available ingredients
Teach participants how to prepare nutritious meals with limited equipment or restricted kitchen access
Integrate culturally diverse foods, recipes, and cooking traditions into educational programming
Encourage participant engagement, discussion, and peer learning during sessions
Support instruction in basic gardening, container growing, and small-space food production
Demonstrate practical growing techniques such as planting, watering, harvesting, and seasonal crop care
Assist with maintaining any program gardens, planting areas, or demonstration spaces
Provide participants with simple strategies for growing food in limited or urban environments
Teach foundational nutrition concepts in an accessible and practical format
Facilitate lessons on meal planning, food budgeting, and stretching limited food resources
Provide guidance on food storage, pantry organization, and reducing food waste
Help participants identify nutritious and affordable food options available in the community
Support the Wellness Exchange Program Manager in implementing program initiatives and educational activities
Prepare materials, ingredients, and supplies for workshops and demonstrations
Assist with setup, organization, and cleanup of kitchens, classrooms, and program spaces
Assist with ongoing revenue streams, not limited to, but including ImpactFuel Boxes, virtual cooking classes, and any to-be-developed projects
Help maintain organization and inventory of program supplies and educational materials
Foster a welcoming and inclusive learning environment for participants from diverse backgrounds
Engage respectfully with individuals experiencing economic hardship or life instability
Encourage confidence, curiosity, and skill-building through hands-on participation
Approach all interactions with dignity, cultural awareness, and a strengths-based perspective
Observe participant engagement and learning outcomes during sessions
Share insights and feedback with the Wellness Exchange Program Manager to improve programming
Assist with gathering participant feedback and basic participation data
Help test new workshop ideas, recipes, and learning activities
Assist in developing simple educational materials such as recipes, handouts, and workshop guides
Adapt recipes to work with pantry foods or affordable ingredients
Help create practical tools and resources participants can use at home