Coalition for Food and Health Equity Chef Instructor Jersey City, NJ · Contractor Company website

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The Coalition for Food and Health Equity (CFHE) is a rapidly growing nonprofit organization redefining food access, community health, and racial economic justice across New Jersey and beyond. We believe food is a right, not a privilege — and our programs, from Ujamaa Café, Sankofa, Fresh by Ujamaa Café, and Pals & Produce to Rapid Response and STEM for Good, bring that belief to life. Through community fridges, culturally relevant meals, youth-led innovation, and local partnerships, we connect food, health, and equity into a thriving ecosystem of care. With an ambitious 10-year plan to scale nationwide, CFHE is powered by a collective of bold thinkers, doers, and dreamers who know that equity isn’t charity — it’s structure, strategy, and love in motion.

Chef Instructor (Biweekly Community Cooking Classes)

Organization: Coalition for Food and Health Equity (CFHE)

Program Location: Jersey City

Schedule: Biweekly (recurring)

Audience: Adult novice and beginner home cooks

Compensation: Contract / Part-Time

Position Overview

The Coalition for Food and Health Equity (CFHE) is seeking an engaging, patient, and community-centered Chef Instructor to lead our biweekly cooking classes hosted across Jersey City. This role is ideal for a culinary professional who is passionate about teaching beginner cooks, demystifying the kitchen, and creating welcoming learning environments rooted in joy, dignity, and access.

The Chef Instructor will guide participants through introductory cooking techniques, foundational skills, and approachable recipes spanning a wide variety of cuisines, meals, and food styles, while emphasizing confidence, creativity, and practical application at home.

Key Responsibilities

Instruction & Facilitation

• Lead biweekly, hands-on cooking classes for novice and beginner-level participants
• Teach foundational cooking skills (e.g., knife skills, sautéing, roasting, seasoning, basic sauces)
• Introduce a variety of cuisines, meal types, and cooking methods in an accessible, non-intimidating way
• Demonstrate proper food handling, kitchen safety, and sanitation best practices

Curriculum & Class Preparation

• Collaborate with CFHE staff to develop class menus and lesson plans aligned with program goals
• Prepare recipes that are culturally diverse, nutritionally balanced, and approachable for home kitchens
• Adapt lessons to meet the pace and skill level of participants
• Incorporate plating, presentation, and food aesthetics into instruction

Participant Engagement

• Foster a warm, inclusive, and encouraging learning environment
• Answer questions and provide hands-on guidance during class
• Support participants in building confidence and transferable skills they can use at home
• Maintain a positive, affirming tone that centers learning over perfection

Coordination & Professionalism

• Arrive prepared and on time for all scheduled classes
• Communicate clearly with CFHE program staff regarding needs, ingredients, or adjustments
• Support light setup and cleanup in coordination with venue expectations
• Represent CFHE professionally and in alignment with its mission and values

Required Qualifications

• Professional or demonstrated experience as a chef, cook, culinary instructor, or food educator
• Experience teaching or working with beginner or novice cooking audiences
• Strong understanding of foundational cooking techniques and kitchen safety
• Ability to explain concepts clearly, patiently, and enthusiastically
• Comfort working in a community-based, mission-driven environment

Desired Skills & Attributes

• Experience teaching diverse or intergenerational audiences
• Familiarity with multiple cuisines and culturally responsive cooking
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Warm, engaging teaching style with a passion for food education
• Flexibility and adaptability in a live, hands-on teaching environment
• Alignment with CFHE’s values around equity, access, dignity, and community care

Why This Role Matters

The Chef Instructor plays a key role in helping participants build lifelong skills that support health, creativity, and nourishment at home. If you love teaching, connecting with community, and watching people light up when they realize “I can do this”—this role is for you.