Food and Culinary Literacy Educator

• CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
• CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
• If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click "Apply" and complete the application process for external applicants.

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location.For additional information on remote work at Penn State, seeNotice to Out of State Applicants.

POSITION SPECIFICS

TheSustainable Food SystemsInitiativeat Penn State, University Park, PA, seeks one full-timeFood andCulinary Literacy Educatorwho willfacilitatefood literacyprogramming forstudents to actively engage with the campus and community food system.This position reports directly to the Associate Director for Farm and Food Systems.

The Sustainable Food Systems Initiative is across-institutionalsustainability and leadership development initiative of Penn State Student Affairs. Annually, our programs engage with 40+academiccourses; dozens of community events, tours, and volunteer days; multiple student-led research projects; and 60+ student leaders.Community partners include groups such as food pantries, community gardens, area non-profits, and local farms.

We areseekinga passionate and experiencedFood and Culinary LiteracyEducatorto lead ourfoodliteracyprogramsforuniversitystudents. This role blends culinaryand nutritionexpertisewith education,sustainability, and wellness. The ideal candidate will inspire students to make informed,healthy, and sustainable food choices through hands-on cooking classes, workshops, and interactive demonstrations,with a strong emphasis on seasonal cooking using produce from our campus farm, reducing food waste, and building lifelong food skills.The ideal candidate will additionally mentor studentsto provide peer-to-peer learning and engagement in these areas.

Student Engagement, Education and Outreach Programs

• Coordinate programming aimed at engaging students in co-curricular activities in sustainable food systems,facilitatingpartnerships between student organizations and community groups, and for building food systemsliteracy competence

• Develop and delivercampus- and community-wide eventssuch ashands-on cooking classes,cooking competitions, guest chef nights, and food-themed wellness fairsto support student and community exploration in foodliteracytopics; support student leadership and learning in event planning

• Maintain a safe, clean, and inclusive kitchen learning environment

• Oversee students in supply chainlogisticsto recover and redistribute food, especially through co-advising of our campus Food Recovery Network

• Supportinternshipsand immersive experiences on relevant foodliteracyprojects on campus

• Directly supervisepart-timestaff in developing, planning, andmaintainingcommunity partnerships and learning opportunities for students to engage with the community food system

• Develop students'leadership skills and support their leadership in the program throughpeer-to-peercampus and community initiatives, andassistin the recruitment and retention of student leaders

Campus Food Systems Support

• Supportstudent, staff, and facultyconnectionandorganizationacross departments and units relevant to foodliteracy; develop andmaintainnewacademic department and student/community organizationpartnerships tangential to foodliteracy(i.e.,health and wellness; cultural foodways and identity)

• Lead planning and developmentofstudent engagement programmingat all institutional levels

• Ensureequitableaccess to foodsystems-related resources and university assets for students across campus

Student Intern Supervision

• Supervise student interns in work with multiple academic and support units, such as Nutrition or Hospitality Management

• Facilitate intern tasks and actively connect them to learningobjectivesand outcomes (cookingevent planning,food security project development)

Program Marketing and Assessment

• Provide support tothe programmarketing and communications team as needed

• Track and document relevant programmatic metrics and data

• Utilize assessments toidentifygaps andcontinuouslyimprove a comprehensive food literacy curriculumtailored to college students

• Perform other related duties as necessary

ManageBudgets

• Manage programming and events budgets, and event contracts

• Support students in grant applications,fundraising, and other funding goals

• Provide recommendations for budgetary projections, allocations, and future needs

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor'sdegreein a relevant field(nutrition, hospitality management, culinary arts, etc.),credentialed as aRegistered Dietitian (RD)with strongculinary skills preferred.

• Excellentinterpersonal,verbal, and written communication skills. Must be proficient in Microsoft Office programs such as Word, Outlook, PowerPoint,Excel, and Teams

• Experience working with students in youth or college settings, including support for diverse student populations and strongcustomer serviceskills

• Experience developing and leading workshops,courses, or curricularelated to food systems, foodliteracy, and community engagement

• Experience with plant-based or culturally diverse cuisines, farm-based culinary settings, andorfood security issues is a plus

• Marketingandsocial media knowledge preferred

• Highly organized,able to work with minimalsupervision on work assignments,and able to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced work environment

• Must be able to work in a variety of outdoor conditions, including exposure to heat, cold, and inclement weather.

• Must be able to safely lift and carry up to 40 pounds and perform physical activities such as bending, lifting, and twisting as part of the job duties

• ServSafeor equivalent food safety certification (or willingness to obtain)

• Must possess a valid driver's license and have reliable transportation for work-related travel.

Any successful candidate will need to be a detail-oriented leader and manager who can work collaboratively with a broad spectrum of partners, whopossessexcellent written and oral communication skills, a high degree of intercultural competence, and enthusiasm for working with students.The successful candidate will also need a willingness to work varied and non-traditional hours, including evenings andweekends,to support educational programming.

MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS

Application Requirements

Pleasesubmita cover letter,resume, and contact information for two references through PSU Workday.

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

SALARY & BENEFITS

Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.

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