Company description

Culinary Artistas was founded on the idea that cooking is a language that connects us to our cultures, bodies, minds, souls, and most of all, to each other. Our vision is to create an inspiring and inclusive space for people to celebrate, cook and explore. We are located in San Francisco’s historic Ghirardelli Square, a place that exemplifies our beautiful city’s celebrated food culture.

We host corporate events, venue rentals, team building, pop-ups, events, cooking classes, competitions, and more in our studio space. We also offer kids cooking classes and camps that enable kids to explore the world of real foods, expand their palates, and forge a lifelong healthy relationship with cooking and eating.

We are a fantastic team of educators, chefs, events managers and parents that work together to create an exceptional experience grounded in inclusivity, creativity and celebration. Please come by and say hi - we’d love to meet you!

Job description

Overview
Culinary Artistas is looking for an energetic, adaptable, and inspiring Lead Culinary Educator to bring our youth culinary camps to life this summer! Our camps serve up to 26 kids, ages 4–10, and are designed to spark curiosity, inspire young chefs, and connect children to cooking, culture, and each other through hands-on experiences. As a Lead Culinary Educator, you will co-lead camp alongside the Lead Program Educator, managing all things in the kitchen—executing menus, teaching hands-on cooking to campers, managing operations, and mentoring assistants and CITs. We’re looking for someone who can run a safe, organized, high-energy kitchen while making cooking joyful, inclusive, and inspiring for every camper.

Commitment:
For San Francisco Camps

• Location: Ghirardelli Square (851 Beach Street, San Francisco)
• Shifts: June 8 – August 28, 2026; Monday–Friday, 8:00/8:30 am – 3:30/4:00 pm
• Duration & Availability: Must be available at least 10 weeks (full summer availability is preferred); you will be assigned 6–8 weeks

‍For East Bay Camps

• Location: Albany Community Center and Piedmont Community Center
• Shifts: June 8 – August 7, 2026; Monday–Friday, 12:00 – 4:30/5:00 pm
• Duration & Availability: Must be available for full duration; you will be assigned 4–8 weeks

Responsibilities

Kitchen Leadership & Instruction

• Lead mise en place and prep operations for all daily meals (2 cooking sessions: brunch, lunch/dessert)
• Execute daily culinary lessons for breakfast, lunch, and snack/dessert. Recipes are pre-developed; breakfast and snacks/desserts repeat weekly, while lunch follows a rotating three-week cycle.
• Introduce and demonstrate tangible, memorable cooking techniques to campers
• Serve as the “Lead Culinary Educator” during cooking activities, teaching the high-level recipe, breaking it down step by step, and connecting campers to its history, culture, key flavors, and nutritional highlights.
• Guide up to 26 campers in 2–4 age-based stations, with one staff member supporting each group. We maintain a minimum of 6:1 ratio.
• Translate recipes into age-appropriate culinary lessons and activities
• Oversee kitchen safety and cleanliness standards
• Manage food inventory and preparation schedules
• Co-lead daily post-camp feedback circles with Lead Program Educator

Team Leadership & Management

• Maintain close, ongoing collaboration and constant communication with the Lead Program Educator throughout the camp day — this partnership is essential to camp success.
• Lead, train, and supervise Assistant Culinary Educator and kitchen support staff
• Delegate daily setup, activity, and closing tasks in the kitchen
• Oversee staff schedules, including break rotations
• Monitor performance and provide real-time guidance and daily feedback in closing feedback circle (alongside Lead Program Educator)
• Train and supervise staff and campers in kitchen procedures and safety
• Coordinate with culinary and program staff on integrated programming and scheduling
• Mentor teenage CITs (ages 12–16) and interns in leadership, responsibility, and kitchen skills

Safety & Operations

• Coordinate with camp leadership on dietary restrictions and food allergies, taking full responsibility for implementation
• Maintain kitchen safety protocols and standards
• Ensure proper food handling and storage procedures
• Monitor and maintain kitchen equipment
• Implement and oversee cleaning schedules
• Manage kitchen inventory and supply orders

Schedule Management

• Morning mise en place and kitchen prep (before 8:50am)
• Lead brunch preparation (10:00–10:45am)
• Direct lunch preparation (11:30–12:45pm)
• Prep and facilitate afternoon snack and dessert service
• Manage kitchen transitions and cleanup procedures
• Own Kitchen Cleanup (3:00–3:30pm), actively ensuring the space is fully cleaned before departure, with help from staff and CITs
• Co-lead daily post-camp debrief (3:30pm)

‍Skills + Experience Required

• 3+ years of professional culinary experience in a leadership role
• Proven experience working directly with or teaching children ages 4–10 (non-negotiable)
• Ability to incorporate holistic nutrition concepts into lessons and activities
• Strong knowledge of kitchen safety and food handling procedures
• Experience managing kitchen operations and leading staff
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Ability to adapt recipes and lessons for young chefs
• Experience taking full ownership of dietary restrictions and allergy management
• Previous experience supervising and leading staff or volunteers
• Demonstrated ability to mentor young teenage leaders (CITs)
• Must complete Live Scan background check (reimbursed)
• Current First Aid/CPR certification (or willing to obtain)
• Current Food Handler's certification
• COVID-19 vaccination required

You Are…

• A champion of our Code of Conduct: clear, honest, kind, and growth-oriented; a proactive team player who communicates respectfully
• Passionate about food, culture, and teaching, with a love for inspiring kids and creating fun, engaging learning experiences
• Inspired to bring our “intuitive cooking” approach to life, helping young chefs trust their instincts and explore global flavors.
• Committed to fostering an inclusive environment where every child feels welcome
• Patient, encouraging, and confident managing a high-energy kitchen with 26 campers
• Highly reliable, organized, and adaptable—balancing multiple tasks, solving problems on the fly, and keeping operations running smoothly with minimal guidance
• Confident and decisive when leading groups or modifying activities, calm under pressure, and a natural team leader
• Calm under pressure and a natural team leader
• Able to stand for long periods and lift up to 50 pounds

Compensation

this position is: hourly, varies DOE, $28.00 - $32.00

Application instructions

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Deadline

May 31, 2026