Company description

The Student Farm and Food Systems program views our own Penn State campus food system as a living laboratory for engagement in sustainable food and agricultural systems. We link classroom education with experiential learning, student-led research and community outreach.

We grow plants, and so much more…student leaders, community, and food! Core components of the SFSN include a working Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Student Farm, a highly active Student Farm Club and Food Recovery Network chapter, a Food Systems minor, close partnership with the Lion’s Pantry and course collaborations across Penn State academics and operations. The SFSN is a launching point for conversations about many issues, including food security, food waste, and other pressing issues of our time.

Job description

The Student Farm and Food Systems Program at Penn State, University Park, PA, seeks one full-time Food and Culinary Literacy Educator who will facilitate food literacy programming for students to actively engage with the campus and community food system. This position reports directly to the Associate Director for Farm and Food Systems.

We are seeking a passionate and experienced Food and Culinary Literacy Educator to lead our food literacy programs for university students. This role blends culinary and nutrition expertise with 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 students to 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, facilitating partnerships between student organizations and community groups, and for building food systems literacy competence
Develop and deliver campus- and community-wide events such as hands-on cooking classes, cooking competitions, guest chef nights, and food-themed wellness fairs to support student and community exploration in food literacy topics; support student leadership and learning in event planning
Maintain a safe, clean, and inclusive kitchen learning environment
Oversee students in supply chain logistics to recover and redistribute food, especially through co-advising of our campus Food Recovery Network
Support internships and immersive experiences on relevant food literacy projects on campus
Directly supervise part-time staff in developing, planning, and maintaining community partnerships and learning opportunities for students to engage with the community food system
Develop students’ leadership skills and support their leadership in the program through peer-to-peer campus and community initiatives, and assist in the recruitment and retention of student leaders

Campus Food Systems Support

Support student, staff, and faculty connection and organization across departments and units relevant to food literacy; develop and maintain new academic department and student/community organization partnerships tangential to food literacy (i.e., health and wellness; cultural foodways and identity)
Lead planning and development of student engagement programming at all institutional levels
Ensure equitable access to food systems-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 learning objectives and outcomes (cooking event planning, food security project development)

Program Marketing and Assessment

Provide support to the program marketing and communications team as needed
Track and document relevant programmatic metrics and data
Utilize assessments to identify gaps and continuously improve a comprehensive food literacy curriculum  tailored to college students
Perform other related duties as necessary

Manage Budgets

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's degree in a relevant field (nutrition, hospitality management, culinary arts, etc.), credentialed as a  Registered Dietitian (RD) with strong culinary skills preferred.
Excellent interpersonal, 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 strong customer service skills
Experience developing and leading workshops, courses, or curricula related to food systems, food literacy, and community engagement
Experience with plant-based or culturally diverse cuisines, farm-based culinary settings, and or food security issues is a plus
Marketing and social media knowledge preferred
Highly organized, able to work with minimal supervision 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
Food safety certification (or willingness to obtain)
Must possess a valid driver’s license and be able to travel for travel.

Any successful candidate will need to be a detail-oriented leader and manager who can work collaboratively with a broad spectrum of partners, who possess excellent 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 and weekends, to support educational programming.

Compensation

this position is: salaried, $50,000 - $75,000

Application instructions

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Deadline

no deadline