Job Details

Culinary Arts Full Time Tenure Track Instructor

Position Number: 6901460
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
Position Type: Vocational & Technical - Culinary Arts

Culinary Arts Full Time Tenure Track Instructor

Cuesta College

Salary: $68,383.00 - $145,819.00 Annually
Job Type: Full Time - 10 Months/ 100% FTE
Job Number: FY2526-00115
Location: San Luis Obispo Campus, CA
Department: Instruction
Closing: 4/6/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Job Description Summary

Cuesta College and the Division of Business Administration serves and values diverse students. The College and Division seek committed faculty who value the opportunity to work in a collaborative, culturally and academically enriching environment. Ideal candidates will demonstrate the desire to understand and respond to the educational needs of the students we serve, a commitment to student learning as evidenced by an aptitude for innovative and creative instruction, a desire to work collaboratively across disciplines to create an inclusive and integrated learning experience, and a commitment to shared governance and continuous assessment and improvement. All department faculty strongly encourage collaboration across disciplines, creative initiatives, student engagement and programs with a classified staff, administration, students, and community partners who share a commitment to closing equity gaps and a belief that all students, and in particular first-generation students and students from diverse backgrounds can achieve their educational goals.

Cuesta College employees who value or aspire to valuing a collaborative working environment often find themselves accountable and invested in closing equity gaps by holding themselves and each other accountable. Our faculty are perceived as resourceful and responsive role models.

ABOUT THE COLLEGE

Where You Will Work
Serving all of San Luis Obispo County, Cuesta College has provided comprehensive associate degree offerings, certificates, and community programs to the region since 1964. The main campus is located along scenic Highway 1, west of San Luis Obispo and east of the beaches of the Pacific Ocean. Cuesta College has a North County Campus in Paso Robles, and South County Center, in Arroyo Grande.

Who We Are

Equity, diversity, and inclusion are essential to our culture and the work we do. Cuesta College is proud to be a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) committed to racial and socio-economic diversity as it reflects our communities and student populations. We actively seek to attract candidates who share this commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. As part of the Cuesta College team, you can expect to be part of a collaborative community of faculty, classified professionals, administrators, students, and community partners advancing educational excellence with intentional support services leading to student success and completion.

Additional information about the college can be found at https://www.cuesta.edu/about/index.html
The college planning documents can be found at https://www.cuesta.edu/about/collegeplans/index.html
Our Student Equity Action Plan can be found at https://www.cuesta.edu/about/info/student-equity-initiatives/equity/index.html
We offer comprehensive benefit options. Information about benefits can be found at https://www.cuesta.edu/about/human-resources/benefits/index.html

Essential Functions & Qualifications

INSTRUCTIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Culinary Arts instructor will teach courses in Culinary Arts using a variety of teaching methods including demonstrations, active learning strategies, and lectures. The instructor will develop and prepare lesson plans; recommend curricula changes and supplemental materials; assess student performance through observation, written and practical examinations; maintain accurate records of student attendance and performance; ensure classes comply with food safety and sanitation principles; participate in curriculum development, program planning, and campus committees; and hold office hours. The instructor will teach courses face to face, online, and/or hybrid formats and may be asked to teach evening and/or weekend classes.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Teach Culinary Arts courses in a variety of modalities, face to face, online, hybrid.
Develop and prepare lesson plans and recommend curricula changes
Assess student performance through observation and examinations
Maintain accurate records of student attendance and performance
Ensure classes comply with food safety and sanitation principles and health department regulations
Maintain and ensure proper use of kitchen equipment and culinary lab facilities
Manage culinary lab inventory and ordering of food supplies and equipment
Oversee kitchen safety protocols and ensure student compliance with safety procedures
Coordinate with industry partners for student externship and employment opportunities
Supervise student participation in catering events and food service operations
Participate in curriculum development, program planning, and strategic initiatives

to reflect current industry standards, trends, and sustainable food practices

Hold office hours and participate in college committees
May teach evening and/or weekend classes
Demonstrate commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusive teaching
Ability to design instruction that is accessible and compliant with ADA and Section 508 standards
Engage in professional development
Strategically build and participate in college-wide initiatives
Participate in advisory committee meetings and collaborate with industry advisory members
Assist with recruitment, outreach, and student engagement activities related to the Culinary Arts program
Contribute to the ongoing development, growth, and sustainability of the Culinary Arts program
Assist with managing the culinary program budget, including monitoring expenditures, planning supply needs, and supporting responsible use of program funds

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

-Any Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and two years of professional experience directly related to the teaching assignment;

OR

-Any Associate's degree from an accredited institution and six years of professional experience directly related to the teaching assignment;

OR

-The equivalent. (Candidates applying on the basis of equivalency must submit all materials requested for an equivalency judgment. For directions on what is an acceptable equivalency argument please review the requirements listed on the HR Website or see further information on Equivalency Petition Process Information below.)

OR

-A valid Community College credential in the discipline (If received prior to 1990, as the credential is no longer being issued).

Required:
-Sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students.

Desirable:
-Teaching experience in the discipline, community college level preferred;
-Awareness of the philosophy and objectives of California Community Colleges.

Note: Candidates lacking minimum qualifications as a professional instructor must demonstrate the desire to understand and respond to the unique educational needs of an ethnically, culturally, economically, and academically diverse student body.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

ServSafe Manager's Certification or equivalent food safety certification
American Culinary Federation (ACF) certification
Teaching experience at the community college or university level
Experience working in fine dining or high-quality restaurant operations
Experience with large-scale catering operations
Experience developing and teaching online or hybrid culinary courses
Experience using Learning Management Systems (LMS)
Knowledge of current culinary trends and sustainable food practices
Experience with industry partnerships and student externship coordination
Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and culturally responsive teaching
Bilingual skills

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

Culinary techniques, cooking methods, and food preparation
Food safety, sanitation standards, and health department regulations
Kitchen equipment operation, maintenance, and safety protocols
Menu planning, cost control, and food service management principles
Current culinary trends and sustainable practices
Curriculum development and industry standards

Ability to:

Demonstrate culinary techniques and conduct hands-on instruction effectively
Develop curriculum and learning outcomes aligned with industry standards
Communicate effectively with students, faculty, staff, and industry partners
Work collaboratively in a team environment
Use technology and online teaching platforms effectively
Create an inclusive and supportive learning environment
Mentor and support diverse student populations

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands and fingers, reach, talk, and hear. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally up to 50 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in classroom and laboratory settings. May be exposed to heat, sharp objects, and wet surfaces.

Additional Information

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS TO APPLY
Candidates will be required to submit ALL of the required documents below when applying for this position. When uploading documents, PDF uploads are preferred.

Cover letter;
Resume;
Two current letters of recommendation OR Reference List (see further instructions below);
Unofficial transcripts (see further instructions below);
Diversity statement (see further instructions below).

Diversity Statement Instructions: Cuesta College is committed to building and maintaining a workforce that reflects and honors the diversity of our students. It is important to us that our faculty, staff, and administrators demonstrate an understanding of, sensitivity to, and respect for the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds of staff and students and of staff and students with physical and learning disabilities of all constituents in the Cuesta College community.

In order to best prepare your diversity statement for this application, please review our Academic Senate approved Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Rubric, please visit our Equal Employment Opportunity Page: https://www.cuesta.edu/about/depts/humanresources/eeo/index.html

In 500 words or less, with consideration to our Mission Statement and our values expressed above, please explain how you will demonstrate your commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in this position.

Reference List Instructions: Your reference list must include three professional references, their contact information, and their relationship to you.

Unofficial Transcript Instructions: Transcripts need to show that you meet the minimum qualifications (with degree conferred) and/or have a foreign degree evaluation completed if the degree you hold is from outside of the US. If the titles of your degrees on your transcripts do not show that you meet the minimum qualifications as written above, it is necessary to submit an equivalency petition with your application. See below for more information about equivalency.

Equivalency Petition Process Information: Faculty shall meet the minimum qualifications established by the Board of Governors, or shall possess qualifications that are at least equivalent to the minimum qualifications set out in the regulations of the Board of Governors. If a candidate's earned degrees do not exactly match the minimum qualifications, they can submit a Petition for Equivalency form in order to apply for equivalency. For more information on the process, please review the links below.

Equivalency Process (AP 7211) (Download PDF reader)

Petition for Equivalency Form

Completed online applications and all supporting documents must be submitted by the closing date for this position. LATE, INCOMPLETE, FAXED, MAILED OR EMAILED APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Please contact HR to ensure all documents have been uploaded and your file is complete up until 72 hours before the closing date.

SALARY SCHEDULE
Salary is determined by education and experience. More information regarding our current salary schedules can be found on the following link:

https://www.cuesta.edu/about/human-resources/employee/cba-salary-schedules.html

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Cuesta College will not sponsor any visa applications.

San Luis Obispo County Community College District ("Cuesta College") is an equal opportunity employer committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, medical condition, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth), age, disability (physical and mental), genetic information, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal and state law in admission and access to, or treatment in employment, educational programs or activities at any of its campuses. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose. Cuesta College also prohibits harassment on any of these bases, including sexual harassment, as well as sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.

In compliance with California law, all prospective staff and students are entitled to read the Annual Security Report, published each October by the Cuesta College Department of Public Safety. This report contains information about our emergency and crime reporting procedures, as well as crime statistics for the past 3 years. You may request a copy of this report at one of our two Public Safety Offices: on SLO campus at Building 6600A or on North County Campus at building N1021, during campus business hours. You may also access the complete text of this report at the following website address:
https://www.cuesta.edu/community/publicsafety/crime-information/clery-act.html

Cuesta College uses E-Verify as part of the I-9 process to verify the work eligibility of all new hires. E-Verify is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9 to data from U.S Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration records. For further information, visit: https://www.cuesta.edu/about/human-resources/job-opportunities.html

Interview Process Information

Selected applicants will be invited to attend an interview and teaching demonstration on Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Second interviews will be held on Wednesday, April 29, 2026

To be considered for this position please visit our web site and apply on line at the following link: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/cuesta

The San Luis Obispo County Community College District promotes inclusiveness, prohibits discrimination, and encourages all qualified persons to apply. As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, Cuesta College actively seeks candidates with diverse backgrounds to assist students, staff, and faculty. For ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) assistance with the application and/or interview process, please contact the Human Resources Office: (805) 546-3129.