Culinary Instructor

ASHHO Cultural Community Center

Job Title: Culinary Instructor & Assistant Chef

Location: Tumwater, WA

About Us:

ASHHO Cultural Community Center is a family-led Employment social enterprise blending culture, food, and community impact. At ASHHO, we create meaningful experiences that foster connection and inspire change. Our for-profit entity, ASHHO Catering & Events Center LLC, provides cultural cuisine and event services, generating revenue to support our non-profit mission through ASHHO Cultural & Job Training Center. Together, we focus on community feeding, healing, education, and cultural celebrations to foster belonging and collective liberation.

Position Summary:

This is a DUAL ROLE designed for someone who thrives in both leadership and hands-on kitchen work. The candidates will be required to complete a hands-on skill assessment as part of the interview process. This will allow us to evaluate your culinary skills, teaching style, and ability to work in our dynamic kitchen environment.

Culinary Instructor & Assistant Chef will:

Serve as the Culinary Instructor for our 12-week Culinary & Hospitality Job Training Program when scheduled.

Assist as a Chef when not instructing, leading food prep, cooking, kitchen operations, and inventory management.

Work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, to support ASHHO’s catering, café, and events.

Engage in meaningful, intentional, impactful, and transformative work that directly changes lives.

Take pride and confidence in their role, bringing positive, encouraging, contagious energy.

Be a self-starter and go-getter, able to take initiative with minimal direction and find joy in this position.

This role is NOT for someone looking for just a paycheck or a routine 'in-the-box' job. It is for someone who embraces culture, culinary creativity, and purpose-driven work.

Key Responsibilities:

Culinary Instruction:

Lead hands-on culinary training sessions for job training participants, providing mentorship and real-world skills.

Collaborate with program leadership to align curriculum with industry standards and participant needs.

Inspire and empower students to develop confidence and culinary expertise.

Assistant Chef Duties:

Support the Executive Chef in food production for catering and Runia’s Soul Cafe.

Prepare and cook high-quality, culturally significant dishes.

Assist in menu development and event planning.

Manage food prep, kitchen cleanliness, and inventory control.

Maintain food safety, sanitation, and organizational efficiency.

Leadership & Collaboration:

Apply trauma-informed leadership to create an inclusive and welcoming learning environment.

Foster a team culture rooted in kindness, joy, and purpose.

Bring an entrepreneurial mindset and a passion for community impact.

Qualifications:

5+ years of experience in culinary roles such as chef, kitchen management, or culinary instruction.

Passion for cultural cuisine and uplifting marginalized communities.

Strong leadership and team-building abilities.

Experience with menu creation, cost control, and inventory management.

Trauma-informed skills and ability to support individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Self-driven with a go-getter attitude—able to take ownership and make this role their own.

Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed.

Experience in culinary training programs is a plus but not required.

Compensation and Benefits

Pay: $25-32 per hour DOE.

Schedule: Full-time, in-person, flexible schedule including evenings and weekends.

Benefits: Health insurance options, dental, vision, life insurance, paid sick and vacation leave after 60 days.

How to Apply

If this role excites you and you see yourself thriving in a purpose-driven, fast-paced, and transformative environment, please send:

A meaningful cover letter sharing your experiences, passions, and why this position excites you. Learn more www.ashho.org

An updated resume highlighting your skills and previous roles.

Two personal references & two professional references.

Send all materials to: Zazil@ASHHO.org

Email subject line: Culinary Instructor

Location: 5757 Littlerock RD SW, Tumwater, WA 98512

Be part of a transformative journey with ASHHO Cultural Community Center, where food, culture, and impact intersect to create lasting change!