Youth Culinary Educator- Teach Kids Cooking!

Allergic to Salad is a health-based youth culinary program. We offer hands-on, from-scratch CORE- and STEM-based cooking classes to after-school and in-school programs for students aged pre-K through high school.

We realize many claim they are “allergic to salad”– a convenient and understandable excuse in this era of pre-packaged industrialized food. Our work combats this widespread “allergy,” while increasing skills, technique, and familiarity with healthy foods, and creating a platform for a lifetime of adventurous eating through activity-filled classes.Job description

Are you passionate about cooking, healthy eating and educating children? Join the Allergic to Salad team!

This is an IN PERSON position teaching children cooking at school-based IN-SCHOOL and AFTER-SCHOOL programs across NYC and Westchester. We have multiple locations in every borough.

NOTE: WE CURRENTLY HAVE A STRONG NEED FOR EDUCATORS WILLING TO TEACH IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

New Rochelle/Westchester

Bronx (All neighborhoods)

Brooklyn (South/East neighborhoods, ex: East NY, Gravesend, Coney Island, Cypress Hills, Canarsie, Flatbush, Bay Ridge)

Queens (South/East neighborhoods, ex: Bellerose, Jamaica, Far Rockaway, Jackson Heights, Ozone Park)

Staten Island (All neighborhoods)

All NYC locations may apply. Priority interviews and hiring for candidates interested in the above mentioned locations.

ROLLING BASES: Currently hiring for the 2026-2027 school year. Contract term is September 2026- June 2027 with high potential to renew for summer 2027 and/or next school year.

Time Commitment:

FLEXIBLE. Educators pick their schedule/location 1 to 5 days a week. Classes are typically held 9:00AM-2:30PM and 2:30PM-6PM. (We do NOT hire weekend only availability.)

Description:

Allergic to Salad is seeking reliable, self-motivated, independent, fun-loving and child-loving part-time youth food educators to join our team. The youth food educators work closely with Allergic to Salad's Program Team, with potential for growth into independent self-led positions. This person(s) is responsible for leading and/or assisting kids cooking events (classes, parties and special events). Classes are in various locations around the city.

Candidate should be a highly reliable, on time, clear communicator, flexible and positive team player, outspoken and comfortable working with children, and comfortable working independently leading a class of students. Opinions regarding issues around food access, food justice and local foods a big plus. A knowledge of, and willingness to teach a variety of cuisines, as well as an ability to “cook on the fly” if needed.

At least 2 years working with children highly preferred.

Culinary degree NOT necessary.

Food Protection certificate and/or Food Handling license recommended, but not required.

Payment terms:

Note that payment is PER CLASS, not hour. Base payment is $90 PER one-hour CLASS. Longer classes are paid at a higher rate. Educators are responsible for food purchases, averaging $20 per class, and should factor set up for class (approx 20 minutes) and clean up post class (approx 20 minutes) as part of base rate. (Take home pay, post food purchase and figuring for class set up and clean up tends break down to approx $20-25/ HOUR.) Many back-to-back classes are available. There are certain bonus rates (above base pay) based on location, as well as number of days worked.

Duties include:

• Leading kids' cooking classes, for children aged 4 to 16.
• Prep for classes: purchasing groceries and prepping/cleaning, as necessary.
• Clean up: must leave locations in condition found, or cleaner.
• Lead, supervise and aid children during cooking while building a discourse on relevant food topics.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with both parents and children.
• Follow up after classes with Allergic to Salad and Site Director.
• Maintain a positive, safe, supportive and welcoming environment.

Knowledge & Experience:

• Classroom management skills necessary; comfortable leading groups of children- experience tutoring, camp setting, teaching, etc.
• Highly reliable, self-motivated, independent, motivational
• Fun-loving, energetic, kid-loving
• Some teaching background preferred, but experience w kids necessary
• Basic kitchen/cooking and food knowledge— can explain these concepts to children
• Strong communication skills
• Knowledge of, or ability to quickly learn basic computer programs (Google Drive)
• Organized with an attention to detail
• Flexible, with ability to improvise, if needed (ex: you planned to make guacamole and the store is out of cilantro! Can you flip the recipe, or turn it into a learning experience without panicking?)
• Candidate may be in the process of completing a Bachelor’s Degree, Culinary Degree, or having completed either/both, tho culinary degree is not necessary.

Compensation: Per class taught.

We are an equal opportunity employer.

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English proficiency.