Kitchen Manager & Educator at Berkeley Hillel

Role Summary

Kitchen Manager & Educator

Berkeley Hillel

The Kitchen Manager & Educator will oversee Berkeley Hillel’s two Kosher kitchens while focusing on student mentorship, education, and engagement through food-based programming. We are looking for someone with a strong desire to work with food and manage the day-to-day operations of our 2 Kosher kitchens. This role balances kitchen management with opportunities to lead student cooking initiatives, workshops, and events. It is ideal for someone passionate about Jewish community, cooking, education, and hands-on student learning. Prior professional cooking experience is helpful but not required. The emphasis is on fostering meaningful student experiences while ensuring quality Kosher meals for students at our regular meals and programs.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations of Berkeley Hillel’s 2 commercial Kosher kitchens, ensuring cleanliness, organization, and compliance with Kosher standards and health regulations.
• Mentor and supervise student kitchen interns, supporting leadership development and hands-on learning opportunities.
• Collaborate with program staff and student leaders to plan and facilitate student-focused food programs, such as cooking classes, Shabbat meals, weekly Kosher BBQ, holiday events, and creative food workshops.
• Support weekly menu planning in collaboration with the student interns, and assist with food preparation for weekly BBQ and Shabbat meals and other Hillel programs.
• Manage food purchasing, inventory, and vendor relationships in coordination with staff.
• Develop sustainable kitchen practices and systems to minimize food waste.
• Foster a welcoming and inclusive environment for students to learn, collaborate, and explore Jewish culture through food.

Requirements

• Interest in Jewish education, student engagement, or campus programming.
• Knowledge and experience in commercial food preparation, but doesn’t need to be traditional cooking experience.
• Understanding of or willingness to learn Kosher food practices.
• Experience mentoring, teaching, or supervising young adults is highly valued.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Creativity in planning programs and events.
• Flexibility to work evenings and occasional weekends for Shabbat and holiday programs.

Preferred Qualities

• Culinary experience or background is a plus, but not required.
• Passion for mentoring students and engaging in Jewish community life.
• Interest in sustainability, food waste reduction, and innovative approaches to food programming.

Schedule and Hours

This is a new position, and we are looking for a commitment of 30-40 hours per week with flexible scheduling. This could be full-time or part-time, depending on the applicant and organizational needs. This includes weekday daytime hours and some evenings/weekends to support Shabbat and holiday programming.

About Berkeley Hillel

• Berkeley Hillel serves as the center for Jewish student life at UC Berkeley. We are committed to creating a vibrant, inclusive, and welcoming community where Jewish students can explore identity, build relationships, and find a sense of belonging.
• Berkeley Hillel is affiliated with Hillel International. Hillel International enriches the lives of Jewish students so they may enrich the Jewish people and the world, and envisions a world where every student is inspired to make an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning and Israel.

About Hillel International

In 1923, Rabbi Benjamin Frankel started Hillel with humble means, a noble mission and a breathtaking vision: to convey Jewish civilization to a new generation. Today, Hillel International continues to enrich the lives of Jewish students and is the largest Jewish campus organization in the world at nearly 1,000 colleges and universities across North America and around the world. As Hillel evolves as an organization, the mission remains steadfast: to create lasting connections with every Jewish student that foster an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning, and Israel and train them to become the next Jewish leaders.

Hillel is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an accepting and inclusive environment for all.