Executive Director - The Culinary Education Center

Background

The Culinary Education Center (CEC) in New York is looking for an Executive Director. Along with the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will be responsible for creating and guiding the organization by helping to develop its mission, strategic goals, and all operational structures. The Executive Director will also be responsible for developing programming and for stewarding external relationships.

The Culinary Education Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and labor-management partnership between high-wage food service employers and UNITE HERE Local 100, the union for food service and restaurant workers in the New York/New Jersey area. As a Taft-Hartley Fund, this training center was created to train and upskill food service workers, enabling them to enter good union jobs in the industry and advance in their careers. Our curriculum, designed in collaboration with employers, will support employer efforts to create career pathways, thereby contributing to worker retention. Most of the people we will serve are people of color/immigrants and members of marginalized communities. Our objective is to 1.) train new workers and help place them in good union jobs with employer partners and 2.) provide ongoing training to incumbent workers to support their career advancement.

Position Summary

The Executive Director will collaborate with the Board of Directors to set the strategic vision for the growth and sustainability of this training center. They will oversee the implementation of this vision by managing the day-to-day operations of the organization. They will oversee the administration of culinary training programs for entry-level and incumbent workers for the food-service industry in New York/New Jersey. The ideal candidate will thrive as they develop the CEC’s physical space, administrative capacity, and programmatic offerings while establishing it as a key organization within the regional workforce development landscape.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Organizational Leadership

• Oversee and maintain full executive management responsibilities and leadership of the daily operations of the Culinary Education Center, including classroom training/work experience programs, operations, human resources management, financial management, public/community relations, employment/vocational training, and program/curriculum development.
• Direct the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, procedures and processes to support the mission of the organization and ensure continuous operations.
• Analyze operations to evaluate the performance of the organization and its staff in meeting the objectives and to determine areas of potential program improvement, cost reduction, and policy changes.
• Ensure regulatory compliance with the highest standards of health, sanitation, and cleanliness in the training programs for food and beverage staff.
• Provide administrative support and regular updates to the Board with respect to the status of training programs, operations, and finances.
• Make presentations to the Board with respect to recommendations on program operations and budgets. Collaborate with the Board to develop and execute short- and long-term goals.

Outreach, Communications, and Collaboration

• Serve as the chief spokesperson and ensure that the organization maintains and strengthens its reputation for excellence with the community and at the state and national levels.
• Ensure that the public, through the news media and effective public relations, is informed of the success and accomplishments of the Culinary Education Center in providing vocational and skills training to incumbent union members as well as unemployed and underemployed workers in the hospitality industry.
• Develop and maintain good working relations with the CEC’s employer partners, UNITE HERE Local 100 leadership, related Taft-Hartley training funds, state and local government officials, community-based organizations, and the local community.
• Collaborate with UNITE HERE International Union staff on various endeavors including workforce development projects, fundraising, grant applications, grant-funded projects, and data collection.

Personnel and Human Resources

• Be responsible for the recruitment and on-boarding of all personnel, both paid staff and volunteers.
• Ensure that job descriptions are developed, that regular performance evaluations are held, and that sound human resource practices are in place.
• Supervise and provide direction to a growing staff, including the executive management team and supervisory staff.
• Develop human resource management policies and programs that contribute to the acquisition, retention, motivation, and development of staff capable of meeting current and future organizational needs and objectives.
• Develop and maintain a positive and ethical work environment that is conducive to attracting, retaining, and motivating a diverse group of employees at all levels.

Budget, Finance, and Compliance

• Be responsible for developing and maintaining sound financial practices.
• Work with the staff and the board in preparing a budget; see that the organization operates within budget guidelines.
• Provide leadership in the development and monitoring of budgets, profit and loss statements and marketing strategies to produce both short-term and long-term profitability.
• Identify and pursue new funding opportunities, develop relationships with funding agencies, and oversee grant application process.
• Develop work scopes, execute funding contracts, and ensure accurate and timely contract compliance.

• At least six years of experience in organizational leadership in a variety of capacities with workforce development, labor unions, community services, or related field; and a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent. At least two of the six years of organizational leadership experience must pertain to workforce development.
• Demonstrated knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, fiscal management, human resources management, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Knowledge of New York City political and community organizational structures and organizations and eagerness to launch a new labor-management led workforce development nonprofit in the city.
• Understanding of the regional labor market and a clear analysis of the challenges and opportunities facing unemployed and underemployed individuals in the food service industry.
• Success in roles requiring self-motivation, self-discipline, excellent organizational skills and the execution of multiple tasks while responding to multiple priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with a wide array of people – junior and senior, for-profit and nonprofit, and from diverse backgrounds.
• High level of professionalism and outstanding communication and interpersonal skills along with confidence to present and defend/debate ideas without ego interfering. Proven ability to work with tact, diplomacy efficiency, and flexibility.
• Demonstrated ability to solve problems, identify new opportunities, and maintain a vision for the organization to maximize its impact.
• Experience delivering results under time constraints and the ability to remain focused under pressure.
• Excellent computer skills, particularly MS Office (Word, Excel, and Outlook).
• Pro-worker and pro-union orientation toward workforce development and vocational training.

Preferred Qualifications

• Spanish verbal and written fluency.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a related discipline or equivalent field experience.
• Experience working with Taft-Hartley funds or other labor-management partnerships.
• Demonstrated fundraising experience.

Only complete applications (resumé and cover letter) will be considered. 

The Culinary Education Center is an equal opportunity employer and gives equal consideration to all applicants without regard to sex, age, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

The UNITE HERE Education and Support Fund, which exists to support workers in the hospitality industry, is assisting the Culinary Education Center with this executive search.

Salary Range: $100,000 - $125,000/year

100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision premiums; 401k; and generous paid time off.