Program Director, Food & Wine Department

Organization Information:

The Cambridge Center for Adult Education (CCAE) is a nonprofit organization with an annual operating budget of $2.5 million and a staff of 15 full-time staff. We run nearly 2,000 classes over 4 terms, taught by over 200 professionals who are experts in their chosen fields. CCAE owns and operates two historically preserved properties in vibrant Harvard Square. (More information about CCAE can be found at www.ccae.org/about)

Position Summary:

CCAE is seeking a talented, full-time Program Director, Food & Wine to manage and build the educational curriculum for the Food & Wine department. The candidate should have 3-5 years of relevant experience, ideally in an educational institution, as well as a background in or a passion for food and wine. Additional program planning responsibility for a small department will be added when required.

The program director oversees classes, lectures and workshops for our Food & Wine division as well as oversees the day to day management of CCAE’s kitchen, including inventory management.

Candidates need to demonstrate an understanding of food/wine and how these subjects are taught to adults whose skills range from beginners to professional.

CCAE seeks candidates with a collaborative work style; excellent administrative skills; excellent writing and verbal communication skills; and a track record of delivering results in a complex and fun workplace.

Our Program Director will combine high energy, great integrity and commitment to public service with a sense of humor. This candidate will work independently and collaboratively, exercising excellent judgment while respecting and inspiring our students, teachers and administrative staff.

Job Responsibilities:

The Program Director’s responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Ensuring that current food and wine course offerings meet students’ needs – noting areas that are not currently addressed, areas where the Center may have more courses than optimal, areas that need to be strengthened, and opportunities for new directions;
• Serving as the primary liaison for teachers in the Food & Wine department, the program director supports outstanding teaching by attracting and retaining excellent teachers. This person seeks teacher input and suggestions; and provides feedback and guidance as needed;
• Calculating the food and wine fees, the program director is responsible for making sure that the tuition includes realistic food and wine costs and that the actual expenses don’t exceed them;
• Managing the cooking class assistants’ program, the program director ensures that our cooking class instructors are supported by an assistant during the class when needed;
• Developing descriptive text for programming used in our catalog and website including but not limited to course descriptions, teacher biographies and scheduling information;
• Communicating with potential clients and instructors about private cooking class inquiries and custom classes;
• Managing the CCAE kitchen and working closely with the Maintenance team, maintaining kitchen pantry and kitchen appliances;
• Working with the Finance Office, executing hiring agreements and other administrative matters (i.e., payroll, requesting classroom set ups; reporting facility problems, etc.);
• Work with the organization helping to schedule teachers and programming for special events, including the annual fundraiser, board events, non-profit partner programs and other programming as needed;
• Developing a command of CCAE’s registration system, data management practices and budgeting related to specific program areas: and contributing ongoing efforts to enhance current spaces, equipment and systems to support our students and teachers;
• Researching competitive information to determine how CCAE can best differentiate our offering from programs of other nonprofit culinary organizations offering classes.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and 3-5 years’ work experience, preferably in related field(s).
• Excellent organizational and communication skills, ability to multi-task, extreme attention to detail, and strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to build relationships with teachers and students.
• Some teaching experience or experience in an educational and/or nonprofit environment a plus.
• Strong computer skills, proficient in Microsoft Office, especially Word and Excel.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment with competing requests while maintaining a collegial friendly attitude.
• Self-starter, ability to work independently and in a team.

Typical work week is Monday to Friday mainly 9-5, with occasional work on nights and/or weekends during peak weeks of activity. This an in-person position with an occasional option to work remotely.

Compensation

Salary Range:

$60,000- $65,000 -- commensurate with experience.

Benefits include health insurance, paid vacation days, holidays, sick days and personal days, and free tuition.

How to Apply:

Please submit a cover letter and resume to HR@ccae.org and include “Program Director, Food and Wine Department” in the subject line.

The Cambridge Center for Adult Education is an Equal Opportunity Employee with a deep commitment to diversity and inclusion throughout the organization.