Program Associate, Culinary Educator, Oliver Kelley Farm

Job Description

Job Description

JOB TITLE : Program Associate, Culinary Educator

LOCATION : Oliver H. Kelley Farm 15788 Kelley Farm Road, Elk River, MN 55330

COMPENSATION : Typical starting range $53,414.40 - $57,512.00 annually.

STATUS & HOURS : Full-time, regular (approximately 2,080 annual hours) position. Typical schedule is 40 hours a week, Tuesday through Saturday.

BENEFITS : Eligible to participate in State Employee Group Insurance Program and a retirement program with employer contribution. Generous vacation and sick time accruals with additional paid holidays.

DESIGNATION : Bargaining Unit AFSCME Local 3173

POSTING DATE : October 7, 2025

DEADLINE DATE : October 21, 2025

TO APPLY : Interested applicants must apply online at the Minnesota Historical Society’s career center at www.mnhs.org / jobs and include a resume and cover letter by the application deadline date.

DESCRIPTION : This position exists to develop and lead programming in the historic areas and modern kitchens that are present at Oliver Kelley Farm. The Program Associate, Culinary Educator, provides engaging, historically accurate, hands-on interpretive programs focusing on the history of food, agriculture, and domestic life in Minnesota.

SUMMARY OF WORK : 1) Develop and deliver programming; 2) Provide kitchen resource management along with site and program maintenance; 3) Perform administrative tasks related to the implementation of programs.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS :

High school diploma or equivalent.

Strong public speaking and communication skills.

Three years of experience with culinary instruction and / or working in a commercial kitchen.

Must be able to work nonstandard hours, including evenings and weekends.

Ability to stand for extended periods of time.

Ability to bend, crouch, kneel, reach, push, and pull.

Ability and willingness to perform historical research to develop educational experiences for guests using historic and modern kitchen spaces.

An ability & willingness to adjust programming / menus to account for allergies or other dietary restrictions of program participants when necessary and appropriate.

DEMONSTRATED SKILLS IN OR KNOWLEDGE OF :

A demonstrated ability to work with diverse audiences of varying cultural backgrounds, ages, and skills in an education or customer service environment.

A demonstrated ability to work as a member of a team while independently carrying out institutional objectives.

A demonstrated passion for and knowledge of food, farming, historical cooking, and / or sustainable agriculture.

Knowledge of culinary techniques : a strong understanding of various cooking and preservation techniques, menu planning, and food preparation skills.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS :

Bachelor's degree or diploma program in culinary arts, nutrition, food science, or restaurant / catering management

Professional certifications, i.e., certifications validating skills and knowledge from the American Culinary Federation (ACF)

Experience with historical interpretation.

An interest in developing knowledge related to historical and cultural food practices.

Experience with farm-to-table cooking is a plus.

Should you have questions with the application process, email humanresources@mnhs.org or call MNHS Job Line at 651-259-3181.

At MNHS, we don’t just accept difference — we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on diversity for the benefit of our employees, our products and services, and our community. The Minnesota Historical Society believes that an inclusive culture among our team members is critical to our success as a historical society and museum, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. The Minnesota Historical Society is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and employer.