Lead ESOL Instructor

 

ABOUT HOT BREAD KITCHEN

Since 2008, Hot Bread Kitchen has empowered New Yorkers who face barriers to economic opportunities through transformative careers in New York City’s food industry. We offer small business development programs, culinary skills training, and job placement, bolstered by individualized, wraparound supportive services. Our small business program, HBK Incubates, supports entrepreneurs as they transform their food businesses into sustainable income sources.
Culinary Fundamentals, our award-winning culinary training program, provides access to high-quality jobs for those starting their careers in the food industry. Our upskilling programs enable incumbent workers to gain further skills, leading to higher wages and career advancement. We work diligently alongside our network of over 200 food employer partners and more than 250 nonprofit and government partners to ensure our graduates are set up for success both at home and in their careers. 

 

THE OPPORTUNITY 

Hot Bread Kitchen seeks a detail-oriented, results-driven Lead ESOL Instructor to join our program team. The Lead ESOL Instructor is a full-time role responsible for leading the vision, quality, and growth of HBK’s ESOL programming. This position oversees curriculum development, instruction, assessment, and instructional quality across multiple ESOL offerings, including New New Yorkers ESOL (beginner) and Culinary Fundamentals ESOL (intermediate). This position will also be responsible for teaching four ESOL cohorts throughout the year.

The Lead ESOL Instructor ensures that ESOL instruction is differentiated, contextualized to culinary workforce needs, data-informed and aligned with adult education best practices. This role also manages contracted instructors, supports alumni language development, collaborates cross-functionally with Program and Job Placement Teams, and contributes to organizational learning and funding efforts. This position reports to the Director of Culinary Training.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

 

Program and Staff Management

  • Provide day-to-day oversight and support of Hot Bread Kitchen’s ESOL programming (ex. Instruction, attendance monitoring, conflict resolution, etc.).

  • Convene and attend regular internal Hot Bread Kitchen meetings to ensure seamless member support, including but not limited to regular meetings with chef instructors, program managers and the Member Engagement Team.

  • Participate in the program’s interview process, specifically to assess ESOL needs. 

  • Coordinate culinary ESOL courses, including hiring and oversight of instructors and content.

  • Recruit, hire, and manage contracted ESOL instructors.

  • Work with Volunteer Manager to recruit and utilize volunteers to support ESOL programming.

Curriculum & Instruction

  • Lead ongoing review, revision, contextualization of ESOL curriculum and creation of teaching materials and supplemental resources  for both NNY ESOL and Culinary Fundamentals ESOL (CF ESOL) classes.

  • Teach ESOL classes for New New Yorkers program 3 times per year and 1 Culinary Fundamentals ESOL cohort.

  • Lead the ESOL component of Bridge to Success including curriculum development and instruction. 

  • Serve as substitute instructor for all programs when needed.

Assessment, Measurement & Quality Assurance

  • Design and oversee administration of program assessments to measure language skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking) and track learner growth.

  • Analyze assessment data, identify trends, performance gaps, and report on outcomes.

  • Collect and respond to student feedback on curriculum, instruction, and the overall program experience, using insights to continuously improve and refine program delivery.

  • Conduct classroom observations of contracted instructors; provide coaching, feedback, and professional development to maintain instructional quality.

Alumni / Post-Program Support 

  • Develop a language support plan for ESOL graduates (e.g.one-on-one or small-group tutoring, office hours, or “help sessions”).

  • Serve as a resource to the Job Placement team: assist with  mock interviews, support language related job search tasks with ESOL graduates.

  • Identify alumni language skill gaps or support needs, collect feedback, and integrate learnings into curriculum enhancements.

Data, Reporting & Partnerships 

  • Collaborate with the Data Team to integrate ESOL program metrics into HBK’s overall data systems and dashboards.

  • Assist in writing, reviewing, or contributing to grant proposals or reports that include ESOL components.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Driven by and have a belief in Hot Bread Kitchen’s values and mission.

  • Spanish and English fluency required.

  • Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in TESOL, Adult Education, Applied Linguistics, or related field preferred.

  • Minimum 3–5 years of adult ESOL teaching experience, including beginner-level instruction.

  • Experience developing curriculum and assessments for adult learners.

  • Demonstrated ability to coach instructors and maintain instructional quality.

  • Strong understanding of workforce-contextualized ESOL and immigrant adult education.

  • Experience working with multilingual, immigrant, and adult learner populations.

  • Strong organizational, communication, and collaboration skills.

  • Comfort using Google suite and Salesforce.

COMPETENCIES

  • Problem solving - Exhibits resourcefulness and asks for peer or supervisor support. Anticipates problems, develops solutions, and course-corrects when needed. Takes advantage of unexpected opportunities and addresses obstacles. Look for the root of both simple and complex issues to seek solutions. Approach work with a spirit of “yes” and adapt as things change.

  • Adaptable - Flexible, can change when an original strategy is not working, and applies knowledge to new circumstances. Demonstrates eagerness to learn new knowledge and skills. Exhibits the willingness to think differently to initiate ideas towards improving processes, procedures, quality, and productivity.

  • Project Management - brings together every project component, including resources and planning, that is needed to complete it on time.

  • Collaboration - Works with others to achieve common goals and desired results. Connects with people from many different backgrounds. Finds and creates opportunities to deepen connections and build authentic, mutual relationships with teammates, donors, members, and families across lines of difference, such as race or other identities. Welcomes viewpoints that differ from your own, and manages discomfort when people express themselves in ways that aren’t familiar to you.

 

OUR VALUES

We are driven by a feeling of commitment to support our members, teammates, and partners as best as we can. Our culture of equity comes from the many cooks in our kitchen and the diversity of perspectives we each bring. We believe that respect goes a long way in making people feel welcome, accepted, and celebrated. We seek opportunities for connection and to become a stronger team by being in community and prioritizing candor over consensus. The pace of our work and the velocity of change can be quick; our entrepreneurialism helps us take optimistic risks and pursue inventive solutions.

 

LOCATION AND HOURS

This position requires in-person presence 5 days a week at our Outpost locations throughout NYC and Chelsea Market. This role requires working from 10am-6pm, Monday to Friday, with occasional evening or morning hours depending on the cohort schedule. 

 

COMPENSATION

This is a full-time position. The salary range is $72,000-$75,000, commensurate with experience. Hot Bread Kitchen's comprehensive benefits package includes health/vision/dental insurance (eligible from day one), 401K contributions, paid office closure days  (including holidays and staff appreciation days, and a one-week holiday break at the end of the year), flexible and generous vacation and sick time, paid parental leave, and a sabbatical program (after 5 years of service). Our organizational culture is inclusive, entrepreneurial, flexible, and civically minded (learn more about our culture on hotbreadkitchen.org/careers).

 

HOW TO APPLY

 

  • Please include a cover letter and experience-aligned resume, including your pronouns.

  • Apply here at Hot Bread Kitchen’s Applicant Tracking System.

Due to the volume of applications, only complete applications sent via our Applicant Tracking System will be considered. Applications sent via LinkedIn or other third-party sites will not be accepted or reviewed.

 

Hot Bread Kitchen is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It does not discriminate against applicants based on race, religion, color, disability, medical condition, legally protected genetic information, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity or expression, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions), age, veteran status or other legally protected characteristics. Any applicant with a mental or physical disability who requires an accommodation during the application process should contact hr@hotbreadkitchen.org to request such an accommodation.