SHI - STEAM Instructor - Indigenous Foods and Medicine

Job Title: SHI - STEAM Instructor - Indigenous Foods and Medicine

Job Summary:

The STEAM Instructor is responsible for planning and delivering hands-on workshops in the Indigenous Science Building (ISB) kitchen, promoting culturally relevant Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) education within Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) programs and partner school districts. The instructor will lead lessons related to traditional foods and medicines, while also handling the administrative responsibilities needed to support and sustain programming. This role requires strong cultural knowledge of Southeast Alaska Native traditions, the ability to teach middle and high school students, and the organizational skills necessary to coordinate facility use, scheduling, inventory, and logistics.
Duties/Responsibilities
Instruction and Program Delivery

• Design and lead culturally relevant STEAM workshops, with an emphasis on traditional foods and medicines.
• Support classroom teachers in partner school districts by assisting with culturally relevant STEAM curriculum delivery.
• Coordinate with guest instructors and partner organizations to offer a wide range of hands-on workshops for youth and community members.
• Assist with harvesting activities to support programming, including working with local harvesters and apprentices.

Program Coordination and Administration

• Manage the scheduling and logistics for the ISB kitchen to ensure consistent use, averaging 5 days per week.
• Collaborate with the SHI media team to promote programs and recruit participants.
• Develop registration forms, track attendance, and support participant communications.
• Assist in developing and maintaining policies and procedures for safe and efficient kitchen operations.
• Oversee and maintain kitchen inventory, ordering supplies and equipment as needed.
• Support rental coordination for outside groups using the ISB kitchen.

Safety and Compliance

• Maintain a clean and safe teaching kitchen environment.
• Hold a valid Food Manager Certification (e.g., ServSafe) or commit to obtaining certification within five (5) weeks of accepting the position (training support available).

Required Skills:

• Applicants must either currently hold a valid Food Manager Certification or be willing to obtain it within five (5) weeks of accepting the position. Support for certification training and testing may be available.
• Knowledge of Southeast Alaska Native culture and familiarity with Southeast Alaska communities.
• Experience working with middle and high school youth.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to balance instructional and administrative tasks.
• Effective verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Passion for creativity, innovation, and lifelong learning.
• Knowledge of food preservation processes (Jarring, dehydrating, freeze dry, etc.)

Supervisory Responsibility:

This position will have no direct reports.
Work Environment
This position is based at the Indigenous Science Building in Juneau, Alaska. Duties are performed in a mixed-use environment that include standard office settings and kitchen workshop spaces. The role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and filing cabinets.
Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to verbally communicate. This position is very active and requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, and climbing. The employee must frequently lift and/or move objects up to 20 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move objects up to 50 pounds.
About this Role
This is a full-time, benefited position. The standard workweek for SHI employees is 37.5 hours, typically scheduled Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. However, this role requires flexibility to accommodate evening and weekend workshops and events. Work hours will be adjusted as needed to support programming demands, while maintaining an average of 37.5 hours per week. Employees may occasionally be required to work up to or over 45 hours per week to meet workload demands, major programming needs, or special events such as Celebration.
Travel
Limited travel to support programming and outreach activities to be expected.

Required
Education and Experience:


• High school diploma or equivalent.
• At least three years of experience supporting youth in classroom or program settings.
• Experience developing and delivering culturally relevant lessons and activities

Preferred Education and Experience

• Two years of professional work experience in the education field.
• Five or more years of experience in a project-related area (e.g., ethnobotany, traditional food preparation, or culinary arts).

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Review the Benefits associated with this position: https://www.sealaska.com/benefits/
Salary Range: $57,000.00 - $70,000.00

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