Director of Culinary Operations

We are seeking a Director of Culinary Operations to serve as the strategic culinary leader for a growing, chef-driven Italian restaurant and specialty market organization rooted in authenticity, craftsmanship, and hospitality.

This role is designed for a builder—a culinary executive who can elevate standards, develop leaders, strengthen operational infrastructure, and position the organization for sustainable expansion. The Director of Culinary Operations partners directly with ownership to translate culinary vision into scalable systems, strong teams, and consistently exceptional execution across locations.

Strategic Leadership Responsibilities

Culinary Vision & Program Architecture

• Design comprehensive culinary programs from initial menu concepts through execution standards at store level
• Lead seasonal menu strategy and product lifecycle planning
• Establish recipe standards, execution protocols, and presentation expectations that scale with growth

Organizational Leadership & Talent Development

• Identify, recruit, mentor, and develop Executive Chefs and Kitchen Managers capable of leading future locations
• Establish performance accountability structures across culinary teams
• Foster a culture defined by ownership, standards, collaboration, and continuous improvement

Operational Excellence & Infrastructure

• Build systems that ensure consistent execution across all kitchen operations
• Standardize training processes, onboarding frameworks, and culinary SOPs
• Support successful rollout of new menus, initiatives, and operational improvements

Financial Performance

• Own culinary-side P&L performance across locations
• Optimize food cost, labor efficiency, and production workflows
• Build strategic vendor partnerships aligned with quality and margin expectations

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Minimum 5 years of experience as a Culinary Director or in a similar leadership role
• Strong knowledge of various cooking methods, ingredients, kitchen equipment, and food preparation procedures
• Demonstrated success in managing and developing culinary staff
• Bilingual English and Spanish preferred
• Knowledge of Italian cooking techniques and recipes preferred

Compensation and Benefits:

• 125k-135k base + bonus
• Medical, Dental, Vision
• Generous PTO
• 401k
• Career Growth