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 current 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 Perks:
Best in class salary and attainable bonus
Medical, Dental,
Generous PTO
401k
Growth opportunities.

📌 Corporate Executive Chef Growing, Upscale Italian Open To Relo Palm Beach
🏢 Superior Talent Source
📍 Palm Beach