Remote Virtual Events Culinary Director

Placements24; Queenstown; Hybrid; NZD 264,000 - 405,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote

Global delivery

Medical aid

Competitive salary

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Remote Virtual Events Culinary Director to lead innovative culinary initiatives for global virtual and hybrid experiences. This senior role shapes cutting-edge concepts, designs food-related virtual activities, and oversees meal kit and ingredient production shipped worldwide.

You will collaborate with technology partners, event planners, and marketing teams to deliver memorable food experiences, backed by a strong gastronomy background and remote leadership experience.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in senior culinary roles with concept development, menu engineering, and project management.
• Experience developing and executing food programs for large-scale virtual or distributed events.
• Understanding of food logistics, packaging, and shipping for perishable goods.
• Strong creative vision and ability to translate concepts into tangible culinary experiences.
• Excellent leadership, strategic thinking, and communication, including remote teams.
• Familiarity with virtual event platforms is a plus.
• Ability to manage budgets and P&Ls; global cuisines knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and develop culinary strategies for virtual and hybrid events.
• Lead creation of meal kits, recipes, and remote delivery experiences.
• Develop engaging content related to food and beverage for virtual platforms (e.g., cooking demos, tasting sessions).
• Collaborate with chefs, food scientists, and packaging experts to ensure quality and safety of delivered components.
• Manage relationships with food suppliers, logistics partners, and culinary talent for remote projects.
• Define operational workflows and standards for the remote culinary team and external partners.
• Ensure all culinary offerings align with brand standards, client objectives, and budgets.
• Conduct market research to identify emerging trends in virtual dining and event catering.
• Present culinary concepts and strategies to internal teams and external clients.
• Drive innovation in how food and beverage enhance virtual event engagement and participant satisfaction.

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting & P&L

Remote collaboration

Communication & presentation

Education

Culinary degree or equivalent

Tools

Virtual event platforms

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a pioneer in virtual and hybrid event experiences, is seeking a visionary Remote Virtual Events Culinary Director to lead their innovative culinary initiatives. This is a fully remote, senior-level position, offering the unique opportunity to shape the future of food experiences delivered digitally. You will be responsible for developing cutting-edge culinary concepts, designing engaging food-related virtual activities, and overseeing the creation of high‑quality meal kits and ingredients shipped directly to participants globally. Your role will involve extensive collaboration with technology partners, event planners, and marketing teams to ensure a seamless and exceptional experience for virtual attendees. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of gastronomy, a flair for creative presentation, and proven experience in conceptualizing and executing large‑scale culinary projects in a remote or distributed environment. You will be instrumental in defining how food integrates with virtual events, ensuring a memorable and impactful experience for all participants.

Key Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and develop innovative culinary strategies and program designs for virtual and hybrid events.
• Lead the creation of unique, high‑quality meal kits, recipes, and food experiences tailored for remote delivery.
• Oversee the development of engaging content related to food and beverage for virtual platforms (e.g., cooking demos, tasting sessions).
• Collaborate with chefs, food scientists, and packaging experts to ensure the quality, safety, and appeal of delivered culinary components.
• Manage relationships with food suppliers, logistics partners, and culinary talent for remote projects.
• Define operational workflows and standards for the remote culinary team and external partners.
• Ensure all culinary offerings align with brand standards, client objectives, and budgetary constraints.
• Conduct market research to identify emerging trends in virtual dining and event catering.
• Present culinary concepts and strategies to internal teams and external clients.
• Drive innovation in how food and beverage enhance virtual event engagement and participant satisfaction.

Requirements

• Minimum of 8 years of experience in a senior culinary role, with a significant focus on concept development, menu engineering, and project management.
• Proven experience in developing and executing food programs for large‑scale events or distributed audiences.
• Demonstrated understanding of food logistics, packaging, and shipping for perishable goods.
• Exceptional creative vision and the ability to translate abstract concepts into tangible culinary experiences.
• Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with experience working in remote teams.
• Familiarity with virtual event platforms and technologies is a plus.
• Ability to manage budgets and P&Ls effectively.
• A strong understanding of global cuisines and dietary trends.
• Culinary degree or equivalent extensive professional experience required.

Benefits

• Fully remote position, allowing you to work from Queenstown, Eastern Cape or anywhere in South Africa.
• Highly competitive salary and significant performance‑based bonus potential.
• Comprehensive medical aid, life insurance, and retirement savings contributions.
• Generous paid time off and flexible work hours.
• Opportunity to be a pioneer in the rapidly growing virtual events industry.
• Continuous learning and professional development opportunities.
• Impactful role shaping the future of event experiences.