Director of Culinary

Placeholder; Singapore; On-site; SGD 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Avani Singapore is seeking an experienced Director of Culinary to lead the hotel’s culinary strategy through pre-opening and beyond. You will oversee all culinary operations, menu development, kitchen leadership, food quality, and innovation across outlets.

Reporting to the Director of Operations, you will recruit and mentor a high-performing team, manage food costs, and partner with cross-functional teams to deliver exceptional guest experiences from day one.

Qualifications

• Extensive leadership experience in international hotel or destination dining concepts.
• Proven ability to lead multiple kitchen operations and culinary teams.
• Strong commercial acumen with food costs, budgets, and profitability.

Responsibilities

• Lead culinary pre-opening workstream: kitchen setup, concept development, menu creation, sourcing, staffing, readiness.
• Develop and execute the hotel's culinary strategy aligned with Avani brand.
• Drive culinary innovation and memorable dining experiences across all outlets.
• Collaborate with F&B, Marketing, Revenue, and Operations to support commercial goals.
• Maintain top-tier food quality, presentation, hygiene, and consistency.
• Recruit, develop and inspire a high-performing culinary team.
• Manage food cost, inventory, and kitchen performance to meet financial targets.
• Build supplier relationships to ensure quality and support innovation.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Team development

Cost management

Menu development

Pre-opening experience

Brand alignment

Job description

Job Location: Avani Singapore

At Avani, we’re all about finding that perfect balance — between cool and kind, design and function, service and privacy. We’ve built our hotels and resorts around this philosophy: vibrant social spaces that vibe with the day, stylish rooms that simply work, and honest, locally inspired food. We embrace an upbeat service culture that genuinely respects the art of hospitality. With a growing portfolio across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Australia, Avani is a brand on the move. If you take real pride in the little things — and believe that a warm welcome and a genuine smile make all the difference — you’ll fit right in here. Avani Singapore Join the opening leadership team of Avani Singapore and play a pivotal role in delivering one of Singapore's most exciting new lifestyle hospitality destinations. This is a unique opportunity to shape the hotel's culinary identity from the ground up, create innovative dining experiences, and establish a food and beverage offering that resonates with both local and international guests from day one. At Avani, we create stylish and seamless experiences for modern travellers. We're looking for an experienced and visionary Director of Culinary to lead the hotel's culinary strategy through pre-opening and beyond.

Reporting to the Director of Operations, you will oversee all culinary operations, menu development, kitchen leadership, food quality, and culinary innovation across the hotel's restaurants, bars, in-room dining, banqueting, and special events.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the culinary pre-opening workstream, including kitchen setup, concept development, menu creation, supplier sourcing, team mobilization, operational readiness, and opening preparations
• Develop and execute the hotel's culinary strategy, ensuring concepts are commercially successful, relevant, and aligned with the Avani brand
• Drive innovation across all culinary offerings, creating memorable dining experiences for guests and local patrons
• Partner closely with Food & Beverage, Marketing, Revenue, and Operations teams to support commercial objectives and guest satisfaction
• Maintain exceptional standards of food quality, presentation, hygiene, and consistency across all outlets
• Recruit, develop, and inspire a high-performing culinary team while fostering a culture of creativity and excellence
• Manage food costs, productivity, inventory, and kitchen performance to achieve financial targets
• Build strong relationships with suppliers and partners to ensure product quality and support innovation

What We're Looking For

• Extensive culinary leadership experience within international hotels, lifestyle brands, or destination dining concepts
• Proven experience leading multiple kitchen operations, restaurant concepts, and culinary teams
• Strong commercial acumen with experience managing food costs, budgets, and profitability
• Passion for culinary innovation, guest experience, and developing distinctive food concepts
• Pre-opening hotel experience is strongly preferred
• Strong understanding of Singapore's dining scene, guest preferences, and emerging food and beverage trends
• Previous culinary leadership experience within Singapore hospitality would be highly advantageous
• Strong leadership, coaching, and talent development capabilities
• Established industry relationships and supplier networks are advantageous
• Fluent in English

Why Join Us?

Be part of a landmark hotel opening in Singapore

Join a globally recognised hospitality group

Work in a collaborative, people-focused culture

Shape the hotel's culinary identity and dining experiences from day one

Enjoy regional and international career development opportunities

Bring your creativity. Inspire exceptional dining experiences. Help shape the future of Avani Singapore.