Culinary Director

Harper Associates Llc; Birmingham (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Harper Associates Llc is seeking an ambitious Culinary Director to lead the culinary vision and operations for two concepts: a casual Italian scratch kitchen and an upscale bar/lounge known for exceptional food and hospitality. This hands-on leader will develop menus, implement SOPs, and build a strong culinary team.

You will drive profitability, establish scalable systems, and partner with ownership and operations to support future expansion.

Qualifications

• Extensive culinary leadership in full-service or upscale concepts.
• Proven experience in scratch kitchens, menu development, and cost control.
• Strong business acumen with drive to improve profitability.
• Hands-on leader with creative vision and hospitality passion.

Responsibilities

• Oversee culinary operations and ensure food quality across two concepts.
• Develop menus, recipes, SOPs, and kitchen procedures.
• Manage menu costing, food cost controls, portions, and profitability.
• Recruit, train, mentor, and develop culinary teams.
• Create innovative, concept-driven menus aligned with guest experience.
• Engage with guests and gather feedback to drive improvements.
• Partner with ownership to improve performance and scale systems.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Menu development

Food cost controls

SOP implementation

Staff training

Guest engagement

Job description

We are seeking an ambitious, growth-oriented Culinary Director to lead the culinary vision and operations for two distinct concepts: a casual, full-service Italian restaurant with a scratch kitchen and an upscale bar/lounge known for exceptional food and hospitality. This is an exciting opportunity for a hands-on culinary leader who can develop compelling menus, establish operational systems, build strong teams, drive profitability, and play a key role in the company’s continued growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee culinary operations and maintain exceptional food quality and consistency across both concepts.
• Develop menus, recipes, SOPs, and standardized kitchen procedures.
• Manage menu costing, food cost controls, portioning, and profitability.
• Recruit, train, mentor, and develop high-performing culinary teams.
• Create innovative, concept-driven menus that complement each venue’s identity and guest experience.
• Maintain a visible presence in the dining rooms, touching tables, engaging with guests, and gathering feedback.
• Partner with ownership and operations leadership to improve performance, build scalable systems, and support future expansion.

Qualifications

• Extensive culinary leadership experience in full-service restaurants, upscale bars, lounges, or comparable hospitality concepts.
• Proven expertise in scratch kitchens, menu development, food costing, SOP implementation, and staff training.
• Strong business acumen with a track record of improving operational efficiency and financial performance.
• Hands‑on leadership style, creative vision, and a passion for exceptional food and hospitality.

The Opportunity

This is more than an operations role—it’s a chance to help shape the future of a growing hospitality company. We are looking for a forward‑thinking culinary leader who can elevate two unique concepts, develop exceptional teams, strengthen profitability, and help build the foundation for future growth. If you’re a creative, business‑minded culinary leader ready to make an impact and grow with an ambitious company, we want to hear from you.

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