Culinary Director

Compass Group USA; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Vision

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Holiday Time Off

Employee Assistance Program

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Job summary

Bon Appetit Management Company, part of Compass Group USA, seeks a Culinary Director to provide strategic culinary leadership across multiple locations. You will lead teams, develop innovative menus, and drive operational excellence in a fast-paced, guest-focused environment.

The role emphasizes hands-on leadership, trend awareness, and continuous improvement to deliver world-class food, beverage, and service standards across a growing portfolio.

Qualifications

• Minimum of four (4) years in an Executive Chef or equivalent senior culinary leadership role.
• Experience leading high-volume and complex foodservice operations.
• Strong knowledge of menu development, recipes, cost controls, and culinary standards.
• Ability to work extended hours based on business needs.
• Working knowledge of kitchen design, layouts, and foodservice construction practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead and cook by example while guiding culinary teams to deliver high‑quality dishes.
• Develop recipes, portion specs, and standard preparation procedures for all items.
• Hire, train, and mobilize kitchen and service teams to ensure superior guest experiences.
• Monitor food cost, labor, inventory, and procurement to meet budgets.
• Lead culinary leadership across multiple locations and support new openings.

Skills

Executive leadership

Menu development

Team building

Budgeting

Food safety

Culinary operations

Education

Culinary degree or certificate

ServSafe / Food Safety Handler certifications

Degree in Culinary Arts preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Outlook

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

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Our Passion is Food!
At Bon Appetit Management Company we are committed to two things, great food and outstanding service! At Bon Appetit you won't find our managers referring to a corporate recipe book or our chefs microwaving the lunch special. We do not have standardized recipes or central commissaries, instead, our chefs and managers are expected to stay abreast of current culinary trends and bring cutting edge food into their cafes. We are a restaurant company that operates in contract food service. That means you will have the freedom to be creative, take risks, and truly shine. We are committed to our staff growing, trying new things, and learning all that they can. Our rapid growth and breadth of accounts translates into exciting opportunities for our people!

Job Summary

Bon Appetit Food Management Company is searching for a dedicated Culinary Director to join our team. Our ideal candidate shares our passion for delivering the highest quality food, beverage, and service while taking great pride in their work and their ability to positively impact both guests and team members.

This best-in‑class opportunity requires a hands‑on, highly organized, creative innovator who thrives in a fast‑paced environment and is an inspiring leader committed to continuous learning and improvement. The ideal candidate stays current in culinary trends, understands diverse dining experiences, and has the ability to lead culinary programs while developing high‑performing teams and operational systems.

This position plays a critical role in a growing portfolio and offers the opportunity to help shape Bon Appétit's future culinary direction. As the business continues to expand, the Culinary Director will provide strategic culinary leadership and oversight across multiple locations nationally, partnering with operations leaders, clients, and support teams to drive consistency, innovation, operational excellence, and guest satisfaction.

They will be responsible for delivering culinary programming and cooking principles that uphold our world‑class reputation by establishing criteria for menu content and execution, production logistics, procurement protocols, and operational standards. The successful candidate will achieve food cost, labor, and menu mix goals while continuously evaluating performance metrics and incorporating client and guest feedback into menu development and programming, always striving to exceed expectations.

In addition to operational leadership, this role will support new business development, facility planning, renovation projects, and kitchen design initiatives. The ideal candidate will be comfortable reviewing architectural drawings and blueprints, understanding commercial kitchen design and workflow, interpreting building and health code requirements, and collaborating with architects, engineers, consultants, and construction teams to develop innovative and efficient culinary spaces.

Multi‑unit restaurant, hotel/resort, banquet, and catering operations experience, along with deep multicultural culinary knowledge, is highly preferred. Highly motivated professionals who are detail‑oriented, committed to locally sourced and artisanal products, and passionate about innovation are encouraged to apply.

Bon Appetit is dedicated to being the benchmark in food service management. This could be the next step in your career.

Responsibilities

• Lead and cook by example while providing guidance and mentorship to all culinary team members.
• Ensure kitchen operations are established and can run smoothly and efficiently in your absence.
• Develop and maintain recipes, portion specifications, and standard preparation procedures for all menu items.
• Coordinate training activities for kitchen and back‑of‑house associates to meet service level standards.
• Hire, train, and mobilize kitchen and service teams with precision to provide impeccable guest experiences.
• Determine purchasing specifications and budgetary allotments for menu items.
• Prepare operational reports and analyses, identify trends, and recommend solutions for continued success.
• Maintain complete knowledge of and compliance with all company policies, service procedures, standards, and health department regulations while ensuring excellent kitchen hygiene conditions.
• Possess a strong understanding of invoice tracking, labor management, scheduling, food cost management, inventory control, and employment practices.
• Conduct regular inspections to evaluate food quality, presentation, service standards, sanitation, equipment condition, and employee performance.
• Manage all culinary operations across multiple locations, including direct supervision of culinary leadership teams.
• Monitor operations and provide support where needed to ensure service standards and operational efficiency are maintained.
• Provide strategic culinary leadership and support for business growth initiatives, new location openings, and operational expansion.
• Review and interpret architectural plans, kitchen layouts, construction documents, and blueprints to ensure operational functionality and efficiency.
• Partner with architects, engineers, consultants, project managers, and construction teams on kitchen design, equipment selection, workflow optimization, and facility planning.
• Support capital improvement projects, kitchen renovations, facility upgrades, and new construction projects from concept through completion.
• Ensure compliance with applicable building codes, health department requirements, fire and life‑safety standards, ADA requirements, and foodservice design best practices.
• Maintain and supervise sanitation, safe food handling practices, and workplace safety as required by OSHA, state, and federal regulations.
• Demonstrate mastery of food production, culinary techniques, and specialized dietary programs.
• Lead menu development, recipe standardization, quality assurance initiatives, and culinary innovation efforts.
• Interview, hire, onboard, train, coach, and develop culinary talent while creating opportunities for growth and advancement.
• Foster a positive work environment that promotes engagement, accountability, productivity, and retention.
• Assist in developing labor budgets and financial plans that support business goals.
• Support both front‑of‑house and back‑of‑house operations in all business aspects.
• Ensure compliance with company standards, purchasing programs, safety policies, client requirements, and operational expectations.
• Collaborate with regional support teams to develop menus and culinary programming that align with company objectives.
• Deliver on financial, operational, guest satisfaction, and food safety goals across the business.

Qualifications

• Creative problem‑solver who brings passion, enthusiasm, and fresh ideas.
• Proven track record of being organized, dependable, and self‑motivated.
• Strong team builder with demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and inspire teams.
• Ability to work independently and effectively manage relationships at all organizational levels.
• Ability to work extended hours based on business needs.
• Flexibility to work days, evenings, weekends, and holidays as required.
• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing P&Ls, budgets, labor, and food cost controls.
• Degree, training, or certification in Culinary Arts, Hospitality, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of four (4) years in an Executive Chef or equivalent senior culinary leadership role.
• Ten (10)+ years of progressive culinary management experience.
• Experience leading high‑volume and complex foodservice operations.
• Experience reviewing and interpreting architectural plans, commercial kitchen layouts, equipment specifications, and construction blueprints.
• Working knowledge of commercial kitchen design, workflow optimization, foodservice facility planning, and operational readiness.
• Understanding of building codes, health department regulations, ADA requirements, fire and life‑safety standards, and foodservice construction practices.
• Experience supporting new construction, kitchen remodels, renovations, and capital projects.
• Ability to provide strategic culinary oversight across multiple locations and geographic regions.
• ServSafe and Food Safety Handler certifications required.
• Culinary degree or certificate preferred.

Bon Appetit is a member of Compass Group USA.

Associates at Bon Appetit are offered many fantastic benefits.

• Medical
• Vision
• Life Insurance/ AD
• Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
• Associate Shopping Program
• Health and Wellness Programs
• Discount Marketplace
• Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Personal Leave

Associates may also be eligible for paid and/or unpaid time off benefits in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

https://www.compass-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023_WageTransparency_BAMCO.pdf

Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer. At Compass, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.

Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with a criminal history (including relevant driving history), in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York Fair Chance Act.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Bon Appetit maintains a drug‑free workplace.