Culinary Operations Director

I.K. Hofmann USA, Inc.; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

I.K. Hofmann USA, Inc.

is seeking a senior operations leader to oversee a large-scale culinary and production operation, with responsibility for food safety, quality, operational performance, cost control, team development, and continuous improvement. The ideal candidate will combine culinary operations and manufacturing leadership, be comfortable leading multisite teams in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment, and demonstrate 10+ years of leadership in high-volume food production, with

Qualifications

• 10+ years of leadership in high-volume food production or large-scale operations.
• Strong background in production management and regulatory compliance (HACCP, GMP).
• Experience leading large teams in complex production environments.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and production planning.
• Continuous improvement or Lean manufacturing experience.
• Proven ability to improve quality, efficiency, costs, and team performance.
• Comfort balancing culinary quality with production discipline.

Responsibilities

• Lead large-scale culinary and food production operations.
• Drive food safety, sanitation, quality, and regulatory compliance.
• Oversee production planning, scheduling, and process controls.
• Manage labor, food costs, waste, productivity, and KPIs.
• Implement standardized processes and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Champion Lean manufacturing and operational excellence principles.
• Develop and lead culinary, supervisory, and production teams.
• Partner cross-functionally with Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, and other operational teams.
• Use data and performance metrics to improve efficiency, quality, and overall business results.

Skills

Leadership experience

Production management

Food safety & quality systems

HACCP & GMP knowledge

ERP/MRP systems

Lean manufacturing

Continuous improvement

Data-driven decision making

Team development

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

This is a senior leadership role overseeing a complex culinary and production operation, with responsibility for food safety, quality, operational performance, cost control, team development, and continuous improvement.

The ideal candidate will bring a strong combination of culinary operations and large-scale food production/manufacturing leadership and be comfortable leading teams in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead large-scale culinary and food production operations
• Drive food safety, sanitation, quality, and regulatory compliance
• Oversee production planning, scheduling, and process controls
• Manage labor, food costs, waste, productivity, quality, and operational KPIs
• Implement standardized processes and continuous improvement initiatives
• Champion Lean manufacturing and operational excellence principles
• Develop and lead culinary, supervisory, and production teams
• Partner cross-functionally with Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, and other operational teams
• Use data and performance metrics to improve efficiency, quality, and overall business results

What We’re Looking For

• 10+ years of leadership experience in high-volume food production, food manufacturing, commissary operations, large-scale culinary operations, or a similar environment
• Strong background in production management, food safety, quality systems, and operational performance
• Experience managing large teams and complex production environments
• Knowledge of HACCP, GMP, and applicable food safety/regulatory standards
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and production planning
• Continuous improvement or Lean manufacturing experience
• Proven success improving quality, efficiency, cost, and team performance

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced operational leader who knows how to balance culinary quality with the discipline and efficiency of large-scale production.

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