Culinary Project Leader — High-Volume Events

Cotton Holdings Inc.; National (MD); On-site; USD 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

Cotton Holdings Inc. is seeking an experienced Culinary Project Manager to oversee high-volume culinary events, lead menu development, and manage kitchen operations from start to finish.

You will drive culinary excellence from concept through execution, ensuring quality, safety, and on-time delivery. The ideal candidate combines hands-on cooking skills with strong project management, budgeting and inventory control, staff supervision, vendor coordination, and clear communication with clients to

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of professional culinary experience.
• Culinary degree preferred, or equivalent experience in a fast-paced kitchen environment.
• Expertise in food cost management, labor cost control, inventory management, and large-scale menu planning.
• Leadership in managing teams, developing talent, and leading culinary projects from concept to completion.
• Willingness to travel and adapt to changing schedules to meet operational demands, including occasional work outside regular hours.
• Valid Drivers License with reliable transportation.

Responsibilities

• Culinary Leadership: Manage all culinary aspects of high-volume events, from menu planning and food preparation to supervising kitchen staff.
• Budget & Cost Management: Oversee food and labor costs, ensuring alignment with event budgets.
• Menu Development: Create innovative and diverse menus tailored to client needs.
• Inventory Management: Handle ordering, inventory control, and vendor coordination.
• Event Management: Lead pre-event planning through post-event cleanup, including staffing and on-site communication.
• Team Management: Supervise and mentor culinary staff, ensuring smooth operations and teamwork.
• Client Relations: Serve as the primary culinary contact for clients during events and address concerns.
• Project Coordination: Collaborate with Business Development, kitchen managers, and vendors to ensure all event details are in place.
• High-Volume Event Execution: Manage large-scale events with flawless kitchen-to-guest execution.

Skills

Culinary Leadership

Budget & Cost Management

Menu Development

Inventory Management

Event Management

Team Management

Client Relations

Project Coordination

High-Volume Event Execution

Education

Culinary degree (preferred)

Job description

Cotton Holdings Inc. is seeking an experienced Culinary Project Manager to oversee high-volume culinary events, lead menu development, and manage kitchen operations from start to finish.

You will drive culinary excellence from concept through execution, ensuring quality, safety, and on-time delivery. The ideal candidate combines hands-on cooking skills with strong project management, budgeting and inventory control, staff supervision, vendor coordination, and clear communication with clients to