Director, Culinary Services

Sodexo; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 119,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

401(k) Plan with Matching

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Sodexo Live! is seeking a strategic culinary leader to design and maintain the systems that power menu consistency, data accuracy, and recipe execution across multiple venues. You will partner with Regional Vice Presidents and liaison with GMs and district leadership to drive culinary excellence.

Based near Seattle, WA, you will lead data-driven culinary initiatives, collaborate with clients and celebrities, and influence food quality, cost visibility, and SOP development to scale operations.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in recipe development, standardization, and compliance across diverse food service environments.
• Technical skills in culinary data systems, including menu management platforms and nutritional databases.
• Skillset to create and implement scalable processes that ensure consistency, accuracy, and operational efficiency.
• Experience monitoring and improving recipe performance through data analysis and continuous refinement.
• Collaborative mindset with the skills to work cross-functionally to align culinary strategy with operational execution.

Responsibilities

• Design and maintain the operational backbone powering menu consistency, data accuracy, and recipe execution.
• Optimize culinary systems and streamline how food service data is created and applied across the field.
• Plan and manage people, direction, and resources, including performance reviews and hiring decisions.
• Collaborate with Regional VP teams and district leadership to align culinary strategy with operations.
• Lead initiatives that improve food quality, guest satisfaction, and operational reliability.

Skills

Recipe development

Standardization

Compliance

Culinary data systems

Data analysis

Menu management

Nutritional databases

Process optimization

Leadership mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Menu management platforms

Nutritional databases

Job description

Sodexo Live! is seeking an experienced, strategic, and collaborative culinary leader to support regional operations, strengthen business partnerships, and drive culinary excellence across multiple venues and accounts.

This role serves as a key business partner to Regional Vice Presidents (RVPs) and a culinary support liaison to unit General Managers (GMs), Executive Chefs (ECs), and district leadership.

About the job

In this systems-focused culinary leadership role, you'll design and maintain the operational backbone that powers menu consistency, data accuracy, and recipe execution across the organization. You'll play a critical role in optimizing culinary systems, ensuring quality standards, and streamlining how food service data is created, managed, and applied in the field.

Accountable for managing people, setting direction and deploying resources; typically is responsible for performance evaluation, pay reviews and hire/fire decisions. Results are primarily achieved through the work of others and typically depend on the manager's ability to influence and negotiate with parts of the organization. Progression within Career Band reflects acquisition of broad technical expertise, business and industry knowledge, and process and people leadership capabilities. Accountable for business, functional or operational areas, processes or programs, which may include dotted-line or matrixed management.

Pay Range

Pay Range: $119000 - $180070

Incentive Eligibility

Eligible to participate in Sodexo's incentive plan and earn variable compensation in addition to base salary

What's in it for you

Candidate must reside near the Seattle, WA market.

• Shape how culinary operations run by developing the systems and standards that ensure consistency and excellence.
• Design and implement workflows that drive efficiency and accuracy across menu and recipe management.
• Play a key role in aligning ingredient data, nutritional standards, and cost visibility across the organization.
• Contribute directly to the development of high-impact SOPs that enhance execution at scale.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration between culinary vision and operational systems.
• Lead efforts that influence food quality, guest satisfaction, and operational reliability.
• Gain visibility as a systems expert who bridges culinary creativity with data-driven execution.

What you'll bring

The successful candidate will provide culinary guidance, mentor and develop teams, uphold food quality and safety standards, and support business growth through innovative culinary programs and exceptional client experiences.

This individual will work closely with internal teams, clients, vendors, and celebrity chef partners to ensure consistency, innovation, and excellence across the region.

• Proven experience in recipe development, standardization, and compliance across diverse food service environments.
• Technical skills in culinary data systems, including menu management platforms and nutritional databases.
• Skillset to create and implement scalable processes that ensure consistency, accuracy, and operational efficiency.
• Experience monitoring and improving recipe performance through data analysis and continuous refinement.
• Collaborative mindset with the skills to work cross-functionally to align culinary strategy with operational execution.

Requirements

• Education Requirement: Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
• Management Experience: 5 years
• Related Experience: 5 years

What we offer

Compensation is fair and equitable, partially determined by a candidate's education level or years of relevant experience. Salary offers are based on a candidate's specific criteria, like experience, skills, education, and training. Sodexo offers a comprehensive benefits package that may include:

• Medical, Dental, Vision Care and Wellness Programs
• 401(k) Plan with Matching Contributions
• Paid Time Off and Company Holidays
• Career Growth Opportunities and Tuition Reimbursement

More extensive information is provided to new employees upon hire.

Who we are

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone and build a better life for all. We believe in improving the quality of life for those we serve and contributing to the economic, social, and environmental progress in the communities where we operate. Sodexo partners with clients to provide a truly memorable experience for both customers and employees alike. We do this by providing food service, catering, facilities management, and other integrated solutions worldwide.

Our company values you for you; you will be treated fairly and with respect, and you can be yourself. You will have your ideas count and your opinions heard because we can be a stronger team when you're happy at work. This is why we embrace diversity and inclusion as core values, fostering an environment where all employees are valued and respected.

We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to individuals regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, military status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.