Executive Culinary Manager

Topgolf; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 92,820 - 113,360; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free Play

Half-price dining

Health, dental, vision

401(k) match

Job summary

Topgolf is seeking an Executive Culinary Manager to lead all culinary operations at the venue, delivering exceptional, best-in-class dining experiences with a focus on quality, cost control, and team leadership. You will supervise the kitchen, manage inventory and labor costs, develop menus for events, and partner with venue leadership to drive performance in a high-energy, high-volume environment.

You will drive culinary excellence by standardizing recipes, maintaining presentation standards,

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of culinary management experience in a high-volume environment.
• Culinary degree, professional culinary certification, or equivalent training and experience in a high-volume full-service kitchen and events-driven environment preferred.
• Must be 21 years of age or older as required by state or local law.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Kitchen Team by supervising, coaching, and developing the culinary staff to deliver best-in-class dining.
• Manage Culinary Operations including inventory, ordering, cost control, safety and sanitation.
• Drive Culinary Excellence through recipe selection, standardization, and event menu planning.
• Partner Across the Business by coordinating with venue leadership, Home Office, and vendors.

Skills

Culinary management

People leadership

Food cost management

Menu development

Education

Culinary degree or certification

Job description

About Topgolf

Topgolf is a sports entertainment company that has changed how millions of people experience golf and where you can build a serious career. Our venues are high-energy, high-volume environments where performance matters and results are visible. Every day, we bring together golf, food and beverage, events, and entertainment into one experience that keeps guests coming back.

What We’re Seeking

Do you think about food from the guest's first impression to the last bite? Are you as comfortable talking about food cost and labor efficiency as you are developing menus that excite people? Can you build a kitchen culture that performs under pressure and takes pride in what they put out?

We're looking for an Executive Culinary Manager who leads a culinary operation with both creativity and business discipline. Someone who develops their team drives quality and consistency at scale and brings an operator's mindset to every decision. The food here matters. It's part of the experience, not an afterthought.

If you want to lead a culinary program that people actually talk about, bring your standards here.

THE ROLE

The Executive Culinary Manager leads all culinary operations at the venue, ensuring guests receive exceptional, consistent, best-in‑class dining experiences. This role requires two critical skill sets: deep culinary expertise and strong people leadership.

The Executive Culinary Manager supervises, trains, coaches, and develops the kitchen team, while also managing the full scope of culinary operations; scheduling, inventory, ordering, food and labor cost management, safety and sanitation, vendor relationships, and menu development.

As a leader of a high-energy, guest-facing venue, this role requires a flexible schedule including evenings, weekends, and holidays, with availability to work extended hours during peak periods, special events, and high-volume seasons.

What You Will Do

Lead the Kitchen Team

• Supervise the culinary team in delivering best-in‑class dining experiences across all occasions
• Coach, develop, and drive engagement with kitchen Team members daily
• Delegate effectively and hold team members accountable for standards and execution
• Build a kitchen culture rooted in excellence, care, and continuous improvement

Manage Culinary Operations

• Monitor inventory, order product, and maintain strong vendor relationships
• Maintain food and labor costs according to budget, with a full understanding of COGS
• Ensure proper equipment operation, maintenance, and kitchen safety
• Oversee all safety and sanitation standards and ensure full regulatory compliance

Drive Culinary Excellence

• Select, develop, and standardize recipes to corporate approval to ensure consistent quality
• Establish and maintain presentation techniques and quality standards
• Plan and cost menus for special events and chef‑choice occasions
• Utilize culinary innovation to elevate the guest experience

Partner Across the Business

• Communicate and effectively partner with venue leadership, Home Office, and vendors
• Develop and implement action plans in response to performance opportunities
• Demonstrate Topgolf's core values: Fun, One Team, Excellence, Courage, and Caring

CORE COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESS

Drives Results

Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.

• Pushes the kitchen team to achieve and maintain the highest culinary standards
• Drives a track record of success through consistent food quality, cost management, and team performance
• Fosters a sense of urgency and accountability for hitting food cost, labor, and service targets
• Leads the team to persist and maintain performance standards even during peak volume

Builds Effective Teams

Building strong‑identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.

• Develops and retains a high‑performing kitchen team through coaching and mentorship
• Ensures the team has the right skills and leverages individual culinary strengths
• Communicates clear goals, roles, and production standards to all kitchen Team members
• Creates a team culture of pride, craftsmanship, and continuous improvement

Plans and Aligns

Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals.

• Addresses risks and contingencies as part of the culinary planning and prep process
• Finds the right balance between production planning and adjusting to event or volume changes
• Ensures the kitchen's plans and priorities are coordinated with the broader venue Operations team
• Plans ahead to make sure critical ingredients, staffing, and resources are lined up for service and events

Ensures Accountability

Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.

• Monitors food cost, labor cost, and waste metrics and adjusts operations accordingly
• Holds self and team accountable for safety, sanitation, and compliance standards
• Accepts responsibility for kitchen performance and acts decisively to drive improvement
• Follows through on commitments to leadership, vendors, and the broader venue team

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of culinary management experience in a high-volume environment
• Culinary degree, professional culinary certification, or equivalent training and experience in a high-volume full-service kitchen and events-driven environment preferred
• Must be 21 years of age or older as required by state or local law

Physical Requirements

• Ability to remain on your feet and in motion for extended periods throughout the shift, including standing, walking, and navigating a fast-paced kitchen environment; this role operates in a high-volume kitchen and requires sustained physical stamina throughout the duration of each shift
• Ability to lift, carry, and move items up to 50 pounds independently and up to 75 pounds with assistance, including food products, equipment, supplies, and delivery transport across multiple levels of the venue
• Ability to navigate stairs, ramps, and multi-level areas of the venue when transporting food, coordinating events, or overseeing service delivery
• Ability to work in varying temperature environments on a frequent basis, including hot kitchen conditions, walk-in coolers, and freezers
• Ability to perform repetitive hand and wrist motions including cutting, stirring, lifting, and operating kitchen equipment throughout the shift
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in a high-energy venue environment that may include moderate to high levels of background noise
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-volume environment while maintaining focus, food safety standards, and quality under pressure

Sounds like a fit? We can't wait to meet you!

Salary Range $92,820-$113,360

Benefits

Free Play & 1/2 price food! Health, dental, vision, 401(k) team member match, free mental well-being platform – and that's just for starters for those who qualify. View team member benefits here.

ADA

The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential functions of the job. Specific circumstances may allow or require some incumbents assigned to the job to perform a different combination of duties.

EEO Statement

Topgolf is a global sports and entertainment community and is committed to equal opportunity and is firmly committed to preventing discrimination and harassment, including sexual misconduct, based on legally protected diversity characteristics (such as race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family status, citizenship, genetic information and veteran status) in its application and hiring processes and in its employment decisions. As an affirmative action employer, Topgolf also takes steps to prevent retaliation and to create a respectful, equitable and inclusive environment for our Guests, Associates, business partners, vendors, and the communities we serve.

Topgolf is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer and administers all personnel practices without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, veteran status, genetics or any other category protected under applicable law.

Soliciting Agency Resumes

Topgolf Entertainment Group does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. Please do not forward unsolicited agency resumes to our website, employees or Human Resources. Topgolf will not pay fees for unsolicited agency resumes and will not be responsible for any agency fees associated with unsolicited resumes. Unsolicited resumes received will be considered property of Topgolf Entertainment Group and will be processed accordingly without fee.

E-Verify

Topgolf participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.