Remote Culinary Director: Menu Innovator & Brand Steward

Placements24; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work

Home office setup support

Career advancement

Job summary

Placements24 is recruiting a Remote Culinary Director for a leading bespoke catering group. This role leads culinary strategy from a remote-first stance, defining menus, standards, and a global culinary identity across projects.

You will manage dispersed chefs and culinary professionals, collaborate with sales and events, ensure food safety and cost control, and create scalable remote recipes that travel well and delight clients.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in a senior culinary leadership role (Executive Chef/Culinary Director) in catering or hospitality.
• Expertise in menu engineering, food costing, and operations management.
• Strong understanding of global cuisines, dietary needs, and food presentation.
• Proven ability to lead, inspire, and manage remote teams effectively.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain the culinary vision and standards for all catering events and services.
• Design, develop, and refine high-quality menus reflecting trends and client expectations.
• Lead and mentor a dispersed team of chefs remotely, fostering innovation and growth.
• Collaborate with sales and event teams to present bespoke culinary solutions to clients.
• Ensure rigorous adherence to food safety, hygiene, and quality control across operations.
• Manage food costs, inventory, and supplier relationships to optimize profitability.
• Conduct virtual culinary training sessions and workshops for the team.
• Oversee development of new recipes and techniques scalable for remote execution.

Skills

Leadership

Menu engineering

Food costing

Remote team leadership

Strategic thinking

Excellent communication

Education

Culinary Arts degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Slack

Zoom

Trello

Culinary software

Job description

Placements24 is recruiting a Remote Culinary Director for a leading bespoke catering group. This role leads culinary strategy from a remote-first stance, defining menus, standards, and a global culinary identity across projects.

You will manage dispersed chefs and culinary professionals, collaborate with sales and events, ensure food safety and cost control, and create scalable remote recipes that travel well and delight clients.