ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Culinary Creative Director Jobs in Alabama (NOW HIRING)

Summer Village

Culinary Service Director

Auburn, AL · On-site

$70K - $79K/yr

Creative and Passionate Culinary Service Director to join our team of Senior Living Professionals! What you can expect as a Culinary Service Director: * Incentivized Annual Bonus Opportunities

Summer Village

Culinary Service Director

Auburn, AL · On-site

Creative and Passionate Culinary Service Director to join our team of Senior Living Professionals! What you can expect as a Culinary Service Director: * Incentivized Annual Bonus Opportunities

All JobsCulinary Creative JobsCulinary Creative Director JobsCulinary Creative Director Jobs in Alabama

Culinary Creative Director information

What is a culinary creative director?

A Culinary Creative Director is a professional responsible for overseeing the creative direction and vision of a restaurant, hospitality group, or food brand. They develop innovative menus, conceptualize dining experiences, and ensure the culinary offerings align with the brand’s identity and goals. This role often involves collaborating with chefs, designers, and marketing teams to create memorable and cohesive food experiences. Culinary Creative Directors stay on top of food trends and often play a key part in launching new concepts or revitalizing existing ones.

What are some common challenges faced by a culinary creative director when introducing new menu concepts?

A Culinary Creative Director often encounters challenges such as balancing creativity with operational feasibility, ensuring that new menu items can be executed consistently across various locations, and aligning innovative ideas with the brand’s identity and customer preferences. Collaboration with kitchen staff, procurement teams, and marketing is essential to successfully launch new concepts. Additionally, they must consider food cost, sourcing of unique ingredients, and scalability, all while maintaining high-quality standards and meeting tight deadlines.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a culinary creative director, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Culinary Creative Director, you need extensive culinary expertise, a strong portfolio of menu development, and leadership experience, often supported by a degree from a culinary school. Familiarity with menu design software, food costing systems, and industry-standard kitchen equipment is essential. Creativity, team leadership, and strong communication skills set outstanding candidates apart in this role. These abilities are critical for driving innovative dining concepts, ensuring operational excellence, and inspiring culinary teams to deliver exceptional guest experiences.

What is the difference between Culinary Creative Director vs Executive Chef?

AspectCulinary Creative DirectorExecutive Chef
Primary FocusDeveloping culinary concepts, menu innovation, brand visionManaging kitchen operations, food preparation, staff supervision
Required Credentials Culinary arts background, culinary certifications, creative portfolio Culinary arts degree, culinary certifications, extensive kitchen experience
Work EnvironmentCorporate kitchens, restaurant chains, food brandsRestaurant kitchens, hotels, resorts
Industry UsageUsed in food branding, menu development, culinary innovationUsed in restaurant management, kitchen operations

The Culinary Creative Director focuses on developing innovative culinary concepts and shaping brand identity, often working in corporate or food branding environments. In contrast, the Executive Chef manages daily kitchen operations and staff in restaurants or hotels. Both roles require culinary expertise, but their core responsibilities and work settings differ significantly.

Who can become a culinary creative director?

A culinary creative director typically has extensive experience in the food industry, often with a background as a chef or culinary professional. They usually possess strong leadership, creativity, and knowledge of food trends, along with skills in menu development and branding. Formal education in culinary arts and a proven track record of innovative work are common requirements.

What are popular job titles related to Culinary Creative Director jobs in Alabama?

For Culinary Creative Director jobs in Alabama, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Culinary Creative Director jobs in Alabama look for?

The top searched job categories for Culinary Creative Director jobs in Alabama are:

What cities in Alabama are hiring for Culinary Creative Director jobs?

Cities in Alabama with the most Culinary Creative Director job openings:

Culinary Creative Director jobs near you

Director of Restaurants

Elevation Convening Center & Hotel

Montgomery, AL • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 10 days ago

Job description

Join Ithaka Hospitality Partners on an Exciting Journey!
Are you ready to be part of something extraordinary? Ithaka Hospitality Partners is seeking a visionary and service-driven Director of Restaurants to join our dynamic leadership team at Elevation Convening Center & Hotel.
We are growing and seeking talented leaders to join our team. Ithaka Hospitality Partners is searching for a Director of Restaurants to oversee all front-of-house operations for AYA Soulful Dining (our three-meal restaurant and In-Room Dining) and Elevation Café. This role includes direct supervision of the Café Manager and full operational responsibility as AYA's General Manager. The Director of Restaurants is essential in driving guest satisfaction, operational excellence, financial performance, and team development across both outlets.
Job Summary:
The Director of Restaurants provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for AYA Soulful Dining and Elevation Café. This role ensures that all outlets operate in alignment with Ithaka Hospitality Partners' service standards, culinary quality, brand identity, and financial objectives.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Oversight
  • Serve as the General Manager of AYA, overseeing all dining periods, service execution, and In-Room Dining operations.
  • Provide direct oversight and guidance to the Elevation Café Manager, ensuring consistent standards, scheduling, and service execution.
  • Ensure all outlet leaders and team members operate in alignment with IHP's standards of excellence and hospitality philosophy.
  • Maintain active presence on the floor in both outlets to observe service, coach teams, support operations, and ensure seamless dining experiences.
  • Ensure proper shift coverage for AYA and Café, stepping in as needed to maintain smooth operations.
  • Conduct regular walk-throughs of both outlets focusing on cleanliness, readiness, ambiance, and service flow.

Guest Satisfaction
  • Monitor guest satisfaction in both AYA and Elevation Café, ensuring food quality, beverage execution, and service delivery consistently exceed expectations.
  • Respond promptly and professionally to guest concerns; follow through to resolution and coach team members on service recovery.
  • Maintain high visibility during peak periods, interacting with guests and ensuring exceptional hospitality.

Training & Development
  • Lead daily pre-shift huddles across both outlets to communicate key updates, menu changes, service expectations, and reservations.
  • Plan and conduct monthly departmental meetings for AYA and Elevation Café.
  • Interview, hire, train, coach, and discipline team members and supervisors in both outlets as needed.
  • Partner with IHP Leadership to create and maintain all written training programs and ensure completion of all Schoox training modules.
  • Develop Elevation Café Manager through ongoing leadership coaching, operational training, and accountability structures.
  • Support cross-training initiatives between AYA, Café, Banquets, and IRD teams.

Financial Management
  • Oversee financial performance for both AYA and Elevation Café, including revenue management, cost controls, and expense oversight.
  • Complete and analyze daily revenue reports, recaps, and forecasting documents.
  • Ensure labor management aligns with business demands while controlling costs and maintaining service quality.
  • Use Point of Sale data to drive decision-making around menu performance, pricing, guest trends, and operational efficiency.
  • Oversee requisition processes for both outlets and ensure accuracy in purchasing and inventory management.

Menu Development & Beverage Programming
  • Collaborate with the Director of Operations, Kitchen Manager, and Culinary Creative Director on menu changes, seasonal offerings, and new beverage programs for both AYA and Elevation Café.
  • Administer verbal and written testing for FOH teams to ensure menu knowledge, wine knowledge, and product understanding.
  • Lead beverage and coffee service training across both outlets; support additional training in banquets and IRD as needed.

Quality Assurance & Compliance
  • Ensure both AYA and Elevation Café operate in compliance with ServSafe, health code regulations, and IHP cleanliness standards.
  • Achieve and maintain a score of 98 or higher on all health inspections.
  • Oversee proactive maintenance for all FOH equipment in both outlets, ensuring PM schedules and repairs are completed promptly.
  • Ensure outlets consistently reflect brand standards, ambiance, and cleanliness.

Flexibility & Collaboration
  • Must have the ability to work a flexible schedule including nights, weekends, and holidays.
  • Assist IHP Leadership with forecasting roasted coffee needs and future growth planning for all café-related offerings.
  • Collaborate closely with Banquets, IRD, and other hotel departments to support cross-outlet excellence.

Software & Systems Knowledge
  • Create and manage schedules for AYA and Café staff using ADP.
  • Utilize ADACO for purchasing, receiving, and inventory.
  • Utilize Agilysys POS and reservation systems to manage floor plans, menus, reporting, and guest flow.
  • Ensure team members are trained on all relevant systems across both outlets.

Qualifications
  • Minimum 3 years of restaurant leadership experience, including at least 2 years in a supervisory or management role.
  • Experience in an upscale casual or elevated dining environment required.
  • Bachelor's Degree in Hospitality or related field preferred.
  • Must be 21+ to serve alcoholic beverages.
  • Background in both FOH and Culinary operations preferred.
  • Strong knowledge of food, beverage, wine, and coffee programs.
  • Proven ability to lead teams, manage operations, and achieve financial objectives.
  • Ability to manage multiple outlets simultaneously with strong organizational and communication skills.

Working Conditions
  • Must be able to stand, walk, and move quickly for long periods in a fast-paced environment.
  • Ability to lift up to 35 pounds and perform physical tasks such as bending, stooping, climbing stairs, and reaching.
  • Ability to move between outlets frequently throughout the shift.

An Equal Opportunity Employer
We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, or any other status protected by law or regulation. It is our intention that all qualified applicants are given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors.

Apply