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Culinary Creative Director Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Aegis Living

Culinary Services Director

Shoreline, WA

$39/hr

... creative environment * Visible, proactive leadership in creating and maintaining the highest ... Marketing Director by "showcasing" culinary services in the community to prospective residents ...

Aegis Living

Culinary Services Director

Shoreline, WA · On-site

$35.50 - $39/hr

... creative environment * Visible, proactive leadership in creating and maintaining the highest ... Marketing Director by "showcasing" culinary services in the community to prospective residents ...

Stew Leonard's

Culinary Director

Yonkers, NY · On-site

$80K - $90K/yr

The Culinary Director a salary position responsible for overseeing all aspects of culinary ... Develop new recipes and build creative menu ideas that align with customer preferences and market ...

Chicken Coup, LLC

Director of Culinary

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150K - $170K/yr

The Opportunity The Director of Culinary is a senior leader responsible for shaping and advancing ... Ensure alignment with creative ingredients and brand standards Operational Integration ...

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Culinary Creative Director information

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$43K

$120.1K

$180K

How much do culinary creative director jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for culinary creative director in the United States is $120,057.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $87,500.00 and $149,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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.

Will chefs get replaced by AI?

Culinary Creative Directors and chefs use creativity, sensory skills, and hands-on techniques that are difficult for AI to replicate fully. While AI can assist with menu planning, recipe development, and data analysis, human expertise remains essential for innovation, presentation, and adapting to customer preferences in the culinary industry.

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 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 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.
More about Culinary Creative Director jobs
What cities are hiring for Culinary Creative Director jobs? Cities with the most Culinary Creative Director job openings:
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What job categories do people searching Culinary Creative Director jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Culinary Creative Director jobs are:
Culinary Creative Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Culinary Creative Director job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 52% Full Time, 42% Part Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $120,057 per year, or $57.7 per hour.

Independent Restaurant Culinary Director

Compass Group

South San Francisco, CA • On-site

$130K - $140K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 27 days ago

Compass Group rating

6.3

Company rating: 6.3 out of 10

Based on 1,053 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

292nd of 426 rated business services

Job description

Position Title: Independent Restaurant Culinary Director 

Pay Grade: 16 

Salary:  $130,000 - $140,000

Our Passion is Food!
At Bon Appetit Management Company we are committed to two things, great food and outstanding service! At Bon Appetit you won't find our managers referring to a corporate recipe book or our chefs microwaving the lunch special. We do not have standardized recipes or central commissaries, instead, our chefs and managers are expected to stay abreast of current culinary trends and bring cutting edge food into their cafes. We are a restaurant company that operates in contract food service. That means you will have the freedom to be creative, take risks, and truly shine. We are committed to our staff growing, trying new things, and learning all that they can. Our rapid growth and breadth of accounts translates into exciting opportunities for our people!

Job Summary
We are seeking an inspiring, creative, and operationally savvy Culinary Director to lead culinary vision and execution for a distinctive independent restaurant division. This is a rare opportunity to oversee a diverse and evolving portfolio of chef-driven concepts, including a vibrant market hall, multiple cafes, bars and lounges, an upscale California-French casual dining restaurant, an Italian concept, a seafood concept, coffee shops, a food truck, and expansive conference and meeting spaces. Our culinary program is rooted in quality, creativity, hospitality, and responsibility. We are deeply committed to sustainability, local farm-to-fork sourcing, seasonality, responsible purchasing, and building meaningful relationships with farmers, fisheries, artisans, and regional producers. We are looking for a leader who can bring these values to life across every plate, every menu, and every guest experience. The ideal candidate is a high-caliber culinary leader with experience in upscale, high-volume, and multi-unit operations. This person will bring a refined culinary point of view, strong business acumen, and the ability to lead, mentor, train, and inspire chefs across multiple concepts. They should be equally passionate about developing people, elevating food quality, driving operational excellence, and creating memorable dining experiences that feel fresh, thoughtful, and connected to place.
 
As Culinary Director, you will lead culinary operations across a dynamic portfolio of restaurants, cafes, lounges, catering, retail, and event spaces. You will guide menu development, culinary standards, purchasing, inventory, food cost controls, sustainability initiatives, team leadership, and chef development. This role requires a hands-on leader who can balance creativity with consistency, innovation with execution, and elevated culinary standards with strong financial discipline. You will set the tone for culinary excellence while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, craftsmanship, and continuous learning.
Key Responsibilities
  • Lead culinary strategy and execution across multiple restaurant, retail, catering, cafe, lounge, and event venues.
  • Develop and maintain elevated culinary standards across all concepts, including California-French, Italian, seafood, market hall, cafes, and catering operations.
  • Create seasonal, on-trend, and concept-specific menus that highlight quality ingredients, local sourcing, sustainability, and strong culinary technique.
  • Champion farm-to-fork sourcing, responsible purchasing, sustainable seafood, waste reduction, wellness, and Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.
  • Build strong partnerships with local farms, fisheries, artisans, vendors, and regional producers.
  • Train, mentor, and develop chefs and culinary teams to strengthen technical skills, leadership capability, creativity, and operational discipline.
  • Provide inspirational leadership that promotes collaboration, professionalism, accountability, and pride in craft.
  • Oversee food production, presentation, sanitation, safety, and consistency across all locations.
  • Manage purchasing, inventory, food cost controls, labor collaboration, and waste reduction initiatives.
  • Analyze operational performance, identify trends, and lead improvements to enhance quality, efficiency, guest satisfaction, and profitability.
  • Partner with operations, service, catering, and senior leadership teams to deliver exceptional guest and client experiences.
  • Ensure teams understand daily menu offerings and can communicate ingredients, sourcing, preparation, and allergens accurately.
  • Maintain compliance with all food safety, sanitation, and workplace safety standards.
Qualifications
  • Culinary degree preferred.
  • Bachelor's degree in Food Service Management, Hospitality, Culinary Arts, or a related field preferred.
  • Minimum of three to five years of progressive culinary or kitchen management experience; multi-unit experience strongly preferred.
  • Experience in upscale restaurants, chef-driven concepts, hotels, independent restaurant groups, or high-end hospitality environments preferred.
  • Experience with Italian, seafood, California, French, seasonal, farm-to-table, or sustainability-driven culinary programs a plus.
  • Proven ability to lead, mentor, train, and develop chefs and culinary teams.
  • Experience planning and executing catering, private dining, and special events from a culinary perspective.
  • Strong knowledge of food trends, local sourcing, seasonality, wellness, production, sanitation, food cost controls, and presentation.
  • Excellent leadership, communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
  • Ability to communicate effectively with senior leadership, clients, guests, managers, associates, and culinary teams.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office, email, internet-based systems, and basic culinary/operational technology.
  • ServSafe Certification required or ability to obtain.
Ideal Candidate Profile
 
The successful candidate is a polished, forward-thinking culinary leader with the ability to elevate a diverse restaurant portfolio while developing the next generation of culinary talent. They bring creativity, confidence, humility, and discipline to the kitchen. They understand that great food starts with great ingredients, thoughtful sourcing, strong technique, and a team culture built on trust, training, and shared standards.
This is an ideal opportunity for a culinary leader who wants to shape a growing, multi-concept restaurant division and make a meaningful impact through food, people, hospitality, and sustainability.

Apply to Bon Appetit today!

Bon Appetit is a member of Compass Group USA.

Click here to Learn More about the Compass Story

Associates at Bon Appetit are offered many fantastic benefits.

  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Life Insurance/ AD
  • Disability Insurance
  • Retirement Plan
  • Paid Time Off
  • Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
  • Associate Shopping Program
  • Health and Wellness Programs
  • Discount Marketplace
  • Identity Theft Protection
  • Pet Insurance
  • Commuter Benefits
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
  • Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Personal Leave

Associates may also be eligible for paid and/or unpaid time off benefits in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For positions in Washington State, Maryland, or to be performed Remotely, click here or copy/paste the link below for paid time off benefits information.

https://www.compass-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023_WageTransparency_BAMCO.pdf

Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer.  At Compass, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.

Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with a criminal history (including relevant driving history), in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York Fair Chance Act. 

Certain positions may require Florida Level 2 background screening. Details: https://info.flclearinghouse.com/

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Bon Appetit maintains a drug-free workplace.

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