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Director Culinary Development Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Ventura Foods

Director Culinary Services

Fort Worth, TX · Hybrid

Provides leadership, guides individual development plans/career growth, and ensures performance standards of three direct culinary reports. Hires open positions directly reporting to this role. * Is ...

Ventura Foods

Director Culinary Services

Fort Worth, TX · Hybrid

Provides leadership, guides individual development plans/career growth, and ensures performance standards of three direct culinary reports. Hires open positions directly reporting to this role. * Is ...

Ventura Foods

Director Culinary Services

Fort Worth, TX · On-site

Provides leadership, guides individual development plans/career growth, and ensures performance standards of three direct culinary reports. Hires open positions directly reporting to this role. * Is ...

Ventura Foods

Director Culinary Services

Fort Worth, TX · Hybrid

Provides leadership, guides individual development plans/career growth, and ensures performance standards of three direct culinary reports. Hires open positions directly reporting to this role. * Is ...

LSL ALF LLC

Director- Culinary

Winona, MN

$58K - $74K/yr

... Our Director of Culinary becomes family and impacts the lives of our residents who live in a Lifespark Senior Living Community.    In this position you are responsible for meeting high ...

New

Lifespark Holdings, Inc.

Director- Culinary

Lake Elmo, MN · On-site

$58K - $74K/yr

Our Director of Culinary becomes family and impacts the lives of our residents who live in a ... Career development It has been and will continue to be our policy to provide equal employment ...

New

LSL ALF LLC

Director- Culinary

Lake Elmo, MN

$58K - $74K/yr

... Our Director of Culinary becomes family and impacts the lives of our residents who live in a Lifespark Senior Living Community.    In this position you are responsible for meeting high ...

New

Lifespark Holdings, Inc.

Director- Culinary

Edina, MN · On-site

$58K - $74K/yr

Our Director of Culinary becomes family and impacts the lives of our residents who live in a ... Career development It has been and will continue to be our policy to provide equal employment ...

New

Lifespark Holdings, Inc.

Director- Culinary

Winona, MN · On-site

$58K - $74K/yr

Our Director of Culinary becomes family and impacts the lives of our residents who live in a ... Career development It has been and will continue to be our policy to provide equal employment ...

New

LSL ALF LLC

Director- Culinary

Minneapolis, MN

$58K - $74K/yr

... Our Director of Culinary becomes family and impacts the lives of our residents who live in a Lifespark Senior Living Community.    In this position you are responsible for meeting high ...

New

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Director Culinary Development information

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$16K

$95.7K

$178K

How much do director culinary development jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for director culinary development in the United States is $95,708.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $74,000.00 and $114,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a director of culinary development do?

A Director of Culinary Development oversees the creation and enhancement of menu items, recipes, and food concepts for a restaurant, hospitality group, or food company. They work closely with chefs, product developers, and marketing teams to ensure that new dishes align with brand standards and customer preferences. Their responsibilities often include trend research, menu innovation, quality control, and managing culinary teams. This role requires a blend of creativity, leadership, and a deep understanding of culinary techniques and market trends.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a director of culinary development?

To thrive as a Director of Culinary Development, you need extensive culinary expertise, menu innovation experience, and a background in food service management, often supported by a culinary degree or equivalent professional certifications. Familiarity with recipe management software, food costing tools, and industry-standard kitchen equipment is essential. Strong leadership, creativity, and excellent communication skills help drive team performance and foster collaboration across departments. These skills are vital for developing successful culinary programs, ensuring operational efficiency, and maintaining a competitive edge in the food industry.

What are some common challenges faced by a director of culinary development, and how can they be addressed?

A Director of Culinary Development often encounters challenges such as keeping up with rapidly changing food trends, ensuring consistency across multiple locations, and managing cross-functional collaboration between culinary teams and other departments like marketing and operations. To address these, it's important to stay informed about industry innovations, implement clear training protocols, and foster open communication with stakeholders. Building a strong team culture and establishing regular feedback mechanisms also help in overcoming obstacles and driving continuous improvement.
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Director Culinary Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Culinary Development job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 90% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $95,708 per year, or $46 per hour.

Director, Culinary Development - Lifestyle

Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement

Manhattan, NY • On-site

$180.50 - $199.50/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

Summary

Director of Culinary Development – responsible for leading all culinary menu and concept development across independently positioned and branded restaurants, bars, and nightlife venues within Hyatt's full-service brands in the Americas.

Responsibilities
  • Lead all menu development and culinary concept creation in collaboration with our development, creative, and design teams for existing and future independently positioned and branded restaurants, bars, and nightlife venues.
  • Ensure menus and culinary concepts are engineered to drive traffic and maximize product and labor efficiency.
  • Lead all kitchen layout, design, and equipment package specification for existing and future independently positioned and branded restaurants, bars, and nightlife venues.
  • Engage in owner relations/interaction as needed.
  • Source culinary candidates and task force as needed.
  • Lead, manage, guide, inspire, and develop culinary leaders across the portfolio.
  • Ensure all menus are consistent and standards are met.
  • Develop systems for property culinary leaders to creatively contribute to existing and future concepts.
  • Create and maintain recipe books, order guides, and supporting training materials for all independently positioned and branded restaurants, bars, and nightlife venues.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to Hyatt's Core Values.
Qualifications

Experience Required:

  • Minimum 10-15 years culinary experience, with progressive levels of responsibility.
  • A minimum of 5 years in an executive chef or comparable management role, with experience in lifestyle hotels or creative restaurant concepting space.
  • Experience in food and beverage development and operations, with a proven track record of success.
  • Well-versed in all aspects of kitchen operations.
  • Current ServSafe Certification.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office.

Additional Comments and Requirements:

  • Must be able to travel as needed, up to 75%.
  • Strong understanding of culinary operational principles.
  • Ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
  • Superior verbal and written communication skills.
  • Ability to do theoretical costing around food, purchasing, and labor.
  • Possesses a strong command of P&Ls, with the ability to effectively interpret and apply information to improve operations and profitability.
  • A hands‑on leader who enjoys working side by side with property culinary teams.
  • Above average understanding of Human Resources SOPs.

Salary range: $180,500 - $199,500.

Benefits
  • Annual allotment of free hotel stays at Hyatt hotels globally.
  • Flexible work schedule and location.
  • Work‑life benefits, including well‑being initiatives such as a complimentary Headspace subscription.
  • A global family assistance policy with paid time‑off following the birth or adoption of a child as well as financial assistance for adoption.
  • Paid Time Off, Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k) with company match.

All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

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