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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 ...

New

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 ...

New

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 ...

New

KIPP

Director, Culinary Expansion

New York, NY · On-site

This transformational investment will support the development of the KIPP NYC Culinary Institute-a ... Reporting to the Executive Director of Culinary, the Director of Culinary Operations role is to ...

KIPP

Director, Culinary Expansion

New York, NY

This transformational investment will support the development of the KIPP NYC Culinary Institute-a ... Reporting to the Executive Director of Culinary, the Director of Culinary Expansion role is to ...

KIPP

Director, Culinary Expansion

New York, NY · On-site

This transformational investment will support the development of the KIPP NYC Culinary Institute-a ... Reporting to the Executive Director of Culinary, the Director of Culinary Expansion role is to ...

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$95.7K

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How much do director culinary development jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 2, 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 are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Director of Culinary Development, and why are they important?

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 does a culinary director do?

A culinary director oversees the development and execution of menu concepts, ensuring quality and consistency across food offerings. They manage culinary teams, collaborate with suppliers, and often have expertise in food safety, kitchen operations, and culinary trends to maintain high standards in a food service environment.

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 jobs pay 500,000 a year in the US?

In the culinary field, executive chef and culinary director roles at high-end restaurants or hotel chains can reach or exceed $500,000 annually, especially with bonuses and profit sharing. These positions require extensive experience, leadership skills, and often involve managing large teams and budgets in a fast-paced environment.

What is the highest paying job in culinary?

The highest paying roles in culinary are often executive chef, culinary director, or food service director, with salaries reaching into six figures. These positions typically require extensive experience, leadership skills, and often advanced certifications or degrees in culinary arts or hospitality management.

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.

Is CDP higher than sous chef?

A CDP (Certified Dietary Manager or Chef de Partie) is generally a specialized culinary role, often focused on a specific station or section in a kitchen, while a sous chef is a senior leadership position responsible for managing kitchen operations and supporting the executive chef. Typically, a sous chef holds a higher position in the kitchen hierarchy than a CDP, with more managerial responsibilities and experience requirements. However, titles and responsibilities can vary by organization.
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Director Culinary Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Culinary Development job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 81% Full Time, 18% Part Time, and 1% Temporary. Highlights an 100% Physical job distribution, with an average salary of $95,708 per year, or $46 per hour.

Director, Culinary Development - Lifestyle

Hyatt Lifestyle Group New York Hub

New York, NY • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 14 days ago

Job description

The Opportunity
Hyatt seeks an enthusiastic Director to join our Lifestyle Group F&B Operations team. In this role, you will be collaborating closely with the broader operations, development, and design teams, where you'll be instrumental in continuing to make Hyatt a leading hospitality company. You will be part of a team that is passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion, committed to nurturing curiosity and new skills and building connections across the organization with stakeholders, colleagues, and guests.
Who We Are
At Hyatt, our ambition is bold: to be the most responsive, most innovative, and best-performing company in hospitality. Within that vision, The Lifestyle Group stands apart-anchored in design that resonates, cultural relevance that inspires, and guest experiences that cannot be found anywhere else.
The Lifestyle Group is more than a collection of hotels - it's a movement within hospitality. We are building an organization that is more agile, more accountable, and more inspiring, anchored by our commitment to colleagues, guests, and owners alike. Here, you'll help write the next chapter of hospitality - one defined by cultural relevance, brand integrity, and transformative experiences.
Why Now?
This is an exciting time to be at Hyatt. We are growing rapidly and are looking for passionate changemakers to be a part of our journey. The hospitality industry is resilient and continues to offer dynamic opportunities for upward mobility, and Hyatt is no exception.
How We Care for Our People
Our purpose sets us apart - to care for people so they can be their best. Every business decision is made through the lens of our purpose, and it informs how we have and will continue to support each other as members of the Hyatt family. Our care for our colleagues is the key to our success. We're proud to have earned a place on Fortune's prestigious 100 Best Companies to Work For® list for the last ten years. This recognition is a testament to the tremendous way our Hyatt family continues to come together to care for one another, our commitment to a culture of inclusivity, empathy, and respect, and making sure everyone feels like they belong.
We're proud to offer exceptional corporate benefits which include:
• 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, 401K with company match
Who You Are
As our ideal candidate, you understand the power and purpose of our Culture of Care and embody our core values of Empathy, Inclusion, Integrity, Experimentation, Respect, and Well-being. You enjoy working with others, are results-driven, and are looking for a variety of opportunities to develop personally and professionally.
The Role
The role of Director of Culinary Development is to lead all culinary menu and concept development for independently positioned and branded restaurants, bars, and nightlife venues across our full-service brands in the Americas. Menus and concepts will meet all standards with respect to food quality, safety, sustainability, and profitability. The person in this role will have a passion for, and demonstrated experience in, developing and presenting exciting and dynamic menus and culinary concepts, and overseeing the design of the innovative kitchens behind them.
• Lead all menu development and culinary concept creation in collaboration with our development, creative, and design teams for our 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 our 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.
• Leading, managing, guiding, inspiring, and developing culinary leaders across the portfolio.
• Ensuring all menus are consistent and standards are met.
• Develops 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.

Apply