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Director Culinary Development Jobs in Champaign, IL

Healthcare Director culinary

Urbana, IL · On-site

$80K - $90K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Position Title: Healthcare Director culinary Salary: $80,000 -$90,000 Other Forms of Compensation ... Promotes the professional growth and development of all associates * Coordinates the tasks of the ...

Posted today

Healthcare Director culinary

Urbana, IL · On-site

$80K - $90K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Position Title: Healthcare Director culinary Salary: $80,000 -$90,000 Other Forms of Compensation ... Promotes the professional growth and development of all associates * Coordinates the tasks of the ...

Posted today

Menu Management Dietitian

Urbana, IL · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Collaborate with Assistant Director Dietitian, Assistant Director of Culinary Services and the Senior Assistant Director in menu planning and recipe development to ensure the nutritional guidelines ...

Menu Management Dietitian

Urbana, IL · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Collaborate with Assistant Director Dietitian, Assistant Director of Culinary Services and the Senior Assistant Director in menu planning and recipe development to ensure the nutritional guidelines ...

Director Culinary Development information

See Champaign, IL salary details

$16K

$95.8K

$178.3K

How much do director culinary development jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average yearly pay for director culinary development in Champaign, IL is $95,848.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $74,100.00 and $114,700.00 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.

What are popular job titles related to Director Culinary Development jobs in Champaign, IL?

For Director Culinary Development jobs in Champaign, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Director Culinary Development jobs in Champaign, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Director Culinary Development jobs in Champaign, IL are:

What cities near Champaign, IL are hiring for Director Culinary Development jobs?

Cities near Champaign, IL with the most Director Culinary Development job openings:

Infographic showing various Director Culinary Development job openings in Champaign, IL as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 80% Full Time, and 20% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $95,848 per year, or $46.1 per hour.

Healthcare Director culinary

Unidine

Urbana, IL • On-site

$80K - $90K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 12 hours ago

Posted today


Unidine rating

6.2

Company rating: 6.2 out of 10

Based on 47 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

34th of 68 rated caterers


Job description

 Position Title: Healthcare Director culinary 

Salary: $80,000 -$90,000

Other Forms of Compensation: Relocation offered + Benefits Offered 

Think Fresh! Lead with Excellence!

 An industry leading hospitality food service group, Unidine is driven by its exceptional people sharing their passion, creativity and talent to craft memorable guest experiences. Unidine’s commitment to scratch cooking, innovative programs, venue concepts and services continues to push boundaries and modernize dining programs for hundreds of clients around the nation. Our restaurants, bars, cafeterias and bistros offer a place for guests to enjoy something extraordinary. That is why we believe that using the freshest ingredients makes for the best dishes, staying ahead of industry trends pushes us to be innovative, and giving team members the right tools and resources helps them to perform their best. Come and join our award-winning team!

Job Summary

This position is providing service to the Assisted Living and Memory care residents.  This individual is responsible for ensuring the proper food is given to the residents.  Ensuring quality plating and presentation.  Ensuring proper diet (solid, puree, mechanical soft, etc) is distributed to the proper residents.
Key Responsibilities:

  • Establishes and reviews standards and work procedures for all staff in accordance with established policies and practices of the facility
  • Directs and conducts safety, sanitation, and maintenance programs; while maintaining excellent relationships with client and the customer
  • Scheduling all front of house servers for Assisted living and memory care staff.
  • Assists to ensure client, customer satisfaction and efficient cost effective management
  • Promotes the professional growth and development of all associates
  • Coordinates the tasks of the subordinate Supervisory and Management team via regular communication
  • Performs other duties as assigned


Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree preferred, Associate’s degree required; or equivalent and relevant experience
  • At least 1-3 years of experience, preferred
  • Strong work ethic, intense drive and initiative for quality and customer service
  • Excellent stress management skills, administrative and organizational, and follow-through (with associates and clients) skills required
  • Able to communicate effectively with management team, guests and team members
  • Proficient in the use of Windows based office software including but not limited to Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, preferred

Apply to Unidine today!

Unidine is a member of Compass Group USA 

Click here to Learn More about the Compass Story 

Associates at Unidine are offered many fantastic benefits.

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

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_Unidine.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. We encourage applicants with a criminal history (and driving history) to apply.

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

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Unidine maintains a drug-free workplace.

Req ID:  1558494

Unidine 

JON DAVIS 

[[req_classification]] 


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About Unidine

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

With a marked focus on senior living, Unidine delivers custom culinary programs centered on diamond service, scratch cooking, and a holistic health & wellness approach to dining. We embrace culinary integrity and innovation to craft invigorating, nourishing, and memorable meals with high quality local, seasonal, and responsibly sourced ingredients and products. As a boutique food and dining management service, we specialize in tailored, creative solutions to serve discerning clients and their clientele nationwide.

Industry

Food and beverage wholesalers

Company size

501 - 1,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Boston, MA, US

Year founded

2001