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Director Culinary Innovation Jobs in Texas (NOW HIRING)

Responsibilities Director, Store Leadership Overview Central Market is a specialty grocery that ... Leading culinary teams focused on innovation, hospitality, and scratch-made quality * Driving ...

Responsibilities Director, Store Leadership Overview Central Market is a specialty grocery that ... Leading culinary teams focused on innovation, hospitality, and scratch-made quality * Driving ...

Responsibilities Director, Store Leadership Overview Central Market is a specialty grocery that ... Leading culinary teams focused on innovation, hospitality, and scratch-made quality * Driving ...

Responsibilities Director, Store Leadership Overview Central Market is a specialty grocery that ... Leading culinary teams focused on innovation, hospitality, and scratch-made quality * Driving ...

Menu Development & Culinary Innovation * Partner with BTM and JL to develop seasonal plated and ... This person may be expected to perform other tasks and duties as needed or as directed. Furthermore ...

Chef De Cuisine - The Peacock

Austin, TX · On-site

$65K - $90K/yr

... both culinary innovation and excellence in execution. This role requires a strong culinary ... Oversee and direct the daily operations of the restaurant's kitchen, ensuring that all food is ...

Culinary Lead

Abilene, TX · On-site

$13.62 - $18.74/hr

Direct daily coverage to complete all work assignments; replace any absent or reassign team members ... Driven by a commitment to exceptional service, innovation, and meaningful connections, our team ...

Culinary Lead

Abilene, TX · On-site

$13.62 - $18.74/hr

Direct daily coverage to complete all work assignments; replace any absent or reassign team members ... Driven by a commitment to exceptional service, innovation, and meaningful connections, our team ...

Culinary Lead

Abilene, TX · On-site

$13.62 - $18.74/hr

Direct daily coverage to complete all work assignments; replace any absent or reassign team members ... Driven by a commitment to exceptional service, innovation, and meaningful connections, our team ...

Director, Store Leadership Overview Central Market is a specialty grocery that started in Austin ... Leading culinary teams focused on innovation, hospitality, and scratch-made quality * Driving ...

Director, Store Leadership Overview Central Market is a specialty grocery that started in Austin ... Leading culinary teams focused on innovation, hospitality, and scratch-made quality * Driving ...

Director, Store Leadership Overview Central Market is a specialty grocery that started in Austin ... Leading culinary teams focused on innovation, hospitality, and scratch-made quality * Driving ...

Director, Store Leadership Overview Central Market is a specialty grocery that started in Austin ... Leading culinary teams focused on innovation, hospitality, and scratch-made quality * Driving ...

Director, Store Leadership Overview Central Market is a specialty grocery that started in Austin ... Leading culinary teams focused on innovation, hospitality, and scratch-made quality * Driving ...

Director, Store Leadership Overview Central Market is a specialty grocery that started in Austin ... Leading culinary teams focused on innovation, hospitality, and scratch-made quality * Driving ...

Director, Store Leadership Overview Central Market is a specialty grocery that started in Austin ... Leading culinary teams focused on innovation, hospitality, and scratch-made quality * Driving ...

Develop frameworks for digital innovation, process improvement, and technology adoption across the ... culinary, finance, and contracts - ensuring seamless collaboration and communication. Partner with ...

Develop frameworks for digital innovation, process improvement, and technology adoption across the ... culinary, finance, and contracts ? ensuring seamless collaboration and communication. Partner with ...

... marketing, culinary, finance, and contracts teams within the Salute program. This leader brings ... Develop frameworks for digital innovation, process improvement, and technology adoption across the ...

Creative Director

Dallas, TX · On-site

$120K - $130K/yr

... culinary, beverage, sales, and executive leadership. Key Responsibilities Brand Leadership ... Digital Experience & Innovation · Partner with the Full-Stack Developer to oversee website design ...

Showing results 41-60

Director Culinary Innovation information

What does a director of culinary innovation do?

A Director of Culinary Innovation leads the development of new food concepts, recipes, and menu items within a restaurant group, food company, or hospitality organization. They research food trends, collaborate with chefs and product developers, and oversee the testing and implementation of new culinary offerings. This role combines creativity with business strategy to ensure that new menu items are both appealing to customers and aligned with the brand's goals. Additionally, they may work closely with marketing, supply chain, and operations teams to ensure successful product launches and consistent quality.

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

To thrive as a Director of Culinary Innovation, you need extensive culinary expertise, menu development experience, and a degree in culinary arts or a related field. Familiarity with food safety standards, R&D processes, and kitchen management systems is typically required, along with certifications such as ServSafe. Creativity, leadership, and strong communication skills set standout candidates apart by enabling effective team collaboration and trend-setting ideation. These skills are crucial to successfully leading culinary teams, developing market-responsive menus, and ensuring operational excellence.

How does a director of culinary innovation typically collaborate with other departments within a food service organization?

A Director of Culinary Innovation frequently partners with teams such as marketing, supply chain, and operations to ensure new menu items align with brand strategy, ingredient availability, and kitchen workflows. This role often leads cross-functional meetings to gather feedback, address operational concerns, and refine recipes based on input from chefs, nutritionists, and customer insights teams. Effective collaboration is essential to successfully launch innovative concepts that are both exciting for customers and feasible for large-scale implementation.

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

AspectDirector Culinary InnovationExecutive Chef
Primary FocusDeveloping new culinary concepts, product innovation, and culinary strategyOverseeing kitchen operations, menu creation, and food preparation
Work EnvironmentCorporate kitchens, R&D labs, product development settingsRestaurant kitchens, hotel kitchens, culinary establishments
CredentialsOften requires culinary degree, experience in innovation or R&DCulinary degree, extensive kitchen experience, culinary certifications
Industry UsageCommon in food manufacturing, hospitality chains, and corporate food servicesPrimarily in restaurants, hotels, and culinary establishments

The main difference is that the Director of Culinary Innovation focuses on creating new culinary concepts and product development within a corporate or industry setting, while the Executive Chef manages daily kitchen operations and menu execution in a restaurant or hospitality environment. Both roles require culinary expertise, but their responsibilities and work environments differ significantly.

What are the most commonly searched types of Culinary Innovation jobs in Texas?

The most popular types of Culinary Innovation jobs in Texas are:

What are popular job titles related to Director Culinary Innovation jobs in Texas?

For Director Culinary Innovation jobs in Texas, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Director Culinary Innovation jobs in Texas look for?

The top searched job categories for Director Culinary Innovation jobs in Texas are:

What cities in Texas are hiring for Director Culinary Innovation jobs?

Cities in Texas with the most Director Culinary Innovation job openings:

Infographic showing various Director Culinary Innovation job openings in Texas as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution.

CM Director

HEB

Fort Worth, TX • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 24 days ago


Job description

Responsibilities
Director, Store Leadership
Overview
Central Market is a specialty grocery that started in Austin, Texas in 1994, and has grown to multiple locations across the state. What makes Central Market one of the freshest markets in the country - Try a sumptuous selection of everything edible, for starters. We go straight to the source to bring you the finest food and drink the world has to offer. With hundreds of cheeses, thousands of wines, acres of produce, and aisles of experts, Central Market is a foodie wonderland. Our commitment beyond the plate is another reason we're a cut above. We believe food is a way of uniting families and communities, of preserving cultures, and of starting new traditions. Each of our stores is a market in the truest sense and is a place to exchange goods, services, and ideas for those really into food.
Position Summary
Central Market is always looking to connect with exceptional leadership talent across specialty grocery, fresh foods, culinary operations, merchandising, and customer experience.
We are building relationships with experienced leaders who are passionate about food, hospitality, innovation, and leading high-performing teams in dynamic retail environments. This opportunity is designed for proven operators, merchants, and food leaders who thrive in highly experiential businesses where quality, culture, creativity, and execution all matter equally.
The ideal candidate brings a deep appreciation for food culture, strong business acumen, and the ability to lead large, complex teams while delivering extraordinary customer experiences.
What You'll Influence
Depending on experience and background, leaders in this space may contribute across areas including:
Fresh & Perishable Operations
  • Leading high-volume fresh departments with an uncompromising commitment to quality
  • Driving innovation across Produce, Meat, Seafood, Bakery, Deli, Cheese, Floral, and Prepared Foods
  • Building food-forward merchandising and seasonal strategies
  • Developing strong operational disciplines around shrink, labor, food safety, and execution

Culinary & Food Service Leadership
  • Elevating restaurant-quality food experiences inside retail
  • Leading culinary teams focused on innovation, hospitality, and scratch-made quality
  • Driving prepared foods, catering, coffee, beverage, and experiential dining programs
  • Creating differentiated food experiences that inspire customer loyalty

Center Store & Specialty Merchandising
  • Curating compelling assortments across grocery, beverage, wellness, and specialty categories
  • Identifying trends, emerging brands, and evolving customer preferences
  • Driving sales growth through storytelling, merchandising, and product discovery
  • Balancing operational excellence with creativity and innovation

Leadership & Culture
  • Building and developing high-performing teams and future leaders
  • Creating environments where people feel inspired, challenged, and connected to the mission
  • Leading with authenticity, accountability, and a customer-first mindset
  • Partnering cross-functionally across operations, merchandising, culinary, and support teams

What We're Looking For
  • 7+ years of progressive leadership experience within specialty grocery, premium retail, hospitality, culinary, restaurant, or fresh food environments
  • Experience leading large teams and complex business operations
  • Strong financial, operational, and merchandising acumen
  • Passion for food, hospitality, and customer experience
  • Ability to influence across multiple functions and leadership levels
  • High emotional intelligence and strong people leadership capability
  • Proven ability to execute while continuously improving the customer experience

What Success Looks Like
  • Teams are engaged, inspired, and performing at a high level
  • Customers experience something differentiated every time they walk into the market
  • Standards remain exceptionally high across quality, execution, and hospitality
  • Innovation and operational discipline coexist successfully
  • The business grows while preserving the unique culture and food-first identity that defines Central Market

This is not a traditional grocery leadership environment.
Central Market leaders are expected to think beyond transactions and operations. We are looking for leaders who are deeply curious about food, passionate about people, and energized by creating experiences customers cannot find anywhere else.
If you see food as culture, retail as theater, and leadership as service, we would love to connect with you.