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Director Of Culinary Operations Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Culinary Director will lead all culinary operations across M&G Foodstuff's drop-off catering ... strong balance of culinary creativity, operational excellence, systems-thinking, and team ...

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Director Of Culinary Operations information

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$34K

$107.7K

$179.5K

How much do director of culinary operations jobs pay per year?

As of May 31, 2026, the average yearly pay for director of culinary operations in the United States is $107,680.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $75,500.00 and $135,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Director Of Culinary Operations, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director Of Culinary Operations, you need extensive culinary expertise, leadership experience, and a background in hospitality management, often supported by a culinary degree or relevant certifications. Familiarity with commercial kitchen equipment, food safety regulations, budgeting software, and menu planning systems is essential. Strategic thinking, effective communication, and a talent for team motivation are crucial soft skills for this leadership role. These skills ensure operational efficiency, high-quality food standards, and the ability to drive business success across multiple culinary outlets.

What are some typical challenges a Director of Culinary Operations might face when overseeing multiple food service locations?

A Director of Culinary Operations often manages several kitchens or venues, which presents challenges such as maintaining consistent food quality, standardizing procedures, and ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations across all sites. Coordinating menu development, staff training, and inventory management at scale requires strong organizational and communication skills. Additionally, adapting to each location's unique clientele and operational needs while upholding the brand’s culinary vision is a frequent and rewarding challenge in this role.

What does a Director of Culinary Operations do?

A Director of Culinary Operations oversees the culinary teams and kitchen operations across multiple locations or a large organization. Their responsibilities include menu development, quality control, staff training, food safety, and budgeting. They work closely with chefs and management to ensure consistent food quality, efficient operations, and compliance with health regulations. The role often involves strategic planning and implementing best practices to enhance customer satisfaction and profitability.

What is the difference between Director Of Culinary Operations vs Executive Chef?

AspectDirector Of Culinary OperationsExecutive Chef
Primary FocusOversees multiple culinary outlets, manages operations, and develops strategic initiativesManages kitchen staff, oversees food preparation, and ensures culinary quality
CredentialsOften requires culinary degree, management experience, and certifications like ServSafeTypically requires culinary training, experience as a chef, and food safety certifications
Work EnvironmentCorporate kitchens, hotel chains, restaurant groupsRestaurant kitchens, hotels, resorts
Industry UsageCommonly used in large organizations and multi-unit operationsPrimarily used in individual restaurants and hotel kitchens

The main difference between a Director Of Culinary Operations and an Executive Chef lies in scope and responsibilities. The Director focuses on overseeing multiple culinary outlets and strategic management, while the Executive Chef concentrates on daily kitchen operations and food quality. Both roles require culinary expertise and certifications, but their work environments and focus areas differ significantly.

More about Director Of Culinary Operations jobs
What cities are hiring for Director Of Culinary Operations jobs? Cities with the most Director Of Culinary Operations job openings:
What states have the most Director Of Culinary Operations jobs? States with the most job openings for Director Of Culinary Operations jobs include:
Infographic showing various Director Of Culinary Operations job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 8% Locum Tenens, 25% As Needed, 34% Full Time, 25% Part Time, and 8% Temporary. Highlights an 79% Physical, and 21% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $107,680 per year, or $51.8 per hour.
Director, Culinary Operations

Director, Culinary Operations

Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 19 days ago


Job description

About Us
Are you ready to transform lives through academic excellence, innovative research, strong community partnerships and economic opportunity? Kennesaw State University is one of the 50 largest public institutions in the country. With growing enrollment and global reach, we continue to expand our institutional influence and prominence beyond the state of Georgia. We offer more than 190 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to empower over 50,000 students to become thought leaders, lifelong learners, and informed global citizens. Our entrepreneurial spirit, high-impact research, and Division I athletics draw students from throughout the region and from more than 100 countries across the globe. Our university's vibrant culture, career opportunities, rich benefits, and values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity, and accountability make us an employer of choice. We are part of the University System of Georgia . We are searching for talented people to join Kennesaw State University in our vision . Come Take Flight at KSU!
Location
Primary Location:
Our Kennesaw campus is located at 1000 Chastain Road NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144.
Secondary Location:
Our Marietta campus is located at 1100 South Marietta Parkway, Marietta, GA 30060.
Job Summary
Oversee all aspects of culinary operations for the assigned department, to include production, service, purchasing, and vendor management, menu development, presentation standards, sustainability, kitchen operations and equipment purchasing oversight, and training programs for residential dining (two dining halls), catering, non-franchised retail dining operations across KSU campuses and locations, and the Grab-and-Go program.
Responsibilities
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Manages kitchen personnel with responsibility for hiring, training, and performance management
2. Ensures proper training of all culinary team members is in place for optimal production results
3. Directs quality, consistency, and adherence to KSU standards; tastes food and adjust recipes as needed
4. Coordinates and oversees all culinary related activities and/or programs
5. Estimates food consumption and requisitions or purchases food, selects and develops recipes, standardizes production recipes to ensure consistent quality, establishes presentation technique and quality standards, plan, and price menus
6. Responsible for component menu planning and recipe development, costing, and brand management
7. Responsible for and manages multimillion dollar food and culinary operational expense budgets
8. Ensures fiscal responsibility and efficiency of dining facilities through utilization of all food prep and cooking
9. Oversees special catering events and may also offer culinary instruction and/or demonstrate culinary techniques
10. Ensures labeling requirements are met and compliance with allergen containment procedures
11. Researches innovative ideas and trends throughout college and university dining plans to develop recipes and menus for all food operations
12. Develops and is accountable for a safety culture that creates a safe and sanitary work environment ensuring compliance with sanitation and safety requirements
13. Coordinates activities with other internal departments and participates in management team meetings
14. Meets with student groups and University partners as needed to promote relationship building and guest satisfaction
Required Qualifications
Educational Requirements
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education in related field or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience
Other Required Qualifications
Current, valid, and unrestricted driver's license
ServSafe Manager Certified
Required Experience
Seven (7) years of experience in senior culinary management of a college or university dining operation, large food service establishment and/or other relevant experience with oversight of multiple dining locations and/or programs
Preferred Qualifications
Preferred Educational Qualifications
An advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher education in a related field
Preferred Experience
Experience in day-to-day high volume food service operations management
Experience in managing residential and commuter meal plan programs in a self-operated campus dining environment
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
ABILITIES
Able to demonstrate professionalism
Able to handle multiple tasks or projects at one time meeting assigned deadlines
SKILLS
Excellent interpersonal, initiative, teamwork, problem solving, independent judgment, organization, communication (verbal and written), time management, project management and presentation skills
Excellent leadership ability of cross-functional teams
Proficient with computer applications and programs associated with the position (i.e., Microsoft Office suite, Excel & Power Point)
Strong attention to detail and follow up skills
Strong customer service skills and phone and e-mail etiquette
USG Core Values
The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct .
Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653 .
Equal Employment Opportunity
Kennesaw State University is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The University is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for living, work and study. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and University policy, the University prohibits harassment of or discrimination against any person because of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment, pregnancy, and medical conditions related to pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity or national origin, religion, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran or military status by any member of the KSU Community on campus, in connection with a University program or activity, or in a manner that creates a hostile environment for members of the KSU community.
For additional information or to file a complaint under the provisions of this policy, students, employees, applicants for employment or admission or other third parties should contact the Office of Institutional Equity at English Building, Suite 225, eeo@kennesaw.edu.
Other Information
This is a supervisory position.
This position has financial responsibilities.
This position will be required to drive.
This role is considered a position of trust.
This position does not require a purchasing card (P-Card).
This position may travel 1% - 24% of the time.
Background Check
  • Credit Report
  • Standard Enhanced + Education & DMV
  • 9 Panel Lab Drug Test

Per the University System of Georgia background check policy, all final candidates will be required to consent to a criminal background investigation. Final candidates may be asked to disclose criminal record history during the initial screening process and prior to a conditional offer of employment. Applicants for positions of trust with screening results which confirm a disqualifying criminal history will be immediately disqualified from employment eligibility.
All applicants are required to include professional references as part of their application process. Some positions may require additional job-based screenings such as motor vehicle report, credit check, pre-employment drug screening and/or verification of academic credentials.
https://www.usg.edu/hr/assets/hr/hrap_manual/HRAP_Background_Investigation_Employment.pdf

Georgia Institute of Technology logo

About Georgia Institute of Technology

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

The Georgia Institute of Technology, more commonly known as Georgia Tech, is a premier research university located in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. The institution was established in 1885, as part of the South's efforts to build an industrial economy and to bolster technological advancements. Primarily recognized in the sectors of business, computing, engineering, design, the sciences, and liberal arts, Georgia Tech awards a broad spectrum of degrees in these areas and enrolls over 39,000 students annually. The university's mission is to progress and improve the human condition through advanced science and technology.

Industry

Colleges, universities, and professional schools

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Atlanta, GA, US

Year founded

1885