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Head Of Culinary Jobs (NOW HIRING)

sweetgreen

Head of Culinary

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

Head of Culinary sweetgreen is on a mission to build healthier communities by connecting people to real food. We passionately believe that real food should be convenient and accessible to everyone.

sweetgreen

Head of Culinary

Los Angeles, CA

Head of Culinary sweetgreen is on a mission to build healthier communities by connecting people to real food. We passionately believe that real food should be convenient and accessible to everyone.

The Maggiore Group

Director of Culinary

Scottsdale, AZ · On-site

... head chef • Excellent record of kitchen management • Ability to spot and resolve problems ... culinary science or related certificate Benefits Offered Employer Paid Health Insurance: Low ...

Farmer J - New York

Culinary Director

New York, NY

$150K - $175K/yr

We are looking for a US Head of Food to build, implement, and uphold the culinary operating model in the United States. This role will be responsible for ensuring consistent, high-quality food ...

DA Cordi LLC

Head Chef

Brick, NJ

DA Cordi LLC is seeking a passionate and innovative Head Chef to lead our culinary team in Brick ... Extensive knowledge of culinary techniques, food safety, and kitchen management. * Strong ...

DA Cordi LLC

Head Chef

Brick, NJ

DA Cordi LLC is seeking a passionate and innovative Head Chef to lead our culinary team in Brick ... Extensive knowledge of culinary techniques, food safety, and kitchen management. * Strong ...

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Head Of Culinary information

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How much do head of culinary jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for head of culinary in the United States is $63,994.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $50,000.00 and $75,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a Head of Culinary do?

A Head of Culinary is responsible for overseeing all kitchen operations, menu creation, and food quality within a restaurant, hotel, or food service organization. They lead the culinary team, manage budgets, source ingredients, and ensure that all dishes meet the establishment's standards. Additionally, they may develop new recipes, implement food safety protocols, and train staff. The Head of Culinary plays a crucial role in shaping the dining experience and maintaining the reputation of the business.

What is the difference between Head Of Culinary vs Executive Chef?

AspectHead Of CulinaryExecutive Chef
ResponsibilitiesOversees culinary strategy, menu development, and culinary team management at a high levelManages daily kitchen operations, supervises kitchen staff, and ensures food quality
CredentialsOften requires culinary degree, extensive experience, and leadership skillsTypically requires culinary training and significant kitchen experience
Work EnvironmentCorporate kitchens, culinary departments, or large hospitality organizationsRestaurant kitchens, hotels, or resorts

The Head Of Culinary focuses on strategic leadership and culinary innovation across an organization, while the Executive Chef manages daily kitchen operations and food quality. Both roles require culinary expertise, but the Head Of Culinary has a broader, more strategic scope.

What is the highest position in culinary?

The highest position in the culinary field is typically Executive Chef or Chef de Cuisine, responsible for overseeing all kitchen operations, menu creation, and staff management. In some organizations, the Culinary Director or Food and Beverage Director may hold higher executive roles overseeing multiple restaurants or culinary divisions.

Is head chef higher than chef?

In culinary hierarchy, the head chef, often called executive chef or chef de cuisine, holds a higher position than a standard chef. The head chef oversees kitchen operations, menu creation, and staff management, while other chefs typically focus on specific stations or dishes. The distinction depends on the restaurant's structure, but generally, the head chef has greater responsibility and authority.

What is the highest paying job in culinary?

The highest paying roles in the culinary field typically include executive chef, culinary director, or food service director, with salaries often exceeding six figures. These positions require extensive experience, leadership skills, and often advanced culinary certifications or management training.

What are some common challenges faced by a Head Of Culinary when leading a diverse kitchen team?

One common challenge for a Head Of Culinary is effectively managing a team with varied skill levels, backgrounds, and communication styles. Balancing creative vision with consistency and efficiency requires clear leadership and frequent training. Additionally, the role often involves resolving conflicts, motivating staff, and ensuring everyone works toward the same high standards under pressure. Success depends on fostering a collaborative environment where each team member feels valued and empowered to contribute their best.

What is the hourly rate for a head chef?

The hourly rate for a head of culinary or head chef typically ranges from $15 to $35 per hour, depending on experience, location, and establishment size. In high-end restaurants or metropolitan areas, rates can be higher, especially for those with advanced skills and certifications.

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

To thrive as a Head Of Culinary, you need extensive culinary expertise, leadership experience, and a background in kitchen management, often supported by a culinary degree or relevant certifications. Familiarity with commercial kitchen equipment, menu-planning software, and food safety standards like ServSafe is typically required. Exceptional creativity, team leadership, and strong organizational skills help set top candidates apart. These competencies are crucial for maintaining high food quality, efficient kitchen operations, and inspiring a cohesive culinary team.
More about Head Of Culinary jobs
What cities are hiring for Head Of Culinary jobs? Cities with the most Head Of Culinary job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Of Culinary jobs? The most popular types of Of Culinary jobs are:
What states have the most Head Of Culinary jobs? States with the most job openings for Head Of Culinary jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Head Of Culinary jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Head Of Culinary jobs are:
Head Of Culinary jobs near you
Infographic showing various Head Of Culinary job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 3% As Needed, 3% Full Time, and 94% Part Time. Highlights an 95% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $63,994 per year, or $30.8 per hour.
Head of Culinary

Head of Culinary

sweetgreen

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 25 days ago

Sweetgreen rating

6.4

Company rating: 6.4 out of 10

Based on 53 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

11th of 103 rated fast food restaurants

Job description

Head of Culinary
sweetgreen is on a mission to build healthier communities by connecting people to real food. We passionately believe that real food should be convenient and accessible to everyone. Every day in each sweetgreen, our 5,000 team members make food from scratch, using fresh ingredients and produce delivered that morning. And in our local communities, we're committed to leaving people better than we found them. We're in the business of feeding people, and we're out to change what that means. Our teams are our most valuable ingredient - the heart of our company, the face of our brand, and what truly makes the sweetgreen experience special and unique.
As the Head of Culinary at sweetgreen, you will be a key member of the Commercial Leadership Team, responsible for leading the culinary team and developing the organization's overall culinary strategy. You will be responsible for ensuring that sweetgreen's menu items are consistently high-quality and aligned with our brand values.
You will:
  • Drive Menu Innovation to fuel and enable growth and profitability - This role will be the key leader to oversee the development and testing of new menu items and ensure that they meet the highest standards of quality, consistency, and taste.
    • Develop new menu items that help drive the brand distinctiveness of sweetgreen - highlighting our point of difference in seasonal, high-quality, chef-crafted menus consistent with our food ethos.
    • Stay up to date with industry trends and best practices in culinary innovation and technology to inform ingredient choices and in-restaurant preparation methods.
  • Lead Commercialization to scale culinary concepts to fleet-wide execution - Effectively commercialize food for all business channels. Develop paths to upstream and/or outsourced formulations with vendor partners. Develop creative solutions to solve for ingredients that may not currently be commercialized for the food service industry (e.g. extra virgin olive oil tortilla with only four ingredients). Collaborate with cross-functional partners to ensure that commercialization efforts result in products that can be executed in-restaurant at scale. Be able to problem-solve as learnings emerge from operational and market testing that may result in retooling/reformulation. Lead and manage a team of culinary professionals to ensure the successful execution of culinary initiatives. This leader will create an environment where creativity and innovation are at the heart of the team dynamic.
    • Create a culture of innovation and problem-solving across the culinary team to increase our speed to market.
    • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment of culinary initiatives with marketing, operations, and procurement.
    • Support training programs and materials for all levels of culinary staff, including hourly employees, managers, and corporate teams.
  • Nurture our Core Menu Offerings - This role will lead the initiatives to continuously improve our core menu offerings, ensuring that our food standards remain consistent and that the end product delivered to our customers is the highest quality in the industry.
    • Leverage data, customer behavior, and consumer insights to drive improvements to our offering.
    • Develop and execute culinary strategies that align with sweetgreen's Food Ethos, brand values, goals, and objectives.
    • Inform and articulate our food journey from the point of entry in the sweetgreen ecosystem to our end customer.

Be the Face of our Food - This role will be the primary face of our culinary credentials to our customers and other stakeholders.
    • Provide regular reports and updates on culinary initiatives to senior leadership, the sweetgreen board and other stakeholders.
    • Work with Brand/Marketing on content creation and events that support the brand messaging and connect sweetgreen with our local communities.

Desired traits:
  • Obsessed with Food & Food Culture - You are leading from the front to help us identify the next ingredient and menu item for us to pursue. You know the latest trends in the culinary industry, and you thrive in creating new solutions that haven't been figured out at scale.
  • Detail-Oriented - You obsess over the details because you know that's what it takes to execute a high-quality menu across 280+ restaurants and thousands of team members.
  • Strong Influence and Leadership Skills - You can operate in a matrixed environment to advance the culinary agenda in a way that brings people along. You thrive on creating an environment for your team to succeed.
  • Candidates must be willing to relocate to the Greater Los Angeles area

Desired experience:
  • 10+ years of experience in multi-unit restaurant companies, developing and executing menus
  • 5+ years of experience leading teams across culinary, food science, and commercialization
  • Deep understanding of restaurant operations and management of hourly employees in a fast-casual or full-service restaurant setting
  • Strong communication, collaboration, and leadership skills
  • Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects and initiatives simultaneously
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts, Food Science, or a related field (Master's degree preferred)
What you'll get:
  • Highly competitive pay + bonus plan
  • Three different medical plans to suit your and your family's needs
  • Dental and Vision insurance
  • Flexible PTO plan
  • 401k program
  • Employee HSA and FSA
  • Complimentary greens
  • An opportunity to make a real impact on the people around you, both by growing them and by connecting them to real food
  • To live the sweetlife and celebrate your passion + purpose
  • A collaborative team of people who live our core values and have your back
  • A clear career path with opportunities for development, both personally and professionally
  • Free sweetgreen swag

Come join the sweetlife!
About sweetgreen
Sweetgreen is a national restaurant brand dedicated to building healthier communities by connecting people to real food. Since 2007, Sweetgreen has reimagined fast food to be fresh, flavorful, and rooted in relationships with farmers and communities. As we grow, we are committed to developing our people in our restaurants and at our support center, so that everyone can be part of the movement. When you join Sweetgreen, you not only invest in your own future but help create spaces where food, people, and purpose come together
Salary range for this role:
Starting salary range based on experience
$160,000-$229,000 USD
Sweetgreen provides equal opportunities for all employees and applicants, without regard to sex or gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles), religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, any service in the uniformed services of the United States, or any other consideration protected by federal, state, or local law.
California residents: Review our applicant privacy notice HERE.
sweetgreen participates in the federal government's E-Verify program to determine employment eligibility. To learn more about the E-Verify program, please click here.

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