Strategic Focus Recruiting

1 job near Columbus, OH

Director of Culinary Enterprise Strategy & Operations

Strategic Focus Recruiting

Dallas, TX โ€ข On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

Full-time

Posted 10 days ago


Job description

Location: Dallas, TX
Reports To: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Department: Social Enterprises / Operations

Overview of Role:
The Director of Social Enterprises serves as the senior operational leader responsible for overseeing and scaling a diverse portfolio of mission-driven businesses. This role combines strategic vision with hands-on execution and requires a leader who can drive financial performance while building strong systems, developing talent, and expanding revenue-generating opportunities.
This leader will oversee:
Restaurant and hospitality operations
Catering program development and expansion
Retail and customer-facing enterprises
Farm-based corporate and private event programming
Workforce development integration within enterprise environments
The Director will play a critical role in strengthening margins, stabilizing systems, expanding market reach, and activating new revenue channels.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Enterprise Growth
  • Develop and execute a multi-year growth strategy for all social enterprises.
  • Align enterprise operations with organizational mission and financial sustainability goals.
  • Identify new revenue opportunities, partnerships, and market expansions.
  • Establish and monitor KPIs related to revenue, margin, customer experience, workforce development, and mission outcomes.
  • Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance in partnership with Finance and Operations.
  • Partner with executive leadership on long-term business planning and capital investment decisions.
  • Ensure consistency, quality, and accountability across all social enterprise operations.
  • Ensure compliance with food safety, labor standards, licensing, and regulatory requirements.
  • Provide direct oversight and performance management of enterprise leaders and managers.

Restaurant & Hospitality Operations
  • Provide oversight of daily restaurant operations, ensuring high standards in:
  • Food quality and service delivery
  • Labor management and scheduling optimization
  • Cost control and margin performance
  • Guest experience and brand consistency
  • Implement and standardize operating procedures across all hospitality units.
  • Analyze sales trends, menu performance, and operational efficiencies to drive profitability.
  • Build strong kitchen and front-of-house leadership structures.

Catering Program Development & Expansion
  • Design and scale a structured catering program to serve corporate, nonprofit, and private clients.
  • Develop tiered menu offerings and pricing strategies aligned to margin goals.
  • Establish operational workflows for catering execution (logistics, staffing, production).
  • Build a proactive corporate catering sales pipeline.
  • Collaborate with marketing to position catering as a primary revenue driver.
  • Set measurable annual catering revenue growth targets.

Extension Farm & Event Revenue Strategy
  • Lead the strategic expansion of farm-based corporate and private events, including:
    • Weddings
    • Corporate retreats
    • Family reunions
    • Community gatherings
    • Brand activations
  • Develop scalable event packages, pricing models, and vendor partnerships.
  • Ensure operational readiness for event hosting (facilities, staffing, safety, compliance).
  • Build relationships with corporate partners and event planners.
  • Protect the integrity of the brand and mission while activating revenue growth.

Financial & Performance Accountability
  • Oversee enterprise budgets and financial performance across all business units.
  • Maintain strong cost controls and margin oversight.
  • Partner with Finance on forecasting, reporting, and capital planning.
  • Use data-driven decision-making to improve revenue, reduce waste, and optimize labor.
  • Ensure all enterprises meet or exceed established financial targets.

People Leadership & Workforce Development
  • Lead, coach, and develop enterprise leaders with a focus on accountability, growth, and servant leadership.
  • Support apprenticeship and workforce development pathways embedded within social enterprises.
  • Foster a culture of dignity, psychological safety, and professional growth.
  • Partner with People Operations to ensure strong hiring, onboarding, performance management, and corrective action processes.

Operational Systems & Infrastructure
  • Strengthen enterprise systems including:
    • Inventory management
    • Procurement processes
    • Vendor partnerships
    • Compliance and regulatory standards
    • Safety and risk mitigation
  • Create clear SOPs and accountability mechanisms across all units.
  • Ensure cross-functional coordination between operations, facilities, marketing, development, and finance.

Growth & Market Positioning
  • Evaluate opportunities to expand enterprise footprint or offerings.
  • Support brand positioning as a destination for hospitality, community, and corporate engagement.
  • Leverage enterprise storytelling to support development and fundraising initiatives.
  • Represent enterprise operations with external stakeholders and partners.

Qualifications

Required:
  • Bachelors degree in business, Hospitality, Nonprofit Management, Operations, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
  • 7+ years of progressive leadership experience in social enterprise, hospitality, food operations, retail, or mission-driven business environments.
  • Demonstrated experience leading multi-unit or multi-function operations.
  • Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, P&L oversight, and performance metrics.
  • Proven ability to lead and develop managers and frontline leaders.
  • Experience working in mission-based, community-centered, or workforce development organizations.

Preferred:
  • Masters degree (MBA, MPA, or related field).
  • Experience in nonprofit social enterprise models.
  • Familiarity with workforce development, apprenticeship, or second-chance employment programs.
  • Experience scaling operations in growing or transitional organizations.

Working Conditions
  • Standard office environment with occasional evening or weekend hours for events.
  • Occasional outdoor work required during community and donor events.
  • Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds for event setup and support.