Salary: $120000 - $140000 / year
Our Passion is Food!
At Bon Appetit Management Company we are committed to two things, great food and outstanding service! At Bon Appetit you won't find our managers referring to a corporate recipe book or our chefs microwaving the lunch special. We do not have standardized recipes or central commissaries, instead, our chefs and managers are expected to stay abreast of current culinary trends and bring cutting edge food into their cafes. We are a restaurant company that operates in contract food service. That means you will have the freedom to be creative, take risks, and truly shine. We are committed to our staff growing, trying new things, and learning all that they can. Our rapid growth and breadth of accounts translates into exciting opportunities for our people!
Job Summary
Working as the Director of Culinary Development you will be responsible for the research, testing, development, documenting, training, implementing, monitoring, evaluating and making necessary adjustments to innovative new dishes, concepts and/or food programs.
Key Responsibilities:
- Serves as Department Head to provide leadership and set standards of culinary excellence
- Works with Division leadership in planning, implementing and supporting new food concepts or programs at their locations
- Develops and mentors senior chefs in various Company divisions and geographical regions
- Creates training opportunities for chefs and managers through manufacturer and vendor resources and sharing / promoting internal best practices
- Stays current with market trends and customer demands
- Participates in and attends trade shows and continuing education opportunities
- Plans menus for daily offerings, seasonal or limited time specials, daily and special event catering for a wide variety of locations and applications
- Conducts food tastings and evaluate food presentation
- Establishes food specifications
- Works with food manufacturers and vendors to select best product / value for needs
- Ensures that food products and handling procedures adhere to local, state and federal regulations
- Contributes expertise in kitchen and servery design and / or remodeling projects
- Leads culinary teams in planning, training, set-up and opening new and / or remodeled accounts
- Collaborate with other departments such as Purchasing, Marketing and Business Development on special projects and Company initiatives
- Direct sustainability initiatives throughout Company locations
- Oversee Nutrition staff and programs
- Updates senior management, supervisory managers and account management teams on industry trends and new food programs
Preferred Qualifications:
- Degree in Culinary Arts or equivalent professional experience
- Minimum of five years of progressive culinary experience in high volume, complex service and catering operations
- Minimum of two years of menu development
- Knowledge of budgets, food and labor costs, inventory controls
- Comprehensive knowledge of international cuisines and catering trends
- Thorough understanding of food equipment and safety standards
- Strong organizational, leadership, coaching and training skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Flexible and adaptable to rapidly changing priorities and work demands
- Self-starter, innovative and ability to multitask
- Ability to travel extensively
- Capable of representing the Company in food service industry events and public relations appearances
- Strong computer skills; including MS office, recipe management and nutrition programs
Apply to Bon Appetit today!
Bon Appetit is a member of Compass Group USA.
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.
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
Bon Appetit maintains a drug-free workplace.
Req ID:1336272
Bon Appetit
Tyler Justus
