Regional Culinary Director

Job Summary

Client partnership, retention, and satisfaction
Financial performance
People development, performance, and culture
Innovation, operational excellence, and food safety
Drive consistency and quality

Key Responsibilities

• Provide culinary leadership for all locations within the national account, ensuring programs consistently meet or exceed contractual and brand expectations
• Lead culinary strategy for new openings, renovations, and program expansions, contributing to Wolfgang Puck Catering’s reputation for excellence
• Build strong, trusted relationships with client stakeholders, operations leaders, and cross-functional partners
• Foster a culture of engagement, growth, recognition, and accountability where teams feel proud of their work
• Partner with senior leadership to review performance, discuss strategy, address challenges, and identify opportunities for continuous improvement
• Communicate client needs, account performance, and new company initiatives clearly and proactively
• Support financial objectives through menu strategy, cost controls, and collaboration on profitability and performance analysis
• Identify and implement culinary training and development programs that support team members at all skill levels
• Drive consistency and quality through adherence to purchasing programs, food safety standards, and regulatory requirements
• Champion innovation and best practices that enhance the guest experience while supporting scalability across a national platform

What We're Looking For

• Associate’s degree in Culinary Arts from an accredited culinary school, Bachelor’s degree in Food Service or Hospitality Management, or equivalent professional experience
• Approximately five (5) years of progressive food service management experience, including at least two (2) years supporting multiple locations
• Experience leading culinary programs in complex, client-driven environments
• Comfort using standard business technology, including Microsoft Office applications
• Ability to meet the physical requirements of the role, including occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds
• Willingness and ability to travel nationwide as business needs require
• Ability to maintain ServSafe certification within one (1) year of hire
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills
• Ability to influence and lead through collaboration rather than authority alone
• Experience designing and implementing culinary training and development programs
• Financial and operational awareness, with the ability to connect culinary decisions to business outcomes
• A growth mindset and enthusiasm for innovation, learning, and continuous improvement

Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer.

Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance/AD
• Disability Insurance
• Retail Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Parental Leave
• Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
• Personal Leave
• Associate Shopping Program
• Health and Wellness Programs
• Discount Marketplace
• Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)