Regional Culinary Professional

About the role

The Regional Culinary Professional is responsible for the culinary execution ensuring high quality food offerings at each of our locations. To delight our guests, every meal, every day through effective and repeatable culinary standards by providing the training and tools required for success. Provide culinary troubleshooting as required and inspiring teams while assisting at locations. Being an advocate for our offerings, inspiring and cultivating a team of culinarians by maintaining a supportive style of leadership. A high level of communication across the company’s brands is also required to ensure business needs and desires are met.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high quality food to guests through excellence in culinary execution at each location.
• Ensure production logs, recipe compliance, station set-up, and other culinary standards are in place.
• Conduct site visits to ensure culinary standards and consistency are being met through quarterly culinary audits.
• Troubleshoot culinary inconsistencies for solutions, retrain staff as needed, and as directed by the Regional Operations manager and Director.
• Participate in culinary counsel to share feedback and best practices.
• Engage culinary teams through a supportive leadership style.
• Advocate for our offerings and communicate the “why” behind what we do in culinary.
• Ensure proper packaging is being utilized for all offerings.
• Complete daily temperature logs and ensure the process is carried through to locations serviced.
• Maintain high food safety and sanitation standards, ensuring temperature logs, cold food stays cold, and hot food stays hot.
• Support high-end and large-event caterings as required, ensuring the menu and execution process is appropriate.
• Evaluate proper purchasing and inventory efficiencies often.
• Assist in achieving financial goals through effective recipe compliance, purchasing, inventory, production levels, and training.
• Participate in the interview, selection, and assessment of talent, where appropriate.
• Provide coaching, training, and development opportunities, where needed.
• Conduct research and development of new culinary trends and ideas for menus.
• Review recipes and product yields for accuracy while at locations.
• Understand retail environment, compliance, and marketing of items.
• Evaluate results through data and adjust menus accordingly.
• Build relationships with support departments for collaboration and influence.
• Take on additional projects and assignments as needed.
• Provide leadership as a working manager at events.
• Develop training programs and materials.
• Set performance expectations, work hours, and manage delegation of responsibility.
• Resolve employee concerns, escalated issues, and grievances.

Requirements

• Associate degree in culinary or equivalent work experience in the industry.
• Five or more years of culinary experience required.
• Prior management experience is strongly preferred.
• ServSafe Manager and Allergen certification preferred; if not held, must be willing to obtain them through the company’s ServSafe training program.
• Advanced knowledge of food preparation practices.
• Ability to prepare a wide range of culinary offerings.
• Ability to teach/train team members on how to execute food preparation.
• Excellent computer skills.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Professional demeanor, pleasant personality, and positive attitude; neat and well-groomed appearance.
• Ability to maintain and build relationships with existing and potential clients as well as industry contacts.

Skills

• Results-oriented and flexible; takes action as soon as need arises and demonstrates positive results.
• Steadily follows through on tasks; balances business requirements and client requests.
• Absorbs new information quickly and translates key points into positive outcomes.
• Passion for food and skilled in needed areas; good at visualizing how to develop new dishes and scale them appropriately.
• Demonstrated ability to gain buy-in, respect, trust, and accountability to achieve goals.
• High energy level; resilience, endurance, and persistence throughout career.
• Can-do attitude; stays positive even in adversity; sets the right tone for others.
• Collaborative work style; respectful of others’ contributions.
• Believes in and practices direct and honest communication; actively shares information.
• Seeks collaborative resolution of issues; values others’ points of view and encourages independent thought; listens well.
• Personal values align with the company’s values and culture; treats people with respect and consistency.
• Trustworthy; highly ethical; appreciates and engages in creativity and forward thinking; takes a long-range view.
• Strong proficiency with electronic communication, Microsoft Office Suite, and related industry systems.

Benefits

• Full-time team members are eligible for medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Life insurance and disability insurance.
• Parental leave and 401(k) with company match.
• At-work dining perks and flexible schedules.
• Generous PTO and a total rewards program.
• Inclusive employee assistance program.
• Part-time team members are eligible for 401(k) with company match and at-work dining perks.
• Location-specific perks may include wellness programming, on-the-job training, corporate-hosted courses, certifications, and team events.