Senior Culinary Development Manager

Role Overview

As Executive Chefs, we have the power to influence lives through the power of food.

The Senior Culinary Development Manager will provide expertise in all things culinary i.e. - training and development of Chefs, menu development, culinary development of the food programs and platforms, food management systems sourcing product and vendors and setting up systems. This position provides culinary support to our USAA client in San Antiono, Texas.

The Senior Culinary Development Manager will support our accounts to strengthen the culinary presence and retail operations by implementing culinary systems, menu innovation, inventory management and ordering, stockroom organization, and ensure kitchen safety and sanitation compliance. The ideal candidate will be a culinary leader with a proven commitment to food service excellence following culinary trends with the ability to translate ideas into unique menu and recipe programs using sustainable food sources. This Senior Culinary Development manager will be the teacher of Sodexo’s brands standards so experience with Kitchen Works and or Modern Recipe is a plus

What You'll Do

Culinary

• Lead the implementation and evaluation of culinary product/service offerings, brands, and/or in-house concepts and national brands
• Responsible for directing and overseeing the innovation and selection of quality menu items and the elevation of current items that contribute to increasing guest traffic, sales, efficiency, and menu profitability 

Innovation

• Develop and implement pilot programs for new production methods, focusing on efficiency, quality, and sustainability
• Oversee the entire innovation process, from ideation and concept development to testing and implementation 

Understanding and managing kitchen equipment projects

• Maintaining regular communication with clients, vendors, and internal teams regarding project progress, issues, and changes
• Proficient in data analysis and interpretation to inform decision-making and measure impact along with pros and cons of given equipment options 

Consensus Builder and Client Centric

• Coordinating activities between different teams (e.g., design, construction, installation)
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with clients, vendors, and other stakeholders

What We Offer

Compensation is fair and equitable, partially determined by a candidate's education level or years of relevant experience. Salary offers are based on a candidate's specific criteria, like experience, skills, education, and training. Sodexo offers a comprehensive benefits package that may include:

• Medical, Dental, Vision Care and Wellness Programs
• 401(k) Plan with Matching Contributions
• Paid Time Off and Company Holidays
• Career Growth Opportunities and Tuition Reimbursement

More extensive information is provided to new employees upon hire.

What You Bring

• A strong culinary background, with the demonstrated ability to stay current with new culinary trends
• Excellent leadership and communication skills with the ability to maintain the highest of culinary standards
• Strong coaching and employee development skills
• A passion for food and innovation
• Experience managing multiple projects, with the strong ability to foster relationships and direct teams to support our vision and additional market growth
• A deep knowledge of local regional products and cuisine styles. With the ability to be translate innovative ideas into unique menu items and recipes
• the ability to think strategically and systematically with the capability to articulate both
• strong leader with the ability to effectively manage, lead and communicate with the team and key stakeholders
• a keen eye for detail in order to provide expert guidance relating to hospitality and culinary
• strong cooking skills with a diversified repertoire
• demonstrated proven results with food costs, labor cost, controllable expenses, targets, and goal setting

Who We Are

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone and build a better life for all. We believe in improving the quality of life for those we serve and contributing to the economic, social, and environmental progress in the communities where we operate. Sodexo partners with clients to provide a truly memorable experience for both customers and employees alike. We do this by providing food service, catering, facilities management, and other integrated solutions worldwide.

Our company values you for you; you will be treated fairly and with respect, and you can be yourself. You will have your ideas count and your opinions heard because we can be a stronger team when you’re happy at work. This is why we embrace diversity and inclusion as core values, fostering an environment where all employees are valued and respected. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to individuals regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, military status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. If you need assistance with the application process, please complete this form.

Qualifications & Requirements

Minimum Education Requirement - Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience

Minimum Management Experience - 5 years   

Minimum Functional Experience - 3 years of experience in operations