Senior Director, Culinary Experience

Description

Why Southern Land?

Our full service company is comprised of planning, architecture, design, construction, marketing, and resident experience professionals—all in-house and working together every day to envision and create uniquely beautiful places.

Position Summary

The Senior Director, Culinary Experience will be responsible for overseeing culinary operations across various restaurant locations, ensuring the highest standards of food quality, consistency, and operational efficiency. This role will involve working closely with restaurant operators, chefs, and other key stakeholders to develop and execute menus, provide guidance on food safety and hygiene standards, and lead culinary teams to success.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

• Culinary Leadership:
  • Oversee and support the culinary operations across all restaurants within the company's portfolio.
  • Develop and execute creative, high-quality menu offerings that align with the brand and customer demographics for each owned and licensed restaurant.
  • Work closely with restaurant operators to ensure that the menu reflects the latest trends and customer preferences while maintaining operational feasibility.
• Operational Excellence:
  • Maintain and enforce food quality, consistency, and portion control across all locations.
  • Ensure all kitchens comply with local and national food safety regulations, including sanitation and health standards.
  • Monitor kitchen equipment and supplies, ensuring proper maintenance and inventory management.
• Staff Development:
  • Provide leadership, training, and mentorship to restaurant chefs, kitchen staff, and culinary teams.
  • Foster a positive, collaborative, and high-performance kitchen culture.
  • Assist in recruitment and hiring processes for culinary positions within the company’s restaurant network.
• Financial Management:
  • Work with restaurant operators to manage food cost and waste reduction initiatives.
  • Develop and monitor budgets for food and labor costs, ensuring that they are aligned with company goals.
  • Support the financial performance of the restaurants through strategic menu planning, cost control, and maximizing profitability.
• Collaboration & Communication:
  • Act as the liaison between restaurant operators and the real estate company’s management team to ensure that expectations are met.
  • Provide regular feedback to stakeholders on culinary performance, customer satisfaction, and operational improvements.
  • Stay updated on industry trends and introduce new concepts and ideas to enhance the dining experience.
• Quality Control & Guest Experience:
  • Ensure that all restaurants maintain a high level of food quality and presentation.
  • Participate in guest satisfaction surveys and respond to customer feedback to continuously improve the dining experience.
• Project Management:
  • Lead/oversee kitchen design for all new restaurant openings.

Specific Position Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts, Hospitality Management, or related field (preferred).
• Minimum of 10 years of experience as an executive chef or corporate chef in a multi-unit food service or restaurant environment.
• Experience working with restaurant operators and managers, preferably in a corporate or real estate setting.
• Strong knowledge of food safety regulations, kitchen management, and culinary operations.
• Proven ability to create innovative and profitable menus.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work under pressure, manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Strong financial acumen and experience managing food cost and budget.

Minimum Employment Requirements:

• Ability to communicate effectively in a positive and upbeat fashion utilizing English; both in oral and written form.
• Interpersonal skills with focused attention on guest needs; ability to deal effectively with all business contacts.
• Maintain a professional, neat and well-groomed appearance.
• Ability to stand for long periods and lift up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

Company Overview

Southern Land Company believes that community is the heart of every successful development project. With that as our starting point, we create residential developments around the country that provide a generous, comfortable lifestyle to those that call them home. In support of our single family and multifamily projects, we also undertake key retail, office, and recreation developments to craft convenient, complete communities. We believe in big ideas and paying attention to every detail required to realize them.

We Have…

• A strong brand recognized for quality, performance, and artistry
• Guiding principles of creativity and innovation
• An open mind for new ideas and creative methods
• A strong compensation and benefits package, including health, vision, dental, 401k with a strong match and more!

Southern Land Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and we seek to create an inclusive work place that embraces diverse backgrounds, life experiences and perspectives. Southern Land Company offers a competitive benefits package, including 401k and paid time off.  Southern Land Company is a Drug Free Workplace.  For more information, please visit our website at www.southernland.com.

Qualifications

Salary : $190,000 - $225,000