Director of Culinary Excellence

Director of Culinary Excellence (Senior Living)

The Director of Culinary Excellence will spearhead Thomas Cuisine's commitment to Real Foods, overseeing menu development, culinary consistency, and exceptional dining experiences across all senior living communities. As a leader in culinary innovation, this role will support high-profile events, execute culinary demonstrations, and ensure back-of-house excellence while driving continuous improvement, optimizing food cost, maintaining regulatory compliance, and leading the training and development of culinarians. This individual will play a pivotal role in promoting nutrient-dense, scratch-cooked food aligned with resident preferences, nutritional needs, and company values.

What you will do

Real Foods Champion

• Advocate for and embody Thomas Cuisine’s Real Foods mission, ensuring that nutrient-dense, scratch-cooked food is embraced across all units.
• Promote food as medicine, offering a public voice in efforts to fix the food system and deliver better nutrition.

Menu Development

• Lead the creation and execution of core, seasonal, and specialty menus that reflect resident preferences and meet dietary needs.
• Collaborate with community chefs to innovate and refine menu options, ensuring a high culinary standard across all offerings.
• Develop and implement menu planning processes that effectively balances cost-effectiveness and quality.

Culinary Excellence and Consistency

• Establish and enforce high culinary standards across all senior living communities to ensure consistency in quality, presentation, and service.
• Regularly evaluate and adjust culinary processes to maintain the highest standard of excellence.Event Support and Signature Initiatives:
• Provide hands-on support for high-profile events, new community openings, signature menu launches, and culinary initiatives.
• Ensure culinary presence and continuity during periods of leadership transitions or vacancies.

Chef Demonstrations and Business Development

• Conduct live chef demonstrations as part of business development activities, showcasing the culinary capabilities and commitment to excellence of Thomas Cuisine.

Compliance and Sanitation Standards

• Collaborate with the Director of Nutrition & Compliance to establish and maintain compliance protocols and sanitation standards.
• Ensure all kitchens meet or exceed regulatory health guidelines.
• Implement quality control systems and ensure adherence to food safety and sanitation standards.

Back of House Leadership

• Serve as the primary resource for Food Service Directors and Executive Chefs on back-of-house operations, including culinary procedures, kitchen management, and food safety.

New Business and Culinary Assessment

• Assess new business opportunities from a culinary perspective, advising on the creation of dining programs that align with operational and clinical goals.

New Openings Leadership

• Responsible for establishing and overseeing the culinary vision, standards, and framework for all new location openings. This role ensures each project aligns with the company's culinary values, quality standards, and operational objectives.
• Work closely with the Operational Resource team to develop and implement culinary framework and training programs for chefs and kitchen staff.
• Act as the primary culinary liaison, providing guidance, support, and troubleshooting assistance throughout the opening process.
• Provides post-opening support to ensure smooth culinary operations and ongoing quality assurance.

Advisory Services Collaboration

• Serve as the culinary expert across all Advisory Services partnerships, ensuring the consistent implementation of culinary programs across various service lines.

Additional Responsibilities

• Design and oversee the implementation of menus that meet both resident preferences and nutritional requirements.
• Train and support Food Service Directors and Executive Chefs to uphold culinary standards and ensure compliance across communities.
• Serve as interim culinary leadership during Executive Chef vacancies.
• Maintain regular communication with clients and deliver on all culinary operations and deliverables within Advisory Services Partnerships.
• Collaborate with senior management to identify and integrate new culinary opportunities, offering support during special events.
• Partner with the Director of Healthcare Dining to uphold compliance, sanitation, and regulatory standards in all kitchens.
• Provide guidance on back-of-house operations and offer best practices to community-level leadership.

Who you are

• Proven experience in culinary leadership within senior living or healthcare environments.
• Strong knowledge of menu development, food safety regulations, and kitchen management.
• Ability to lead and inspire teams while driving innovation and consistency.
• Demonstrated passion for advocating nutrient-dense, scratch-cooked food as part of a healthy lifestyle.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to conduct professional culinary demonstrations.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

• The role requires standing, walking, and hands-on participation in kitchen operations.
• Must be able to lift up to 40 pounds regularly and engage in activities that require physical stamina, such as kitchen setup and event support.
• Ability to travel up to 80% for new openings, advisory services, coverage for open positions, and events.

Who We Are 

Founded in 1986, Thomas Cuisine is an award-winning, privately held contract food service company. We advocate the healing power of whole foods and believe in preparing scratch-made cuisine fresh each day. Every Thomas Cuisine team member is an ambassador, carrying out our mission, reflecting our values, and building relationships while "doing the right thing".  

What’s in it for you 

Wage: $110,000 annually plus 10% bonus potential 

Benefits: 

Full-time roles include:  

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits with several plan options to choose from! 
Generous Paid Time Off and Paid Leave Programs. 
Employee referral program.
Access to wellness initiatives, financial planning, mental health assistance, and more. 

Our commitment to you 

At Thomas Cuisine, we are dedicated to fostering a workplace that is diverse, equitable, inclusive, and where every individual feels a sense of belonging. We know that this commitment is an ongoing journey, and we will strive to improve and adapt as we grow. Our DEIB commitment is not just a statement but a living part of our company culture. 

REAL Food | Genuine Service | Enduring Relationships 

Salary : $110,000