Director of Food and Beverage

We are a growing hospitality group driven by a question: 'What is the best way to feed ourselves?' Lead by James Beard award winning chef Spike Gjerde, Woodberry Kitchen & Artifact Coffee have a 17 year history of returning over $25 million to Mid-Atlantic growers, watermen, and makers. 

In 2025, we have an amazing year of growth planned, as we continue our pursuit of supporting regenerative agriculture through food & beverage businesses, diverting dollars from an industrialized commodity food system. 

We are looking for one exceptional individual to oversee all of our businesses which will include fine dining, private events, cafe operations, casual dining, retail, and a canning program. The Director of Operations will manage the day-to-day and guest experience of each F&B outlet in the company. The role requires a dynamic individual who aligns with our approach to sourcing and can represent that approach with teams and guests.

This role will report to Chef/Owner Spike Gjerde and COO Aazam Yaqoob, working closely with Culinary Director Steven Kenny. If you are a food professional with high-level organization and people management skills, we would like to hear from you! A qualified candidate has an understanding of our approach to sourcing, transferrable people management skills, and some hospitality management experience. Preferred experience includes experience working in a company with a regenerative agriculture focus, multi-unit experience, and skill with beverage menu oversight.

Job duties:

-Hire, train, and provide ongoing coaching/development for team members in every FOH position in the company, including General Managers.

-Drive staff education including extensive knowledge of our menus, sourcing practices, the local food system, food and beverage, service mechanics, and more. 

-Work with Spike to understand his vision for service in each restaurant along with our success metrics for managers. Learn to translate Spike's approach to the restaurant teams. 

-Maintain Woodberry Kitchen and other restaurants in the group as professional level work places that facilitate high quality employment.

-Maintain our restaurants as well-functioning, clean, and organized places to work and dine.

-Define organizational systems for each Front of House area in the restaurant, communicate them to teams, and enforce them. 

-Manage equipment maintenance and repairs on appropriate dining room facilities, including working with service providers to address the repairs, managing costs, and maintaining facilities for uninterrupted services at each location.

-Affect positive change on our top-line sales through the development of well-trained teams and service mechanics, exceptional offerings that satisfy our demand and reflect our sourcing, and identifying and capturing opportunities for sales.

-Provide oversight for beverage programs at each location.

-Use an understanding of business metrics including Sales, COGS, Labor Cost, and Expenses to drive profitability at each location. Work with Aazam to manage the financial success of each location.

Required Experience:

-5 years in management/director positions or equivalent experience from another industry

-Strong written and verbal communication skills

-Experience managing diverse teams including junior managers

-Understanding of financial metrics in F&B businesses

-Strong beverage & service knowledge

-Bachelor’s degree preferred

-Multi-unit experience preferred

Must be based in Baltimore.

Compensation commensurate with experience.
Full benefits package including health, dental, vision, life, and HSA.