About Us: Dartcor Food Services is a premier regional luxury hospitality company recognized for delivering exceptional culinary experiences with a focus on innovation, sustainability, and world-class service. We pride ourselves on sourcing local, high-quality ingredients and developing unique dining concepts for our clients. As part of our continued growth, we are seeking a highly skilled and dynamic Director of Culinary & Innovation to lead our culinary initiatives across multiple channels, from corporate dining to catering. This leadership role is perfect for a seasoned culinary professional passionate about excellence and driving innovation.
Position Overview: As the Director of Culinary & Innovation, you will be a key member of the leadership team, reporting directly to senior management. You will be responsible for overseeing and elevating the culinary experience across Dartcor's portfolio, which includes corporate and conference dining, workplace pantries, coffee & juice bars, and catering services. You will be entrusted with maintaining our commitment to delivering exceptional, innovative culinary offerings while ensuring operational efficiency and financial success.
Key Responsibilities:
Provide hands-on leadership and mentorship to the culinary team, promoting a restaurant-like atmosphere where guest expectations are consistently exceeded.
Drive the achievement of financial goals by effectively managing people, products, service, and facility processes, with an emphasis on revenue growth and cost control.
Collaborate with senior leadership to develop and implement policies that ensure operational goals are met, including budget management, labor costs, cost of goods sold, and other key performance indicators.
Conduct regular performance evaluations and provide feedback, ensuring team development and the implementation of corrective actions when necessary.
Ensure adherence to operational and training standards across all locations, maintaining consistency in food quality, service, and cleanliness.
Spearhead the recruitment, training, and retention of high-performing culinary talent across the team.
Respond promptly and creatively to guest feedback, solving problems and developing actionable solutions to improve guest experiences.
Develop public-facing food concepts that highlight Dartcor's commitment to culinary innovation, from high-end catering to convenient grab-and-go options.
Lead menu creation, balancing creativity with operational efficiency and client needs.
Travel weekly within the tri-state area to oversee operations, conduct inspections, and ensure best practices are being followed.
Skills & Qualifications:
Minimum of 5 years of experience in fine dining or catering as an Executive Chef or in a similar leadership culinary role.
Proven ability to lead, inspire, and develop high-performing teams in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
Expertise in menu creation, food quality control, and operational excellence.
Strong business acumen, with experience managing budgets, controlling costs, and optimizing revenue.
Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to foster relationships with clients, team members, and senior leadership.
Ability to problem-solve and make sound decisions in high-pressure situations.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel); experience with Toast POS and R365 is a plus.
Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
Why Join Us?
Competitive salary with performance-based incentives
Comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance
Paid time off and holiday pay
401K
If you are an experienced culinary leader with a passion for innovation and exceptional service, we want to hear from you! Join our team and play a pivotal role in shaping the culinary experience for Dartcor's diverse clientele.