Job DescriptionThe Regional Culinary Director (RCD) provides strategic culinary leadership across the region, ensuring operational excellence and consistent food quality. Collaborates with Finance and Operations to manage food costs, purchasing compliance, and food safety, driving improved satisfaction in residential and retail surveys. Partners with Marketing to deliver engaging, innovative programs at each location. Works with Human Resources to recruit, train, and develop culinary talent, building a regional succession plan. Supports Growth initiatives through new business development and retention efforts. The RCD Collegiate Hospitality East Region serves as the senior culinary leader, reporting to the Regional Vice President. This role drives the execution and enhancement of culinary programs aligned with Collegiate Hospitality and regional strategies. While primarily focused on regional impact, the RCD also leads one enterprise-wide initiative-such as standardized menus, food and labor productivity, or culinary innovation-across the Collegiate Hospitality portfolio.
Job ResponsibilitiesCulinary Leadership:
- Lead and coach culinary teams across multiple sites, ensuring food quality, presentation, and creativity. Maintain standards, oversee equipment and safety compliance, and support regional development through a dotted-line leadership network. Manage special events, hiring, training, and performance reviews. Engage with campus leadership to tailor programs and build culinary bench strength.
Operational Excellence:
- Collaborate with regional leaders to implement brand initiatives, standardize recipes, and improve satisfaction. Partner with the Aramark Innovation Center to roll out trends and lead high-profile events. Ensure consistency, share best practices, and drive strategic planning for retention.
Driving Growth:
- Promote culinary talent, support marketing initiatives, and lead productivity efforts. Optimize food and labor processes, ensure vendor compliance, and develop premium catering menus. Innovate to grow revenue and reduce costs through improved procedures.
Team Leadership & Financial Performance:
- Lead regional culinary talent development, training, and recognition. Drive financial goals through cost optimization and productivity. Oversee food quality, safety, and consistency. Supervise chefs and ensure adherence to Aramark standards of excellence.
Key Capabilities:
- Expert in culinary techniques, large-scale production, and cost control. Skilled in multi-unit operations, menu development, and driving efficiency. Strong leadership, communication, and project management abilities. Capable of managing innovation, training, and client engagement. Development includes leading audits, training, new services, and sales support. Milestones include unit openings, taskforce participation, and STAR team leadership. Core leadership traits: influence, talent growth, hospitality, initiative, and impact.
At Aramark, developing new skills and doing what it takes to get the job done make a positive impact for our employees and for our customers. In order to meet our commitments, job duties may change or new ones may be assigned without formal notice.
Qualifications- CIA ProChef or ACF certification required.
- 10+ years of culinary management experience.
- Culinary degree or equivalent experience.
- Advanced knowledge of principles and practices within the food service industry.
- Expertise in demonstration cooking, menu writing and development and understanding of standards.
- Ability to lead in a diverse environment with focus on client and customer service.
- Previous experience with controlling food and labor costs, demonstration cooking, menu development and pricing development.
- P&L accountability and/or contract-managed service experience preferred.
- Proficiency in MS Office Suite, key Aramark productivity tools (e.g. Prima or equivalent).
- Requires exceptional communication skills.
- ServSafe Certification
- Ability to travel 60-75% of the time
- High level of professionalism, maturity, and project management capability
CompensationCOMPENSATION: The salary range for this position is $160,000 to $170,000. If both numbers are the same, that is the amount that Aramark expects to offer. This is Aramark's good faith and reasonable estimate of the compensation for this position as of the time of posting.
BENEFITS: Aramark offers comprehensive benefit programs and services for eligible employees including medical, dental, vision, and work/life resources. Additional benefits may include retirement savings plans like 401(k) and paid days off such as parental leave and disability coverage. Benefits vary by location and are subject to any legal requirements or limitations, employee eligibility status, and where the employee lives and/or works. For more information about Aramark benefits, click here Aramark Careers - Benefits & Compensation.
There is no predetermined application window for this position, the position will close once a qualified candidate is selected. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable law, including, but not limited to, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, the California Fair Chance Act, and the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance to the extent that those laws apply to the opportunity.
