Culinary Operations Director - Beerbarrel : Job Details

Culinary Operations Director

Position Overview:

The Culinary Operations Director is a key leadership role responsible for translating culinary strategy into consistent execution across all Beer Barrel locations. Housed within our Operations Department, the Culinary Operations Director will be responsible for working with both our Culinary and Operations teams to develop, implement, scale, and verify a range of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure food quality, safety, and general compliance. The ideal candidate will bring experience and tactical know-how to collaborate on product and process decisions while holding primary responsibility for their deployment into the organization. Balancing strategic planning and problem solving with tactical operations excellence, the right person will be a problem solver and solution finder, capable of easily taking ideas to execution. Additionally, the person in this position will play a key role in developing leaders within our kitchen vertical, building not only technical knowledge and skills but serving as a mentor and model of our organization's mission, vision, values, and leadership principles.

Responsibilities

• Serve as bridge between culinary development and operations teams to deploy new product improvements, new products, and new projects into the organization.
• Lead the development and implementation of comprehensive, scalable SOPs for all kitchen functions, including food preparation, sanitation, equipment usage, and shift procedures.
• In collaboration with our Marketing & Communications department, maintain an evolving training library including video modules, recipe guides, and documentation for consistency across locations.
• Align SOPs with regulatory health department requirements and internal quality benchmarks.
• Actively contribute to long-term culinary and operational strategy.
• Work closely with culinary development, operations, marketing, and facilities teams to ensure seamless integration of initiatives.
• Deliver on-site hands-on coaching and interactive training in support of new menu rollouts, system implementations, and skill-building.
• Conduct scheduled and unscheduled audits with a focus on food safety, recipe adherence, equipment condition, and cleanliness.
• Build a culture of accountability, continuous learning, and operational pride.
• Document findings on root-cause investigations and implement corrective action plans.
• Partner with General Managers and Operating Partners to manage food inventories, reduce waste, and streamline workflows that directly improve quality and efficiency.
• Oversee talent development for key culinary roles across the organization.
• Lead the response to operational disruptions, food safety incidents, or equipment failures with clear protocols and decisive leadership.
• Lead, coach, and develop chefs, kitchen managers, and hourly staff to ensure consistent culinary excellence.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts, Hospitality, Business, or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years in multi-unit culinary operations with proven system-building and training experience.
• 5+ years in quality assurance, food safety, or operational auditing.
• ServSafe certification.
• Demonstrated success leading diverse teams through change and growth.
• Available to travel regularly (70-80%), including weekends and holidays.
• Sustained travel availability for new project openings.
• Proficiency in restaurant platforms (POS, inventory, learning management systems).
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation

Success Metrics

• Executes menus with consistency across all locations.
• Improved health inspection and audit scores.
• Reduction in food cost variance, equipment misuse, and training gaps.
• Elevated training completion rates and culinary team skill levels.
• Implementation of sustainable, replicable systems to support future growth.
• Demonstrated leadership in problem-solving, process development, implementation, and crisis response.
• Strength and depth of culinary leadership bench through structured talent development.

What We Offer

We're proud to offer a competitive salary, commensurate with experience, along with a flexible, family-friendly work environment that supports a healthy work-life balance. Our team enjoys a generous paid time off (PTO) and holiday schedule, as well as a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) with a strong company match, and mileage reimbursement or access to a company vehicle. As a stable, family-owned business with a strong reputation, we're committed to supporting the professional growth and long-term success of every team member.

Beer Barrel Pizza & Grill is an equal opportunity employer. We offer a welcoming and inclusive environment in service of our employees, the diverse customers we aim to serve, and the communities we call home. We do all of this with kindness, empathy, and respect for each other.