Culinary Director

Culinary Director Birmingham, MI area

Italian Restaurant & Upscale Bar/Lounge

Search by Harper Associates

We are seeking an ambitious, growth-oriented Culinary Director to lead the culinary vision and operations for two distinct concepts: a casual, full-service Italian restaurant with a scratch kitchen and an upscale bar/lounge known for exceptional food and hospitality. This is an exciting opportunity for a hands-on culinary leader who can develop compelling menus, establish operational systems, build strong teams, drive profitability, and play a key role in the company’s continued growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee culinary operations and maintain exceptional food quality and consistency across both concepts.
• Develop menus, recipes, SOPs, and standardized kitchen procedures.
• Manage menu costing, food cost controls, portioning, and profitability.
• Recruit, train, mentor, and develop high-performing culinary teams.
• Create innovative, concept-driven menus that complement each venue’s identity and guest experience.
• Maintain a visible presence in the dining rooms, touching tables, engaging with guests, and gathering feedback.
• Partner with ownership and operations leadership to improve performance, build scalable systems, and support future expansion.

Qualifications

• Extensive culinary leadership experience in full-service restaurants, upscale bars, lounges, or comparable hospitality concepts.
• Proven expertise in scratch kitchens, menu development, food costing, SOP implementation, and staff training.
• Strong business acumen with a track record of improving operational efficiency and financial performance.
• Hands-on leadership style, creative vision, and a passion for exceptional food and hospitality.

The Opportunity

This is more than an operations role—it’s a chance to help shape the future of a growing hospitality company. We are looking for a forward-thinking culinary leader who can elevate two unique concepts, develop exceptional teams, strengthen profitability, and help build the foundation for future growth. If you’re a creative, business-minded culinary leader ready to make an impact and grow with an ambitious company, we want to hear from you.

Please email resume to: [email protected]

Ben Schwartz | President | Harper Associates

Direct: (248) 737-0431 | Fax (888) 737-8525

[email protected] | www.harperjobs.com