Manager, Culinary Operations Full Time Permanent

Summary:

Reporting to the Director, Operational Support, the Manager, Culinary Operations is responsible for providing guidance and oversight to culinary excellence across assigned sites. The role focuses on ensuring consistent execution of culinary standards, supporting food quality, cost control, and compliance, and assisting site teams with the tools and knowledge needed to deliver exceptional food experiences in alignment with company expectations.

Specific Accountabilities

Operational Management

• Support culinary execution by monitoring adherence to established food preparation and service standards across sites.
• Provide subject matter expertise to assist operations in resolving culinary-related challenges.
• Collaborate with site teams and regional operations to support consistent delivery of quality food experiences.
• Support site culinary teams in implementing processes that contribute to achieving food cost targets and operational efficiency.
• Contribute to the ongoing development and direction of culinary programming across the Business Line by providing field-informed insights, identifying opportunities for improvement, and supporting alignment with broader organizational objectives.

Team Leadership

• Coach and mentor culinary team members during site visits and training engagements. 
• Support on-boarding and development for site culinary staff in collaboration with operations and HR.
• Promote a culture of food quality, safety, and accountability within kitchen teams.
• Support role development by identifying growth pathways (e.g., General Helper to First Cook) and championing structured mentorship and succession programs.
• Collaborate with recruitment and external partners to support culinary pipeline development, including outreach to post-secondary institutions and culinary training programs.

Menu Development and Compliance

• Provide support during menu rollouts’ to ensure understanding and proper execution at the site level.
• Monitor compliance with standardized recipes, portioning, and nutritional expectations.
• Partner with dietitians and leadership to ensure updates are properly communicated and implemented.

Compliance and Safety

• Reinforce adherence to HACCP, allergen protocols, and food safety procedures through site visits and ongoing coaching.
• Assist with internal food safety audits and follow-up support for corrective actions.
• Stay informed on current food safety legislation and support its application in kitchen operations.

Culinary Quality Assurance

• Conduct quality checks on food presentation, taste, and consistency.
• Identify opportunities for improvement and provide practical recommendations to site leadership.
• Capture and share best practices that enhance culinary consistency and guest satisfaction.

• Red Seal Certification or equivalent required.
• 5+ years of progressive culinary experience, including multi-site support or supervisory roles.
• Strong working knowledge of large-scale food production, food safety, and recipe standardization.
• Comfortable working in remote or diverse operational environments.
• Ability to travel and work flexible hours as required.

Leadership Competencies

Purpose Driven and Focused on Value

• Understand and support the broader business objectives by ensuring culinary execution aligns with organizational standards.
• Focus on adding value through consistency, food quality, and compliance support across sites.
• Act as a resource to help operations teams deliver a strong culinary experience that supports client satisfaction.

Achieve Results

• Deliver high-quality support to operational teams by solving culinary-related issues efficiently.
• Monitor and reinforce adherence to food safety, quality, and portioning standards.
• Demonstrate a strong work ethic and commitment to maintaining high standards, even in challenging environments.

Build Client Partnerships and Collaborate with Stakeholders

• Collaborate with site teams, regional chefs, operational leadership, and other operational support teams (e.g., Supply Chain, Quality, and HSE) to ensure consistent and effective culinary delivery.
• Respond to client and guest feedback by supporting practical solutions that align with expectations and culinary standards.
• Contribute to cross-functional initiatives by sharing field insights and supporting the successful rollout of new programs, tools, or processes.

Mobilize People

• Foster a positive culinary culture by providing on-site coaching, feedback, and encouragement to culinary staff.
• Support training efforts that enable employees to meet expectations and grow their capabilities.
• Promote clear expectations and help frontline teams understand how their work contributes to the overall success of the operation.

Uphold Integrity and Earn Trust

• Demonstrate professionalism, food safety leadership, and a commitment to doing the right thing in all situations.
• Build trusting relationships through dependable follow-through and respectful, practical support.
• Contribute to a safe, inclusive, and positive work environment, and support the company’s values in all culinary interactions.

Functional Competencies

• Supports the consistent execution of culinary standards across multiple sites, ensuring quality, presentation, and portion control are upheld.
• Collaborates with operational teams and other support functions to reinforce recipe adherence and food safety protocols.
• Familiar with systems used for menu planning, inventory tracking, food costing, and kitchen operations.
• Monitors site-level practices to identify opportunities for waste reduction and improved kitchen efficiency.
• Coaches site-level culinary staff to uphold best practices and continuous improvement in food preparation and service.
• Maintains awareness of relevant culinary trends, nutrition standards, and operational tools, and supports their field-level application where appropriate.
• Provides input and observations to support broader culinary improvement efforts led by project teams or operational leadership.

Working Conditions

• Combination of office/remote, kitchen, and field environments.
• Frequent travel to sites across multiple regions.
• Participation in safety training and certification required for site access.

WHO ARE WE?

Dexterra Group is a fast-growing, financially strong, publicly listed company (TSX:DXT). We have a far-reaching presence across the entire continent North America with hundreds of full-time and part-time opportunities at any given time. We aim to provide our people with more than just a job – we offer fulfilling opportunities in a culture that promotes stability, diversity and inclusion, camaraderie, employee recognition, work-life balance, and doing what you love. For over 75 years, the companies that began independently, and now form Dexterra Group, have been dedicated to serving North American clients to create and manage built environments that play a vital role in our economy and our local communities. And, that’s something we’re truly proud of. Work That Matters, People Who Care.

Dexterra

Manager, Culinary Operations