Director Culinary - CCLO

Griffith Foods is the caring, creative product development partner helping food companies meet the evolving needs of consumers while sustaining the planet. As a family business founded in 1919 and headquartered in Alsip, Illinois USA, Griffith Foods is known for true, collaborative innovation guided by their Purpose of "We Blend Care and Creativity to Nourish the World". The company's product capabilities range from seasonings and marinades to coating systems and sauces that are better for people and better for the planet. For more information, visit www.griffithfoods.com.

Strategic Planning

• Responsible for the development and overall execution of the culinary strategic plan and annual operating plan initiatives, assuring strong linkage to the broader Commercial plan.
• Member of Custom Culinary® leadership team, with active engagement in development of annual and long-range plans, as well as active contributor to all issues/opportunities that come before the LT.
• Provides leadership in the development of culinary personnel relationships at specified accounts and applies culinary skills to plan, lead and execute assigned opportunities.

Culinary Innovation & Product Development

• Drives new and existing business opportunities (Acquisition, Penetration) in partnership with the Custom Culinary® Commercial Team.
• Infuses current insights into presentations and products developed by Marketing and Innovation Teams and provides unique applications of innovation aligned with Customer needs.
• Develops Culinary Consultation Method: Use culinary techniques, creativity and innovation in flavor, texture and practical demonstration of production to plan, guide and support R&D Scientists in development of concepts and products.

Leadership

• Team consists of Executive Chefs, Director of Culinary for Industrial & Training, Corporate Sous Chef (approx. 6 people)
• Manages, coaches, and develops culinary team, always looking to diversify talent and build a differentiated team to broaden the Custom Culinary® perspective.
• Responsible for the daily project alignment of Chefs with channel needs.
• Directs the overall management of the Culinary Center and its activities including presentation guidelines, inventory control, use of center and general upkeep in partnership with the Corporate Chef.
• Working as part of a cross functional team, lead in the development, coordination and execution of product-based presentations that showcase culinary products and business solutions.
• Develops and manages external relationship opportunities with Culinary Institutes and associations
• Leads targeted company culinary-based activities which require coordination with chefs from other Griffith business units and/or customer chefs. Activities may include training, cuisine presentations, product demonstrations, etc.
• Ensure safety, quality, legality, and authenticity of products in accordance with regulations and standards, as this role dictates.

Requirements:

• Minimum 2-year AOS degree in Culinary Arts from accredited institution, or proven completion of a 3-year cooking apprenticeship; bachelor's degree highly preferred
• Professional Culinary Certification highly preferred (ACF, RCA, WACS, etc.)
• Minimum 10 years' professional experience in a commercial kitchen of a food service operation or in an industrial organization specializing in the development of new concepts and menu items for commercial production.
• Minimum 10 years' experience supervising a culinary operation as an Executive Sous Chef or Executive Chef de Cuisine, or in an equal leadership position within an industrial organization.
• Financial and technical acumen in understanding needs and developing effective strategies.
• Proven experience and ability to create, manage and responsibly oversee budgets.
• Must be able to sit or stand for long periods of time
• Regional and Global Travel, must have ability to travel up to 30% of the time

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Griffith Foods believes that all persons are entitled to equal employment opportunity. Griffith Foods does not discriminate against qualified employees or applicants because of the following actual or perceived characteristics: race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, breastfeeding or related medical condition, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, genetic characteristic or information, AIDS or HIV status, order of protection status, marital status, military or veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law. Equal employment opportunity will be extended to all persons in all aspect of the employer-employee relationship, including recruitment, hiring, participation in benefit programs, training, promotion, transfer, discipline, layoff, recall, and termination.

Benefits:

Benefits for this role include Medical, Rx, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending & Health Savings Accounts, EAP, Health Advocacy, Financial Planning, Parental Leave, Care.com, Adoption & Surrogacy Assistance, Education Assistance/Tuition Reimbursement, Safety Reimbursement, Lifestyle Spending Account, Group Life & AD&D, Voluntary Life Insurance, Short Term & Long Term Disability, 401(k) Plan with Company Match, ESOP, PTO, Holiday's & Leaves, Accident Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Hospital Indemnity, Home & Auto Insurance, Pet Insurance, Identity Theft Protection, Long Term Care + Life Insurance & Legal Assistance. There is also potential for a discretionary bonus, this bonus is based on personal & company performance and is not a guaranteed bonus plan.

Client-provided location(s): Villa Park, IL

Job ID: Griffith_Foods-JR100660

Employment Type: OTHER

Posted: 2025-08-20T20:01:10