Senior Director, Culinary

The salary range for this position is $150,000 to $160,000. Final compensation will be determined based on relevant skills, experience, qualifications, and internal equity. In addition to base salary, eligible employees may be entitled to other elements of total compensation, which may include group benefits, employer RRSP contributions, & discretionary bonus or incentive programs, where applicable to the role. We are committed to offering competitive compensation & comply with all applicable pay transparency legislation. Further details regarding our total rewards program will be shared by the Talent Acquisition team during the hiring process. Canadian work experience is not a requirement for this role. Please note that artificial intelligence–based tools may be used at certain stages of the recruitment & applicant screening process.

This is a posting for an exisiting vacancy.

The Senior Director, Culinary is responsible for providing enterprise-wide culinary leadership, strategy, and execution across Compass Group Canada’s Culinary portfolio. This role leads the development and implementation of a unified culinary vision that drives business growth, client retention, operational excellence, culinary innovation, and exceptional guest experiences.

Working collaboratively with Operations, Foodbuy, Marketing, Innovation, Wellness & sustainability , Systems & Compliance, and Sector Culinary Leaders, the Senior Director ensures culinary programs are scalable, data-driven, financially responsible, and aligned with organizational objectives.

The Senior Director acts as the strategic leader for culinary culture, talent development, menu innovation, procurement alignment, and national culinary standards, while creating a high-performance culinary organization that differentiates Compass in the marketplace.

Now, If You Were To Come On Board As One Of Our Senior Director, Culinary, We’d Ask You To Do The Following For Us

Strategic Culinary Leadership

• Develop and execute the national culinary strategy in alignment with corporate growth, retention, and guest experience objectives.
• Lead the execution of the multi-year Culinary Roadmap and associated enterprise initiatives.
• Translate business objectives into measurable culinary programs and operational outcomes.
• Serve as the senior culinary voice within the organization, advocating for culinary excellence across all sectors.
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
  
  

Culinary Operations & Standards

• Establish and maintain enterprise culinary standards, playbooks, operating procedures, and execution frameworks.
• Drive consistency and quality across all culinary programs, concepts, and menu platforms.
• Lead initiatives focused on food quality, guest satisfaction, operational efficiency, and profitability.
• Ensure culinary systems, production processes, and standards support scalable execution across all sectors.
• Champion culinary compliance, recipe adherence, and operational excellence.
  
  

Innovation & Menu Strategy

• Provide leadership for menu development, food trends, concept innovation, and culinary program evolution.
• Partner with Culinary Innovation, Marketing, E15, and Operations teams to create market-leading concepts.
• Lead enterprise menu strategies informed by customer insights, industry trends, and operational realities.
• Develop national culinary frameworks that support customization while maintaining consistency and brand integrity.
• Oversee culinary contribution to major client activations, experiences, and strategic growth initiatives.
  
  

Talent Development & Organizational Leadership

• Lead, coach, and mentor a national team of Corporate Chefs, Regional Chefs, Culinary Directors, Systems leaders, and sector culinary teams.
• Create succession plans and career pathways that support the growth of culinary professionals.
• Build leadership capability throughout the culinary organization through coaching, mentoring, and structured development programs.
• Foster a culture of engagement, ownership, accountability, and collaboration.
• Lead organizational design and alignment initiatives that enhance clarity, efficiency, and execution.
  
  

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Operations, Marketing, Growth & Retention, Wellness & Nutrition, Mobilization, and Systems teams.
• Ensure culinary strategy is integrated into RFPs, client retention efforts, mobilizations, and business development initiatives.
• Support national sales efforts through presentations, tastings, client engagement, and strategic culinary storytelling.
• Represent culinary interests in executive discussions and strategic planning forums.
  
  

Business Growth & Performance

• Utilize data, analytics, and business insights to drive decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Establish KPIs focused on growth, retention, profitability, compliance, guest experience, and talent development.
• Monitor enterprise culinary performance and implement corrective actions where required.
• Support business development initiatives and contribute to winning new business opportunities.
• Drive measurable value through culinary leadership and innovation.
  
  

Role

Think you have what it takes to be our Senior Director, Culinary? We’re committed to hiring the best talent for the role. Here’s how we’ll know you’ll be successful in the role:

• Culinary degree, Red Seal certification, or equivalent professional culinary training.
• 15+ years of progressive culinary leadership experience within hospitality, foodservice, or multi-unit operations.
• Minimum 7-10 years leading regional or national culinary teams.
• Experience managing large-scale culinary programs across multiple sectors and geographies.
• Demonstrated success leading organizational transformation, innovation, and strategic initiatives.
• Ability to travel up to 30% of the time.
  
  

What’s in it for you?

• Join an award-winning culture. We have been recognized for being a Great Place to Work, in addition to being selected as a FORTUNE Global 500 Company, Best Workplaces Retail & Hospitality, and FORTUNE World’s Most Admired Companies.
• The opportunities with us are endless. As the world’s largest food and support services company, we offer an extensive range of learning and career opportunities for all our associates.
• Health & Safety. The health and safety of our associates, clients and guests has always been our top priority. We have the right processes in place to ensure our teams have the support they need to stay safe, while helping to keep our guests safe.
• Health Benefits. For our eligible associates, we offer comprehensive health, vision, and dental care coverage.
• A Focus on Mental Health and Wellness. Our Mental Health and Well-Being initiative was created to share credible resources with our associates and the communities we serve on a variety of topics, including mental, physical, spiritual, and financial wellbeing. We also have an Employment Assistance Program which provides our associates with access to 24/7 support, resources, and information.
• We are as diverse as our guests. We are as diverse as the people and communities we serve, and we know that’s one of our greatest strengths. We’re committed to building an inclusive workplace where people feel respected, supported, and able to grow, with fair opportunities for all. Our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) create space for connection, deepen cultural awareness, and build appreciation of diverse perspectives across our teams – strengthening our culture and helping people feel a true sense of belonging.
  
  

For accommodation requests during the hiring process, please contact ukg.recruitment@compass-canada.com for further information.