Regional Director of Culinary Operation - City Cruises DC & Alexandria

Starting Salary: $95,000/annually

City Experiences is seeking a Regional Director of Culinary Operation for our City Cruises operation in Washington, DC & Alexandria, VA

About You:

This person will be adaptable, dynamic, and embody City Experiences' RESPECT Service System.

About the Opportunity:

The Regional Director of Culinary Operations plays a pivotal role in overseeing and enhancing culinary operations across multiple locations within the DC/VA metro area. Reporting directly to the General Manager, this leadership position is responsible for ensuring consistent quality, sanitation, service, and guest satisfaction across all regional culinary teams while driving profitability and operational excellence.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Manage and support culinary operations across multiple sites in the region, ensure operational activities are in line with city, region, and company strategic initiatives and adhere to Company standards and operational guidelines.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory and laws relevant to the department. Follow all health department sanitation codes and requirements and maintain the Company's high standards for sanitation and safety.
• Develop, implement, and achieve Product Development & Execution initiatives to enhance culinary quality, service standards, and overall guest satisfaction.
• Observe F&B operations through site visits and provide direction, support, and implement best practices. to ensure effective, consistent, and high-quality performance.
• Provide effective execution of catering services from Pier 4 to offsite locations, with a focus on food safety, timing, product quality and proper staffing. Maintain the production process, timeline and schedule for the DC Pier 4 Commissary to support culinary needs on vessels for items such as charter menus and sightseeing packaged foods.
• Monitor, analyze, and coach product execution & quality assurance. Deliver consistent culinary products with elevated levels of quality, service and guest satisfaction. Collaborate with regional and site-based teams to achieve operational efficiency and improve products and standards.

Team Leadership & Development:

• Recruit, train, and manage City culinary leadership, Crew, and Pier Utility Attendants. Observe, evaluate, and coach performance and maintain accountability adhering to Company's performance management guidelines. Develop team skills and support their career growth while building company succession opportunities.
• Deliver training programs to ensure culinary excellence and consistent use company standards.
• Oversee culinary and pier staffing and scheduling to support operational needs for a muti-unit operation with dynamic logistics.
• Lead an engaging, well-functioning, and sustainable RESPECT culture, which fosters a positive work environment, teamwork, and practices diversity and inclusion.

Guest Experience Management:

• Ensure exceptional culinary experience and service quality for all guests across Washington DC Metropolitan locations, uphold our Guest promise to provide service beyond expectations, curated experiences, and lasting memories.
• Address and resolve any guest service issues in collaboration with site managers and other relevant departments.
• Develop and execute programs to enhance guest satisfaction and retention.

Operational and Financial Management:

• Ensure that food & culinary operations are in line with budget through cost control, inventory, and purchasing and financial reconciliation and reporting.
• Enforce procurement programs and Standard Operating Policies and Procedures to ensure effective cost control, maximize revenue and maintain high-levels of profitability. Support the development and execution of purchasing strategies.
• Drive and enforce production systems for food, beverage, and service to support enhanced guest experiences while maintaining cost control through adherence to company recipes and product specifications.
• Ensure proper equipment preventative maintenance for all culinary operations and work in collaboration with appropriate department leadership to ensure that all repair and maintenance needs are resolved promptly.
• Establish department priorities and executes against them based on long-term vision. Recommends and executes approved programs that improve the level of service and product quality.

Administrative Responsibilities:

• Meet or exceed all Key Performance Indicators (KPI) including financial, Guest quality, Crew satisfaction, Crew retention, Safety and Sanitation.
• Participate in all financial planning and reporting for department. Exhibit competency at planning, managing, and reporting all financials results. Meet or exceed financial goals, and competently utilize company objectives and tactics to increase revenue. Monitor and control all costs associated with vessel culinary and Pier commissary operation in accordance with budget, including but not limited to, labor and food costs.
• Oversee recruiting, hiring, training, and scheduling of all Back of House/Culinary crew in Washington DC Metropolitan locations.
• Maintain product and equipment purchasing systems, storage and provisioning processes, and financial reconciliation as defined in Standard Operating Policy and Procedure (SOPP).
• Ensure all state and local health requirements are met onsite and that all crew are familiar and compliant with these requirements.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Participate in company-wide initiatives and task forces as needed.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support organizational goals and objectives.
• Collaborate with Corporate Executive Chef and other port chefs on best practices and ideation for product development and execution.

Requirements & Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in culinary arts, Hospitality Management, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• A minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in culinary operations, including 3+ years in a leadership role managing multiple sites or locations.
• A minimum of 5 years of outside catering and banqueting work
• Proven experience in managing high-volume culinary operations and a strong understanding of culinary trends and best practices.
• SERV Safe Certification or equivalent food safety certification.
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and tasks effectively.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel) and other relevant software.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to stand, walk, and/or sit for extended periods.
• Capable of lifting, moving, and/or carrying items weighing up to 50 lbs. regularly.
• Hearing and visual ability to observe and detect signs of emergency situations, distinguish product, taste, texture and presentation and observe preparation.
• Must have dexterity to operate -necessary machinery and the ability to work in various temperature ranges.

About Us:

City Experiences' passion is to provide amazing experiences on land and water. Our 40-year success through organic growth and acquisitions has resulted in a portfolio of over 25+ brands that welcome upwards of 30 million guests/riders annually. If you're an enthusiastic team player who thrives in an environment where communication, creativity, and cooperation are encouraged, this may just be the opportunity for you.

The RESPECT Service System embodies City Experiences' mission, vision, values and operating principles. By creating a company culture that puts RESPECT at its core, we believe it will drive us to achieve our goal of becoming a Global Experiences and Transportation Leader.

The Company is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We prohibit discrimination and harassment against any applicants or employees based upon their race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, mental or physical disability, status as a protected veteran, or other characteristics prohibited by applicable law.

Additionally, we encourage all qualified applicants including those with past arrest or conviction records to apply. The Company participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations.

We encourage qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records to apply.