Culinary Director

Job Description

Salute Hospitality delivers dining solutions for the military. American owned and mission ready, we support service members, families, and base communities each day, with wellness built into everything we do: menus designed for strength, energy, and endurance, from chefs who treat every meal as part of the job. Capability Built. Mission Ready. Here for the Full Journey.

Reporting to the Vice President of Culinary Strategy and Innovation, the Director of Culinary Development serves as the senior culinary leader for Aramark?s Salute program ? our military and defense food service brand operating across U.S. military installations nationwide. This role oversees all culinary programming, standardization, and execution across the Salute portfolio, ensuring alignment with mission requirements, operational excellence, and the evolving expectations of the Service Members and personnel we serve.

The Director leads a team of Executive Chefs embedded at installations nationwide, shaping the culinary vision that supports mission readiness, enhances quality of life, and advances the modernization of military dining. This position partners closely with Aramark operations, marketing, procurement, and business development teams to deliver innovative culinary solutions that balance creativity, cost stewardship, and compliance with military and Aramark standards.

The Director is also responsible for developing top culinary talent, supporting enterprise growth, strengthening industry partnerships, and championing the future of military food service.

Job Responsibilities

Culinary Leadership & Team Development

Lead and develop a nationwide team of Executive Chefs across multiple installations, driving consistent culinary and operational excellence.

Recruit, mentor, and build a strong culinary talent pipeline, preparing current team members for future leadership roles across the enterprise.

Empower team members to make decisions that deliver the highest level of service and dining experience to the populations we serve.

Foster a culture of culinary passion, continuous improvement, and pride in the Salute brand.

Plan and execute team meetings, coaching sessions, and recognition programs that celebrate performance and build engagement.

Culinary Programming & Innovation

Design and implement culinary programs aligned with Salute program objectives, customer preferences, and installation-specific needs.

Drive consistency in food quality, production, presentation, and service across all dining facility (DFAC) operations.

Monitor culinary trends and innovations, translating relevant insights into practical improvements across the portfolio.

Champion authentic, on-trend, and precisely executed culinary standards and techniques throughout all installations.

Develop unique and diverse program elements ? including local sourcing partnerships where applicable ? that elevate the dining experience.

Training & Operational Standards

Oversee training standards across the Salute culinary team, including HACCP, knife skills, food code alignment, and menu execution.

Ensure compliance with the Tri Service Food Code, Aramark food safety policies, and applicable installation and federal requirements.

Conduct field audits, operational reviews, and performance assessments to validate readiness, quality, and safety.

Lead corrective action planning, root-cause analysis, and continuous improvement initiatives across the portfolio.

Leverage technology to streamline daily culinary operations and enable a consistent, high-quality hospitality experience.

Financial Performance & Procurement

Ensure procurement compliance, vendor adherence, SKU standardization, and cost control across the Salute culinary portfolio.

Reduce non-compliant spend while improving product utilization and operational efficiency.

Forecast, plan, and execute against budget parameters established for the portfolio.

Drive margin improvement through focused management of food costs, production efficiency, and resource utilization.

Growth & Business Development Support

Support growth and new business opportunities within the Salute program as a culinary subject matter expert.

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