Preservatory & Culinary Production Lead

Preservatory & Culinary Production Lead

The Preservatory & Culinary Production Lead is responsible for the overall leadership, management, and daily operation of the Bonton Farms Preservatory. This role oversees culinary production, product innovation, food safety, inventory management, quality assurance, workforce development, and operational systems while ensuring the Preservatory operates as a high-performing production kitchen capable of supporting the continued growth of Bonton Farms' Social Enterprises. Working closely with Farm Operations, the Coffee House, Market Café, Farmers Market, Catering, this position leads the creation of farm-to-table retail products that maximize seasonal harvests, generate earned revenue, and strengthen the Bonton Farms brand.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on culinary leader with a passion for operational excellence, innovation, mentorship, and building sustainable systems that support long-term organizational growth.

• Provide overall operational leadership for the Bonton Farms Preservatory.
• Develop the vision, systems, workflows, and production standards that position the Preservatory for sustainable growth.
• Establish and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all Preservatory operations.
• Create production schedules that support retail, catering, wholesale, special events, and future growth initiatives.
• Ensure the Preservatory remains organized, efficient, clean, and production-ready at all times.
• Oversee equipment maintenance, facility organization, and production readiness.
• Identify operational improvements that increase efficiency, quality, and production capacity.

• Partner with Farm Operations to develop innovative farm-to-table products utilizing seasonal produce.
• Lead the creation and production of jams, jellies, preserves, sauces, syrups, pickled products, baked goods, pastries, desserts, and specialty retail items.
• Standardize recipes and production methods to ensure consistency and scalability.
• Research and develop new retail products that support customer demand and organizational revenue goals.
• Evaluate product performance and recommend enhancements based on quality, sales trends, and profitability.

• Oversee production for products sold through the Farmers Market, Coffee House, Market Café, catering operations, DFW Airport retail partnerships, wholesale accounts, and future distribution opportunities.
• Coordinate production schedules to ensure inventory availability across all business channels.
• Ensure products are packaged, labeled, and presented in accordance with Bonton Farms brand standards and food safety regulations.
• Maintain accurate production records, inventory levels, and batch documentation.

• Maintain compliance with all food safety regulations, Serv Safe standards, and local health department requirements.
• Conduct routine quality assurance reviews to ensure product consistency, presentation, flavor, and shelf life.
• Maintain sanitation procedures and food safety documentation.
• Ensure production equipment is properly cleaned, maintained, and operated safely.

• Manage ingredient inventory, packaging supplies, and production materials.
• Forecast purchasing needs based on production schedules and seasonal demand.
• Minimize waste through efficient production planning and inventory control.
• Monitor food costs, production yields, labor efficiency, and operational performance.

• Lead, train, coach, and mentor apprentices, interns, volunteers, and production staff assigned to the Preservatory.
• Support Bonton Farms' workforce development mission through structured training and skill development.
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Provide ongoing coaching and performance feedback.

• Partner with the Social Enterprise Director to support earned revenue growth and operational initiatives.
• Collaborate with Farm…