Program Specialist, Culinary, Facilities

About Rivian

Rivian is on a mission to keep the world adventurous forever. This goes for the emissions-free Electric Adventure Vehicles we build, and the curious, courageous souls we seek to attract.

Rivian is on a mission to keep the world adventurous forever. This goes for the emissions-free Electric Adventure Vehicles we build, and the curious, courageous souls we seek to attract. As a company, we constantly challenge what’s possible, never simply accepting what has always been done. We reframe old problems, seek new solutions and operate comfortably in areas that are unknown.

Our backgrounds are diverse, but our team shares a love of the outdoors and a desire to protect it for future generations.

The Culinary Coordinator is responsible for supporting and overseeing manufacturing and workplace food service operations across Rivian’s facilities. This role serves as the primary liaison between Rivian’s Workplace Operations team and our contracted culinary partners, ensuring that daily café operations, micro-markets, and corporate catering align with Rivian’s standards for quality, sustainability, and employee experience. The ideal candidate is highly organized, hospitality-driven, and experienced in managing food & beverage programs within a fast-paced, high-volume environment.

The Culinary Coordinator will report directly to the Lead Program Manager, Culinary. You will be expected to work onsite 5 days a week to actively manage vendor performance and daily food service operations.

• Vendor Management:
  Act as the daily point of contact for Rivian's contracted food service providers, ensuring adherence to service level agreements (SLAs), quality standards, and Rivian’s sustainability goals.
• Daily Operations:
  Oversee the daily execution of cafeteria dining, coffee bars, and micro-markets, ensuring spaces are fully stocked, clean, and operating efficiently.
• Event Coordination:
  Partner with internal teams (Workplace, People, Communications) and culinary vendors to plan and execute catering for all-hands meetings, executive visits, trainings, and special company events.
• Quality & Safety Assurance:
  Conduct regular site walkthroughs to ensure compliance with local health regulations, food safety protocols (HACCP), and workplace safety standards.
• Feedback & Menu Development:
  Collect and analyze employee feedback regarding food quality, variety, and dietary accommodations; work with the Executive Chef and vendor management to adjust menus and offerings accordingly.
• Financial Administration:
  Assist with budget tracking, invoice reconciliation, and reviewing monthly financial reports for the culinary program.
• Continuous Improvement:
  Identify opportunities to reduce food waste, improve speed of service, and enhance the overall culinary experience for Rivian employees.

• Experience:
  
  3+ years of experience in food and beverage operations, corporate hospitality, facilities management, or catering coordination.
• Industry Knowledge:
  Strong understanding of high-volume food service operations, catering logistics, and vendor management.
• Certifications:
  
  Serv Safe Certification or equivalent food safety credential is required.
• Skills:
  
  Exceptional organizational and time-management skills with the ability to handle multiple requests, event setups, and administrative tasks simultaneously.
• Communication:
  Excellent verbal and written communication skills; comfortable presenting program updates to leadership and negotiating with vendors.
• Adaptability: A "roll up your sleeves" mentality with the ability to thrive in a highly dynamic, fast-paced manufacturing or corporate environment.
• Tech Savvy:
  Proficient in Microsoft Office/Google Workspace and familiar with procurement or ticketing systems.
• Travel:
  This position requires up to 25% travel

The salary range for this role is USD $71,900 - $89,900 for Illinois based applicants. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies,…