Consulting Principal – Foodservice Planning and Design

Bakergroup is a nationally recognized food service consulting and design firm seeking a Consulting Principal – Food service Planning and Design to join our leadership team. Our firm has built its reputation by delivering thoughtful, operationally grounded food service solutions and by forming client relationships that last decades. We proudly support food service clients in a variety of markets, including higher education, healthcare, senior living, corporate, aviation, club, and resorts.

This is not a general consulting role.

We are looking for a hands-on food service design leader – someone who understands how kitchens actually operate and knows how to design them.

• Strategic Planning & Operational Analysis: Lead food service planning, programming, and operational analysis for complex facilities, translating client goals and operational requirements into practical, well-coordinated planning and design solutions.
• Client Leadership & Executive Advisory: Serve as a primary senior contact for clients, building trusted relationships and providing strategic guidance throughout all project phases. Lead key client meetings and presentations, aligning project vision, scope, budget, and schedule.
• Conceptual Design & Design Oversight: Develop initial conceptual layouts and planning strategies to establish the design vision and confirm alignment with client objectives. Provide strategic design review throughout Schematic Design (SD), Design Development (DD), Construction Documents (CD), and Construction Administration (CA) to maintain design intent, technical quality, and scope alignment.
• Team Leadership & Project Alignment: Partner with project management to establish priorities, align workflows, and provide strategic direction to food service designers and BIM staff. Reinforce production standards, deliverable quality, and key project milestones while supporting effective team collaboration.
• Interdisciplinary Coordination: Lead high-level food service design coordination with architectural, engineering, and other consultant teams, resolving planning and design challenges and ensuring integration with the broader project.
• Technical Review & Documentation: Provide senior-level review and guidance on food service equipment selections, Auto Quotes documentation, and Division 11, Section 114000 specifications, ensuring technical accuracy, consistency, and alignment with project requirements.
• Custom Fabrication & Millwork Oversight: Provide design direction and review for custom millwork and fabrication, coordinating with project management and design teams to ensure solutions meet client standards, functional requirements, and overall design intent.
• Project & Contract Coordination: Coordinate with Bakergroup’s project management and administrative support teams on project contracts, scope alignment, and related administrative requirements.
• Business Development & Firm Leadership: Participate in project interviews, contribute subject‑matter expertise to business development efforts, and help advance Bakergroup’s reputation, client relationships, and continued professional growth.

• You’ll operate at a principal level not just executing, but shaping projects and client relationships
• You’ll work alongside peers, not layers of hierarchy
• You’ll have flexibility to work from home while supporting national projects
• You’ll focus on thoughtful, operationally grounded design not volume production

• Background: 10+ years of experience in commercial food service design and/or high-level food service operational/management experience.
• Core Expertise: Familiarity with and/or core competency in commercial food service design, kitchen planning concepts, and food service budgeting.
• Skills…