Regional Culinary Director

Salary: $135,000 - $145,000

Other Forms of Compensation: Bonus Plan 

 

Wolfgang Puck Catering is committed to recruiting individuals who express an interest in and passion for hospitality-driven experiences; who come from diverse backgrounds, are open-minded and curious about our clients and guests; and, most of all, who possess a welcoming smile and spirit.  Our ultimate goal is to develop mentoring and career building opportunities through a talent pipeline that allows us to promote from within. 

 

"The most important thing in life, whatever you do, has to be passion." Wolfgang Puck

 

Success on our team starts with our culture:

  • We have Wolfgang’s PASSION for our business, our product, and our people / guests / clients.
  • A FLEXIBLE MINDSET is key; we are strategic business partners who wear multiple hats.  
  • Our services require a CONCIERGE mentality, a bias to action with humble hospitality.
  • We are out-of-the-box PROBLEM SOLVERS, who look around corners so our clients and guests don’t have to.  
  • We curate company and partner resources to bring our client’s vision to life.  We seek to cultivate the next generation of talent, purveyors and partnerships.
  • We bring an entrepreneurial approach to deliver results for our clients (you might call this scrappy).   
  • Collaboration and openness to innovative business tools, new ways of thinking and ability to partner across departments are essential to create optimal business solutions.

 

“I can have the best food, but if we don’t have good people, it won’t get you very far.”

Job Summary

Are you an experienced culinary leader who thrives in a high-visibility, client‑focused environment? Wolfgang Puck Catering is seeking a Regional Culinary Director to lead culinary strategy and execution for a single, nationwide technology client. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape food programs at scale, influence innovation, and partner closely with a sophisticated client in a fast‑paced, evolving sector.
 
Based in Austin, TX, this role provides national oversight and hands‑on leadership across multiple locations, ensuring culinary excellence, operational consistency, and a best‑in‑class guest experience.
 
What You’ll Do
As the Regional Culinary Director, you will lead and support all culinary and food‑related programs for this national account, partnering with operations, finance, and senior leadership to deliver strong results aligned with business and client goals.
 
You’ll have responsibility for advancing results across key focus areas, including:
  • Client partnership, retention, and satisfaction
  • Financial performance
  • People development, performance, and culture
  • Innovation, operational excellence, and food safety
  • Drive consistency and quality

Key Responsibilities

  • Provide culinary leadership for all locations within the national account, ensuring programs consistently meet or exceed contractual and brand expectations
  • Lead culinary strategy for new openings, renovations, and program expansions, contributing to Wolfgang Puck Catering’s reputation for excellence
  • Build strong, trusted relationships with client stakeholders, operations leaders, and cross‑functional partners
  • Foster a culture of engagement, growth, recognition, and accountability where teams feel proud of their work
  • Partner with senior leadership to review performance, discuss strategy, address challenges, and identify opportunities for continuous improvement
  • Communicate client needs, account performance, and new company initiatives clearly and proactively
  • Support financial objectives through menu strategy, cost controls, and collaboration on profitability and performance analysis
  • Identify and implement culinary training and development programs that support team members at all skill levels
  • Drive consistency and quality through adherence to purchasing programs, food safety standards, and regulatory requirements
  • Champion innovation and best practices that enhance the guest experience while supporting scalability across a national platform

What We’re Looking For

We’re seeking a collaborative, adaptable culinary professional who combines operational discipline with creativity and a client‑first mindset.
 
Required Qualifications & Experience
  • Associate’s degree in Culinary Arts from an accredited culinary school, Bachelor’s degree in Food Service or Hospitality Management, or equivalent professional experience
  • Approximately five (5) years of progressive food service management experience, including at least two (2) years supporting multiple locations
  • Experience leading culinary programs in complex, client‑driven environments
  • Comfort using standard business technology, including Microsoft Office applications
  • Ability to meet the physical requirements of the role, including occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds
  • Willingness and ability to travel nationwide as business needs require
  • Ability to maintain ServSafe certification within one (1) year of hire
Skills That Help You Thrive
  • Strong interpersonal and relationship‑building skills
  • Ability to influence and lead through collaboration rather than authority alone
  • Experience designing and implementing culinary training and development programs
  • Financial and operational awareness, with the ability to connect culinary decisions to business outcomes
  • A growth mindset and enthusiasm for innovation, learning, and continuous improvement

Apply to Wolfgang Puck today!

Wolfgang Puck Catering is a member of Compass Group USA

Click here to Learn More about the Compass Story

 

Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer.  At Compass, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.

Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with a criminal history (including relevant driving history), in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York Fair Chance Act. 

Certain positions may require Florida Level 2 background screening. Details: https://info.flclearinghouse.com/

Associates at Wolfgang Puck Catering are offered many fantastic benefits.

  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Life Insurance/ AD
  • Disability Insurance
  • Retirement Plan
  • Paid Time Off
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
  • Personal Leave
  • Associate Shopping Program
  • Health and Wellness Programs
  • Discount Marketplace
  • Identity Theft Protection
  • Pet Insurance
  • Commuter Benefits
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Wolfgang Puck Catering maintains a drugfree workplace.

Associates may also be eligible for paid and/or unpaid time off benefits in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local lawsFor positions in Washington State, Maryland, or to be performed Remotely, click here or copy/paste the link below for paid time off benefits information.

https://www.compass-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023_WageTransparency_WPC.pdf

Req ID: 1535872

Wolfgang Puck Catering 

Michael Abbey 

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Nearest Major Market: Austin

Job Segment: Chef, Culinary, Food Service, Hospitality