Job Description

Black Family Hospitality (BFH) is a dynamic and design-forward hospitality company creating inspired spaces and elevated guest experiences through a strong culinary identity. We are seeking a Vice President of Culinary to lead our food and beverage programming across all operational units and development projects. This role is ideal for a seasoned Executive Chef who has progressed through the culinary ranks and brings deep experience across a spectrum of food formats—from fast casual to fine dining. The VP of Culinary will oversee all aspects of kitchen and dining room design, concept development, team leadership, and executional excellence. This position will report directly to the COO while working closely with the company's Founders and key Creative and Development teams to shape, scale, and evolve our F&B portfolio across both lodging-integrated and freestanding concepts.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Culinary Vision & Concept Development
• Partner with the Founders and Creative Division to conceptualize and execute distinct culinary identities that align with the brand ethos.
• Lead the culinary narrative and innovation process, striking a balance between creativity and operational viability.
• Translate market research, trend analysis, and regional relevance into menu concepts and guest experiences.

Operational Oversight & Execution Property-Level Culinary Operations

• Provide oversight and support to Executive Chefs and culinary leaders across all properties.
• Establish culinary standards, SOPs, and quality controls to ensure brand consistency and operational excellence.
• Develop systems for menu engineering, cost control, sourcing, inventory, and labor management.

Openings, Renovations & Repositioning

• Serve as culinary lead for all new openings, renovations, and F&B repositionings—both freestanding and within lodging environments.
• Develop opening playbooks and kitchen staffing models in collaboration with operational leadership.
• Conduct on-site training and oversight during pre-opening and launch periods

Design & Development Collaboration

Kitchen & Dining Room Design

• Partner with the Development and Design teams to guide kitchen layouts, equipment packages, and functional flow in both back-of-house (BOH) and front-of-house (FOH) environments.
• Provide input on dining room aesthetics, service strategy, and operational ergonomics to support the delivery of the concept and enhance the guest experience.

Vendor & Consultant Coordination

• Act as liaison between culinary operations and external consultants, including architects, designers, and kitchen design firms.
• Review and approve design development documents, equipment specifications, and operational layouts from the early planning stage through to completion.

Team Leadership & Talent Development Corporate & Property-Level Leadership

• Build, lead, and mentor culinary teams at both corporate and property levels.
• Develop and implement chef recruitment, training, and career development programs to foster a high-performance culinary culture.
• Identify and develop internal talent for future leadership roles.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with the Marketing, Creative, and Brand teams to ensure culinary programs are integrated into broader guest experience initiatives.
• Partner with HR and Finance to align staffing, compensation, and cost structures with business goals.

Qualifications:

• 10–15 years of progressive culinary leadership experience across fast casual, full-service, and fine dining environments.
• Proven background as an Executive Chef with multiple operational spans; experience as a Corporate Culinary Director or VP is a strong plus.
• Demonstrated expertise in opening and repositioning food and beverage concepts across various market types.
• Strong knowledge of kitchen design, equipment planning, and FOH/BOH operational integration.
• Inspirational leader with the ability to motivate teams, build culture, and drive excellence.
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to work effectively across executive, creative, and development teams.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.

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