Culinary Director
11 days ago
North Richland Hills
Job Description Culinary DirectorLocation: Dallas, Fort Worth TX Department: Operations Reports To: Chief Operating Officer Company Overview: Five Star Parks & Attractions is the largest privately owned operator of family entertainment centers in the United States, with 28 high-energy destinations across 13 states. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the company has grown rapidly from just three locations in 2019 to a national portfolio of award-winning venues, including Scene75, The Track Family Fun Parks, Malibu Jack’s, Fun Land, Celebration Station, Craig’s Cruisers, and more. Recognized on the 2024 Inc. 5000 list at No. 299 for 1,408 percent three-year growth, Five Star Parks continues to lead the way in innovation, guest experience, and operational excellence in the amusement and hospitality sector. Our venues fuse go-karts, arcades, bowling, VR, thrill rides, and immersive dining into vibrant, high-impact environments that inspire all generations to play, connect, and create unforgettable memories. We are rooted in a company-wide promise of being Safe, Clean, and Fun—demonstrating our uncompromising commitment to guest and team-member well-being, pride in welcoming and immaculate facilities, and a playful, edgy spirit that sets us apart. Internally, we foster a culture of integrity, accountability, inclusiveness, and performance, empowering team members to think boldly, own outcomes, and deliver Five Star moments every day. With the scale of a national platform and the heart of a local host, Five Star Parks is a dynamic workplace where operational excellence, innovation, and fun converge—every day is an opportunity to elevate play. Job Summary: The Culinary Director is responsible for the overall food and beverage performance within our centers including: culinary R&D, menu development, food and beverage operating standards, food safety, and culinary rollout initiatives. This role involves overseeing system-wide product negotiations, managing food costing, and ensuring that all food and beverage offerings align with the company’s brand, enhancing guest experiences, and driving profitability. The Director will be in a hands-on role in leading cross-functional task forces, collaborating with various departments, and overseeing the execution of new initiatives, ensuring consistency and excellence in all food and beverage operations. While this role is ideally based onsite or hybrid, we are potentially open to a remote arrangement for an exceptional candidate. Key Responsibilities: • Strategic Planning: Develop a comprehensive food and beverage strategy that aligns with the company’s goals and enhances brand identity across all locations. Implements strategies to increase F&B revenue while improving prime cost of food and beverage operations across parks., • Task Force Leadership: Establish and lead cross-functional task forces to address specific food and beverage challenges, drive innovation, and implement new initiatives. Works with leadership at each location and identifies support from other properties as necessary., • System-Wide Product Negotiations: Lead negotiations with vendors and suppliers for system-wide food and beverage products, ensuring quality, consistency, and cost-effectiveness. Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers to secure the best products and services., • Food Costing and Budget Management: Oversee the food costing process to ensure that all menus are financially viable while maintaining quality and customer satisfaction. Develop and manage budgets for food and beverage operations, including cost control, pricing strategies, and revenue management., • Menu Development: Oversee the creation and refinement of menus, ensuring they meet customer expectations, market trends, and profitability targets., • Operational Excellence: Collaborate with regional and on-site management teams to ensure consistent and high-quality food and beverage operations across all properties., • Compliance: Audits all food and beverage operations when visiting sites to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations, industry standards, and company policies., • Financial Management: Analyze financial reports and key performance indicators to identify opportunities for cost savings and increased profitability., • Market Analysis: Stays current in food and beverage operations and conducts regular market research to stay ahead of industry and regional trends and competitor offerings, making strategic adjustments as needed., • Brand Consistency: Ensure that all food and beverage offerings are consistent with the company’s brand image and standards., • Training: Collaborates with corporate and site training resources to develop food and beverage training plans. Qualifications: • Role model culinary professional., • R&D, Product or menu development experience., • Preferred Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Culinary Arts, Business Administration, or a related field. An advanced degree is a plus., • Minimum of 5 years of experience in food and beverage management, with corporate or multi-unit leadership exposure., • Proven experience in negotiating with vendors and managing food costing at a system-wide level., • Strong leadership and project management skills, with experience leading cross-functional and distributed teams., • Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills., • Ability to travel as needed to oversee operations and attend meetings., • Current SERV Safe Certification. Five Star Park & Attractions is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors. We actively promote diversity and inclusion within our workplace and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. Notice of E-Verify Participation: Five Star Parks & Attractions participates in the E-Verify program. APPLY NOW!