Director of Culinary Enterprise Strategy & Operations

Job Description

Job Description

Location: Dallas, TX
Reports To: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Department: Social Enterprises / Operations

Overview of Role:

The Director of Social Enterprises serves as the senior operational leader responsible for overseeing and scaling a diverse portfolio of mission-driven businesses. This role combines strategic vision with hands-on execution and requires a leader who can drive financial performance while building strong systems, developing talent, and expanding revenue-generating opportunities.

This leader will oversee:

Restaurant and hospitality operations
Catering program development and expansion
Retail and customer-facing enterprises
Farm-based corporate and private event programming
Workforce development integration within enterprise environments

The Director will play a critical role in strengthening margins, stabilizing systems, expanding market reach, and activating new revenue channels.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Enterprise Growth

• Develop and execute a multi-year growth strategy for all social enterprises.
• Align enterprise operations with organizational mission and financial sustainability goals.
• Identify new revenue opportunities, partnerships, and market expansions.
• Establish and monitor KPIs related to revenue, margin, customer experience, workforce development, and mission outcomes.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance in partnership with Finance and Operations.
• Partner with executive leadership on long-term business planning and capital investment decisions.
• Ensure consistency, quality, and accountability across all social enterprise operations.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, labor standards, licensing, and regulatory requirements.
• Provide direct oversight and performance management of enterprise leaders and managers.

Restaurant & Hospitality Operations

• Provide oversight of daily restaurant operations, ensuring high standards in:
• Food quality and service delivery
• Labor management and scheduling optimization
• Cost control and margin performance
• Guest experience and brand consistency
• Implement and standardize operating procedures across all hospitality units.
• Analyze sales trends, menu performance, and operational efficiencies to drive profitability.
• Build strong kitchen and front-of-house leadership structures.

Catering Program Development & Expansion

• Design and scale a structured catering program to serve corporate, nonprofit, and private clients.
• Develop tiered menu offerings and pricing strategies aligned to margin goals.
• Establish operational workflows for catering execution (logistics, staffing, production).
• Build a proactive corporate catering sales pipeline.
• Collaborate with marketing to position catering as a primary revenue driver.
• Set measurable annual catering revenue growth targets.

Extension Farm & Event Revenue Strategy

• Lead the strategic expansion of farm-based corporate and private events, including:
  • Weddings
  • Corporate retreats
  • Family reunions
  • Community gatherings
  • Brand activations
• Develop scalable event packages, pricing models, and vendor partnerships.
• Ensure operational readiness for event hosting (facilities, staffing, safety, compliance).
• Build relationships with corporate partners and event planners.
• Protect the integrity of the brand and mission while activating revenue growth.

Financial & Performance Accountability

• Oversee enterprise budgets and financial performance across all business units.
• Maintain strong cost controls and margin oversight.
• Partner with Finance on forecasting, reporting, and capital planning.
• Use data-driven decision-making to improve revenue, reduce waste, and optimize labor.
• Ensure all enterprises meet or exceed established financial targets.

People Leadership & Workforce Development

• Lead, coach, and develop enterprise leaders with a focus on accountability, growth, and servant leadership.
• Support apprenticeship and workforce development pathways embedded within social enterprises.
• Foster a culture of dignity, psychological safety, and professional growth.
• Partner with People Operations to ensure strong hiring, onboarding, performance management, and corrective action processes.

Operational Systems & Infrastructure

• Strengthen enterprise systems including:
  • Inventory management
  • Procurement processes
  • Vendor partnerships
  • Compliance and regulatory standards
  • Safety and risk mitigation
• Create clear SOPs and accountability mechanisms across all units.
• Ensure cross-functional coordination between operations, facilities, marketing, development, and finance.

Growth & Market Positioning

• Evaluate opportunities to expand enterprise footprint or offerings.
• Support brand positioning as a destination for hospitality, community, and corporate engagement.
• Leverage enterprise storytelling to support development and fundraising initiatives.
• Represent enterprise operations with external stakeholders and partners.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelors degree in business, Hospitality, Nonprofit Management, Operations, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• 7+ years of progressive leadership experience in social enterprise, hospitality, food operations, retail, or mission-driven business environments.
• Demonstrated experience leading multi-unit or multi-function operations.
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, P&L oversight, and performance metrics.
• Proven ability to lead and develop managers and frontline leaders.
• Experience working in mission-based, community-centered, or workforce development organizations.

Preferred:

• Masters degree (MBA, MPA, or related field).
• Experience in nonprofit social enterprise models.
• Familiarity with workforce development, apprenticeship, or second-chance employment programs.
• Experience scaling operations in growing or transitional organizations.

Working Conditions

• Standard office environment with occasional evening or weekend hours for events.
• Occasional outdoor work required during community and donor events.
• Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds for event setup and support.