Director of Culinary Innovation and Strategy- Charlotte, NC

Job Description

Job Description

 

• Pay Range:  $145,000–$155,000
  *Internal Employee Referral Bonus Available

The advertised program is a conversational recruiting assistant that helps you apply to jobs with Compass Group. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to opt out or HELP for help. Terms and conditions: 

 

About Canteen:

Canteen brings break time to everyone. We combine food, service, and experience backed by industry-leading technology to help companies create a better workplace and connect their employees. Canteen’s solutions include markets, office coffee and snacks, unattended retail, and culinary. 

 
Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their dedication, collaboration, and passion fuel our growth . Interested in joining our team? You bring the enthusiasm, customer service, and commitment; we’ll supply the opportunity and innovation.  Together, we’ll continue to transform our industry. 

Come for the job, stay for the career. We are Canteen.

Job Summary

The Director of Culinary Innovation & Strategy provides leadership and direction for Canteen's culinary vision, innovation pipeline, and food program strategy. This role is responsible for developing and implementing culinary initiatives that enhance the customer experience, drive business growth, and differentiate Canteen's fresh food, catering, and unattended retail offerings.

Partnering closely with Operations, Sales, Marketing, Procurement, and Culinary teams, this leader serves as the bridge between corporate strategy and field execution, ensuring consistency, innovation, and operational excellence across the organization.

Key ResponsibilitiesCulinary Strategy & Innovation

• Partner with senior leadership to develop and execute a best-in-class culinary strategy.
• Lead culinary innovation efforts by identifying emerging consumer preferences, food trends, and industry best practices.
• Drive the development of innovative menu solutions, fresh food programs, and catering offerings.
• Evaluate competitive market trends and make recommendations that strengthen Canteen's market position.

Program Development & Standardization

• Establish and maintain culinary standards, recipes, product specifications, and operational guidelines.
• Lead the development and optimization of order guides across multiple business lines.
• Standardize culinary programs and best practices to ensure consistency and scalability.
• Support expansion of fresh food programs, including hot and cold food solutions.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Serve as the primary liaison between corporate leadership and field culinary teams.
• Partner with Operations, Procurement, Foodbuy, Marketing, and Sales teams to align culinary initiatives with business objectives.
• Support client presentations, sales pursuits, and retention efforts through culinary expertise.
• Build strong relationships with field leaders and executive stakeholders across the organization.

Training & Field Support

• Develop culinary training programs, onboarding materials, and tools that support field execution.
• Create frameworks that improve culinary capabilities and operational consistency.
• Support field teams with program implementation, execution, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Technology & Business Growth

• Identify and evaluate technology solutions that enhance culinary operations and customer experiences.
• Partner with Marketing and Innovation teams to launch new products, programs, and platforms.
• Lead culinary-focused promotional and manufacturer partnership initiatives.
• Utilize data and customer feedback to assess program performance and drive improvements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Culinary degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and professional culinary experience.
• Five or more years of progressive culinary, foodservice, hospitality, or food innovation experience.
• Current ServSafe certification preferred.
• Strong knowledge of culinary operations, food safety, menu development, and food trends.
• Experience leading culinary strategy, product innovation, or food program development.
• Strong presentation, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and digital collaboration tools.
• Highly organized with strong project management and multitasking abilities.
• Self-motivated, innovative, and capable of influencing cross-functional teams.
• Ability to travel regularly to support field operations, client meetings, and business initiatives.
• Reliable transportation required.

Associates at Canteen are offered many fantastic benefits.

Full-time and part-time positions offer the following benefits to associates : Retirement Plan, Associate Shopping Program, Health and Wellness Programs, Discount Marketplace, Identity Theft Protection, Pet Insurance, Voluntary Benefits, including Critical Illness Insurance, Accident Insurance, Hospital Indemnity Insurance, Legal Services, and Choice Auto and Home Program

Full-time positions also offer the following benefits to associates: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance/AD, Disability Insurance, Commuter Benefits, Employee Assistance Program, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).

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

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About Compass Group: Achieving leadership in the foodservice industry

 

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.

Certain positions may require Florida Level 2 background screening. Details: 

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Canteen maintains a drug-free workplace.

Req ID:1553041

Canteen