Culinary Director - Texas State University Dining

Aramark is a global leader in food services, facilities management, and uniform services, serving millions of guests in 15 countries worldwide. Rooted in service and united by a strong sense of purpose, Aramark is committed to doing excellent work not only for its clients and customers but also for its employees, communities, and the environment. Operating with an inclusive approach, Aramark fosters a workplace where every employee enjoys equal employment opportunities and is free from discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military status, protected veteran status, or other protected characteristics under applicable law. The company values career growth, diversity, and empowerment, offering an environment that supports professional development and personal fulfillment.

The Culinary Director role at Texas State University, managed by Aramark, is a critical leadership position responsible for overseeing the culinary operations across the university's campus. This role involves managing a diverse team of culinary personnel working in residential dining, retail dining, catering, and concession services. The Culinary Director ensures seamless coordination and supervision of all culinary activities to maintain high standards of food quality, safety, and customer satisfaction.

This is a dynamic role requiring a blend of hands-on culinary expertise and strategic management skills. The director will be tasked with training and mentoring kitchen staff to build a cohesive and high-performing culinary team. Additionally, responsibilities include estimating food consumption, purchasing and requisitioning ingredients, developing and standardizing recipes to ensure consistency, planning and pricing menus with an eye toward cost control and customer satisfaction, and overseeing equipment maintenance and safety. The Culinary Director may also prepare select dishes, catering to no more than 20% of kitchen production time, and take charge of coordinating special catering events, which may involve demonstrating culinary techniques and instructing others.

This position demands someone with extensive experience in culinary management—ideally over eight years—who holds a bachelor's degree or equivalent industry experience. The ideal candidate must demonstrate strong leadership abilities in managing a diverse workforce while maintaining a client and customer-service orientation. Prior experience with food and labor cost control, menu development, pricing strategies, culinary team development, profit and loss accountability, and contract-managed services highly enhances the candidate's success in this role.

Working as a Culinary Director at Texas State University through Aramark offers a unique opportunity to lead a significant culinary program within a thriving educational institution. The role promises variety and growth, with the potential to impact both the day-to-day satisfaction of students and staff and the broader culinary standards of the university. Aramark supports its employees with a commitment to learning new skills and adapting in a dynamic work environment. Team members are expected to be flexible as duties may evolve and new responsibilities may be assigned to meet operational goals and client satisfaction.

This employment opportunity is ideal for culinary professionals seeking to leverage their expertise in a leadership role that influences a diverse and expansive culinary environment. It blends operational oversight with creative menu planning and hands-on cooking activities, making it an engaging and multifaceted position. Join Aramark and Texas State University to contribute to excellent dining experiences on campus while advancing your career in a supportive, purpose-driven company environment.