Culinary Manager, United States

World Central Kitchen (WCK) is an internationally recognized nonprofit organization committed to providing nutritious and comforting meals to communities affected by disasters and crises worldwide. Founded in response to urgent humanitarian needs, WCK leverages culinary expertise and an innovative approach to emergency food relief, ensuring that affected populations quickly receive culturally appropriate and high-quality meals. The organization is known for its rapid response capabilities and ability to operate in challenging, low-resource settings, often collaborating with local chefs, vendors, and community leaders to ensure that aid delivery is effective and respectful of the culture and needs of those served.

WCK is currently seeking a highly skilled and innovative Culinary Manager to lead its culinary operations during disaster response activations. This position is a two-year term exempt role with the opportunity for renewal and offers a salary range of $80,000 to $100,000 USD, depending on experience. The Culinary Manager will play a crucial role in managing the on-the-ground food relief efforts, coordinating high-volume kitchen operations, designing menus that are culturally appropriate, and ensuring that food is prepared and distributed safely and efficiently. This role requires a passionate culinary expert who thrives in fast-moving and dynamic environments and who is committed to WCK's North Star values of dignity, compassion, and collaboration.

The Culinary Manager will be responsible for activating and managing field teams specializing in culinary operations, often with as little as four hours' notice to deploy to disaster-affected areas. These deployments usually last around four weeks but can extend depending on the situation. The candidate will work closely with various departments within WCK, including procurement, logistics, finance, and local partners, to ensure seamless and effective culinary operations. The ability to recruit, onboard, train, and mentor diverse culinary teams, including local hires and Corps members, is essential.

Beyond operational management, the position involves strategic planning and implementation of response strategies tailored to rapidly changing environments caused by natural disasters or conflicts. The Culinary Manager will also lead efforts in budget forecasting, inventory management, and procurement to maintain high standards of food quality and safety, even in austere environments where resources may be extremely limited. This position is pivotal in maintaining strong relationships with local communities and stakeholders, serving as an ambassador for WCK on the ground.

The ideal candidate must demonstrate resilience, cultural sensitivity, leadership, and the ability to thrive under pressure. Candidates should be physically fit to handle long hours and demanding conditions, adaptable to austere settings, and possess strong communication skills in English, with proficiency in additional languages such as Spanish, French, or Portuguese considered highly desirable. This role is based in North America, with preferred locations including the Northeast, California, Florida, and Texas. Candidates must live within one hour of an international airport or be willing to relocate close to one for rapid deployment.

Joining WCK as a Culinary Manager means dedicating your professional expertise to delivering hope and essential food aid when it matters most. The role offers unparalleled opportunities for professional growth, working within an innovative, passionate, and diverse team, and making direct contributions to humanitarian relief efforts globally. If you are ready for a challenging and rewarding career where every meal served makes a tangible difference in people’s lives, WCK welcomes your application.