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Job Overview
Employment Type
Full-time
Work Schedule
Standard Hours
Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
401(k)
Annual performance bonus
Relocation assistance
Continuing education support
Job Description
Idle Hour Country Club, established in 1946, is a prestigious private, member-owned club located in Lexington, Kentucky. Known for its rich tradition, warm hospitality, and multigenerational community, Idle Hour has maintained a reputation as a premier club for families and individuals who value exclusivity and a strong sense of belonging. As the club prepares to embark on a new chapter, including a major kitchen renovation, it is actively seeking an experienced and visionary Director of Culinary to lead the culinary team and shape the future of its dining experience.
The Director of Culinary at Idle Hour Country Club... Show More
The Director of Culinary at Idle Hour Country Club... Show More
Job Requirements
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience preferred
- minimum 10 years of culinary leadership experience in private clubs, luxury hospitality, or fine dining
- proven ability to design and maintain culinary systems and operating frameworks
- strong leadership and mentoring skills
- excellent organizational and communication abilities
- financial management experience related to food and labor
- flexibility to step into operational roles during continuity needs
- preferred certification from American Culinary Federation or similar
- familiarity with culinary management systems such as Jonas
- commitment to upholding tradition, hospitality, and member-centric values
Job Qualifications
- 10+ years of progressive culinary leadership experience in private clubs, luxury hospitality, or fine dining
- demonstrated success in building culinary systems, mentoring leaders, and driving consistency at scale
- strong financial acumen in food cost, labor architecture, and purchasing strategy
- able to step into kitchen leadership when continuity requires
- ACF or comparable certification preferred
- experience with Jonas or similar systems a plus
- deep appreciation for tradition, hospitality, and member-first culture
Job Duties
- Serve as the club's senior culinary authority and standards architect
- design and maintain culinary operating systems ensuring consistency, accountability, and quality across all outlets
- establish final quality control and substitution governance standards
- build, document, and evolve operating frameworks that protect the member experience
- mentor the executive chef, sous chefs, and culinary leadership team
- build succession pipelines and leadership bench strength
- develop training frameworks, standards documentation, and accountability loops
- serve as continuity backstop capable of stepping into kitchen leadership when required
- design and oversee interim operating models during renovation phase
- architect temporary production, menu tiering, labor, and service continuity frameworks
- partner with FOH leadership to control guest expectations during construction
- guide menu architecture, innovation, and seasonal planning
- ensure recipe standardization, plating consistency, and production timing discipline
- support signature dining experiences, tastings, and culinary programming
- provide strategic oversight of food cost controls, labor architecture, and waste management
- partner with finance on budgeting, purchasing strategies, and inventory governance
- protect operational efficiency and accountability across all culinary cost centers
- partner with FOH, events, and membership leadership to align pacing, execution, and member recovery
- monitor dining experience survey feedback and implement corrective action loops
- support committee and board communication as culinary systems leader
Job Criteria
Experience
Expert Level (7+ years)
Job Location
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