Director of Kitchen Innovation - Mission Edge
Description:
Who You Are: You are an experienced chef or culinary director, potentially across multiple areas, including social enterprise, business innovation, and/or hunger relief. You will drive the organization’s social enterprise and hunger relief growth and ability to aid members in building better kitchens and culinary operations. You have a strong passion for the dual models of hunger relief and social enterprise. Ideally, you may also have experience with teaching kitchens and on-the-job training or workforce development. You are well-versed in business planning and capacity-building, highly energetic, and an intellectually courageous person. This isn’t your first time—you know how to skillfully build culinary operations as well as strategically develop business and operational plans. You will also help to maintain the systems and activities related to an online resource library and professional communities of practice for our network members.
- Works with leadership and members to identify high-performing kitchen models and operational resources and leverage collective impact to package, train, and deliver technical support on those resources to bolster Catalyst Kitchens member programs
- Creates annual plan for member engagement with technical support services, including publishing content produced with knowledge partners and hosting complex events, including member summits & webinars delivered in-person & remotely
- Facilitates multi-stakeholder groups, including the committees of the Catalyst Kitchens Member Leadership Board and working sub-committees
- Leads efforts to cultivate and expand national partnerships with relevant content/knowledge partners, and peer affiliate networks in alignment with strategic priorities, e.g., Feeding America, REDF, National Restaurant Association, Social Enterprise Alliance, Fair Kitchens, America Forward, etc..
- Identifies opportunities for member network innovation by cultivating relationships with peer organizations in the social enterprise and hunger relief arenas
- Along with the Executive Director, leads Catalyst Kitchens development of new services, benefits, and processes related to technical advising or consulting to benefit current members and generate new member interest
- Along with other Directors, creates strategy for engaging relevant foodservice and nonprofit industry partners and leaders to advocate for the mission of Catalyst Kitchens and its members.
- Contributes to the curation and expansion of the Resource Library and other parts of the member portal as needed.
- Assist Catalyst Kitchens team in finding stories and testimonials to be used in newsletters and other collateral
- Attend in-person network events and or conferences and trainings when able
- Attend professional development opportunities
- 4-6 years of kitchen or operations oversight experience in the foodservice industry with at least 2 years directly related to hunger relief and/or social enterprise, and 2 years in a leadership role
- Familiarity with workforce development and on-the-job training programs as a service model
- Familiarity with work in social services for populations in need, especially formerly incarcerated persons, unhoused populations, and/or people with substance use disorder.
- Proficient with Google applications and platforms
If interested, please submit a resume and cover letter. Use the cover letter as your opportunity to share how your experience and interests align with our network and this position. Applications are accepted until the position is filled. If you have any questions related to this role, please reach out to info@catalystkitchens.org with “Director of Kitchen Innovation” in the subject line. The hiring process will involve at least 2, and no more than 4 interviews or other conversations, and, at later stages, may require a writing sample that demonstrates work with business planning.<p "margin-left:="" 7.4pt"="">The position will open for applications on 3/21/2024, interviews will start after 4/17/2024, with a goal to have the position start on 6/1/2024.