Culinary Experience Manager

ABOUT THE ROLE

We’re seeking a dynamic chef who will steward a menu that serves food rooted in and inspired by Pan-African, Pan-Latin and global cuisine, reflecting and honoring the cultural identities of our community. Their menus, teaching, and kitchen leadership should center the flavors, techniques, histories, and foodways connected to diaspora-driven global cuisine while remaining creative, seasonal, and mission aligned.

You are more than a chef: you are a mentor, role model, and leader for young adults launching their culinary careers. At Drive Change, our mission is the essential ingredient in everything we do. As the Culinary Experience Manager, you bring that mission to life in the kitchen each day, using food as a tool for transformation, skill-building, and justice. Your leadership fuels not only culinary excellence but also lasting impact in the lives of the young people and communities we serve.

The ideal candidate also has the financial savvy to lead the culinary vision and kitchen operations of our dynamic, values-driven company. This is a rare opportunity for a mission-aligned culinary leader to help build a high-performing food business while training and uplifting the next generation of hospitality leaders.

You will be responsible for developing and executing menus for our catering and food truck operations, managing food and labor budgets, leading kitchen operations, and building a collaborative, nurturing environment for our alumni staff (all justice-involved). The role reports to the Director of Social Enterprise and Initiatives and works in close collaboration with the Executive Director and Chief Development Officer to ensure culinary excellence and social impact go hand-in-hand.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Culinary Leadership & Menu Development

Develop menus and dishes that honor and center African Diaspora and multicultural traditions, ensuring our food reflects the cultural heritage of the communities we serve.
Test, refine, and document recipes with attention to scale, sourcing, and execution.
Ensure consistent quality, presentation, and taste across all offerings.
Infuse every menu with purpose, using food as a vehicle for social change, skill-building, and storytelling that reflects Drive Change’s mission.

Kitchen, Financial and Operational Management

Oversee day-to-day kitchen operations, including prep, service, sanitation, and safety protocols.
Develop and manage annual and project-based food budgets in collaboration with the Director of Social Enterprise and Initiatives, Chief Operating Officer, and finance team.
Manage inventory, ordering, and vendor relationships to ensure cost-effective, sustainable purchasing.
Track and analyze food and labor costs, ensuring alignment with financial targets and social enterprise sustainability goals.
Implement systems for cost control, inventory management, and vendor accountability.
Regularly review P&L reports and contribute to forecasting and pricing strategy for catering and food truck operations.
Operate with a dual bottom line: ensuring strong financial outcomes while creating a consistent, empowering learning environment for young adults in the kitchen.

Team Leadership & Training

Lead, train, and inspire a kitchen team composed of Drive Change alumni: young adults who are building their professional experience.
Provide direct supervision, mentorship, and culinary instruction in partnership with program and operations staff.
Foster an inclusive, healing-centered kitchen culture that balances accountability with compassion.
Model professional growth, emotional intelligence, and leadership, showing young people that the kitchen is a place where their potential can rise.

Cross-Departmental Collaboration

Collaborate with the Director of Social Enterprise and Initiatives on business strategy, operations, and workforce planning.
Work alongside the Fellowship, culinary, and operations teams to support hiring pipelines for graduates.
Partner with the Development team to support fundraising and storytelling through food. Participate in organizational events, activations, and community-building efforts as needed.
Serve as an ambassador of our mission by connecting culinary work with larger organizational goals and showing how every dish contributes to transformation.

SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES NEEDED

3+ years of experience as Chef in a high-volume or catering environment.
Demonstrated foundation in African Diaspora and global cuisines, including familiarity with core flavor profiles, techniques, and foodways, and a clear commitment to deepening expertise in these traditions as part of leading a culinary program that reflects our community.
Proven ability to manage food and labor budgets, cost out menus, and hit margin targets.
Experience leading, mentoring, and training young people or nontraditional employees.
Strong alignment with Drive Change’s mission of food justice, racial equity, and restorative opportunity.
Excellent communication, time management, and leadership skills.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving nonprofit environment.
A "No task is too big or too small" mentality and positive attitude.
Demonstrated ability for thoroughness, attention to detail, and good judgment.
Willingness and readiness for working with an early stage, small company.
Passionate about food and hospitality, reimagining criminal justice, and building ethical food systems.
NYC Food Handlers Certificate (or willing to obtain within 30 days).
Mobile Food Vending Permit (or willing to obtain within 30 days).
Pallet jack certification preferred (or willing to obtain within 30 days).
Drivers license required.
Experience launching or scaling food trucks, pop-ups, or catering operations preferred.

SALARY & WORK SCHEDULE:

The salary range for the Culinary Experience Manager is $70,000-$75,000 per year. This position is a full-time, in person position. Evenings and weekends are required with comp time provided. The office location for this position is Brooklyn, New York.

BENEFITS

Competitive Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life insurance with employer contributions
Access to Employee Assistance Program, including therapy, family planning, travel and entertainment discounts, legal and financial services and more
Unlimited Paid Time Off
Parental Leave
401K plan
Stipend for professional development opportunities
Family meal provided most days

Drive Change is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, or current employment status.

Drive Change values diverse experiences, including with regards to educational background and justice system involvement. We depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission.

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