The VP will oversee the Culinary Operations teams, driving growth and culinary excellence for our Licensed Brands Division. As an accomplished culinary leader, you will have full ownership over the Licensed Brand P&L. You are responsible for curating a portfolio of licensed brands where you will stack brands within the same kitchen to maximize sales and profitability while considering ingredient and equipment overlap. You will oversee and manage all aspects of the menu and culinary operations for our portfolio of licensed brands, ensuring all properties achieve stated objectives in culinary operations, sales, costs, employee retention, guest service and satisfaction, food quality, and sanitation. You will drive Licensed Brands sales through third party marketplaces including managing partner relationships, setting up online menus, driving demand, and overseeing operational fulfillment. You will also be responsible for building a top-performing team and profitable business as well as developing strong partnerships with internal stakeholders and external brand partners.

Culinary Center Operations

• Oversee Licensed brand Division P&L
• Oversee License Brand teams, Executive Chefs and on site Culinary Teams
• Curate and negotiate portfolio of Licensed Brands in partnership with the Sales teams
• Lead culinary strategy for the licensed menus to maximize sales within a given kitchen–expanding day parts, optimizing for off-premise, driving culinary innovation/efficiency with licensor, and sourcing of product and equipment
• Drive consumer demand for Licensed Brand menus/products. This includes overseeing set up and optimization of menus being sold through third party marketplaces (e.g., Doordash, Ubereats, Grubhub), driving marketing in partnership with brand licensors and the Kitchen United Marketing team
• Ensure the financial viability of all new and existing products through the accurate estimation and management of food cost, waste, labor, inventory, and SKU management
• Responsible for daily operations for food production facilities, manage earnings, ensure safety standards are in place, cleanliness practices, and quality control throughout the state-of-the-art facilities and project earnings and support sales initiatives
• Hiring, retaining, and succession building of our General Managers and Front-of-house teams at our Culinary Centers and creating a bench of succession across the ecosystem. For locations where we may operate 1 or more kitchens, the VP of Licensed Brands will work with the Operations team in creating SOPs for both the front of house and back of house.
• Effectively motivate, communicate, model, and remove barriers to enable maximum performance, and develop solutions that drive business results.
• Effectively communicate culinary innovation vision across the organization, building relationships and relaying department objectives. Partner and provide support with central functions including Sales, Marketing, Operations, Construction & Finance. This can entail working with Construction/Design on plans and specifications for kitchen design, storage, equipment and also suggested kitchen maintenance plans and suggested capital expenses.
• Build effective relationships with Brand Licensors and other strategic partners
• Accountable for the performance of their portfolio and able to succinctly communicate a:
  • clear understanding of performance against budgets and operational KPI’s;
  • plan to progress against specific project milestones;
  • remedial corrective action list to identified issues;
  • considered list of specific challenges with potential mitigations.
• Responsible for evaluating current processes, systems and procedures and determining and implementing changes as necessary
• Will be responsible for traveling and being onsite at centers on a monthly/quarterly basis based on the needs of the business.
• Coaches teams help reduce costs and to provide a safe environment for our teams.
• Performs all aspects of the position with efficiency, respect, professionalism, teamwork, and empathy.
• Displays a consistent attention to detail with excellent follow through

Team Operations

• Effectively managing and ensuring Culinary Managers are holding their teams accountable, documenting and discussing concerns and providing guidance on managing team member performance and behaviors
• Ensures the Center teams consistently demonstrate and execute behaviors that produce the culture and results consistent with company standards.
• Ensuring shift schedules are optimized and efficient, time entries are accurate and submitted on time. Reviews schedules on a weekly basis ensuring Managers are scheduling to meet the unique needs of their business
• Reviews all supply orders, expense reports, and operating supply requests - flags areas of opportunity in real time.
• Builds and executes effective tools to measure center and team performance.
• Ensures Teams are using resources and tools effectively including but not limited to: New Team Member training, and New Member Onboarding
• Is the first line of defense for all kitchen centers - quarterbacking company goals and initiatives to ensure portfolio results reflect favorably against company sales, service, and operational metrics.
• A relentless focus on continuous improvement in all aspects of culinary operations - does not settle for status quo
• Ensure that Culinary Teams uphold the standards of quality, service and cleanliness.
• Ensure development plans and competencies are closely managed for all team members
• Manages the talent lifecycle including but not limited to: filling positions proactively to minimize gaps, performance management, succession planning & internal bench building.

Requirements

The ideal candidate would:

• Entrepreneurial spirit — test, learn, and be agile
• Have 10+ years progressive professional experience successfully managing multiple culinary operations locations
• Proven project management success on new product launches and new store openings
• Have a solid understanding of competitive food and beverage trends and strategies
• Have a proven track record for bringing menu strategy to life including speed to market, efficient process solutions and redefining testing protocols.
• Be process oriented with a keen eye for details and excellence in execution
• Ability to identify, recruit and retain strong talent; Be a strong coach and mentor–Communicating positive expectations; readily sharing knowledge and advice; providing candid, balanced and regular feedback; provides opportunities to enhance professional growth
• Have distributed workforce management experience – good at motivation, retention & development of a team of chefs.
• Financial Acumen: Full understanding of food cost variables and cost control methods to support optimal product margins
• Results Driven: Sets high personal standards of excellence; continuously looks for ways to improve performance; sets and works to achieve stretch goals; invests and takes appropriate risks evaluating the potential return
• Have worked in a B2B/ B2C environment – e.g., franchising, shared workplace
• Analytical Thinking: Thinks and plans logically, making sure issues are thoroughly evaluated. Be comfortable using technology to interpret data, communicate with a cross functional team and innovate to improve operational efficiencies.
• Be able to travel up to 75%
• Have demonstrated ability to partner with related functions – Finance, Operations, Marketing/Sales, IT
• Undergraduate degree in culinary arts is highly preferred, equivalent professional experience will be considered. Business degree or MBA is also desirable.

Kitchen United is headquartered in Pasadena, CA but this role will be based in the market with an average 50% travel to existing and potential sites.

Benefits

• Competitive Salary (DOE) Dependent on Experience
• Employee Bonus Plan
• Stock Options
• 401K Program
• Generous Vacation and Holiday Package, including paid volunteer days
• Recognition Programs
• Paid parental leave
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance covered by Kitchen United at no expense to you
• FSA - Flexible Spending Account (pre-tax dollars to pay for medical expenses)
• Life & AD&D Insurance, Voluntary Life Insurance
• EAP - Employee Assistance Program
• Commuter Benefits
• New HQ office in beautiful Old Town Pasadena with indoor & outdoor office space
• KU Company Swag
• Referral Bonus
• Employee Discounts at Kitchen United Mix Locations
  

Our Corporate Team is currently working remotely and will be returning to our new HQ office located in beautiful Old Town Pasadena. Local candidates will be considered.

Kitchen United is an equal opportunity employer of all qualified individuals; including minorities, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities, and regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Kitchen United will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with all federal, state, and local ordinances.