Regional Culinary Director

Griffith Foods is a global manufacturer of food products.  We provide a wide range of taste and texture components for food industry customers throughout the world.  Our products include seasoning blends, dry mixes, coating systems, dough blends, crumbs, flavors, sauces and food bases that are used in an extensive variety of application from snack foods and processed meat and poultry to ready meals. Our customers include food processors, restaurant operators and grocery retailers.  While our name may not be familiar to consumers, our products are key components of foods offered by many of the world’s best-known companies.

Description and Responsibilities:

• Drive new and existing business opportunities
  (Acquisition, Penetration) with Global Accounts or
  Regional Accounts.
• Collaboration with regional and local leaders in the
  overall development and execution of Operating Plans
  and LRPs through the function of Culinary.
• Translates Global and/or Regional Strategies for
  application through Culinary Segment and Product
  Category Leads
• Overall Leadership/management of Culinary Segment
  and Product Category Leads. Provides high-level
  guidance to Business Units and Commercial Teams.
• Provides Strategic/Tactical Leadership and guidance
  to GMs for the entire Culinary Function.
• Ensures alignment with Local, Regional and Global
  Commercial Team(s)/Product Cat Managers and
  Leaders across all Segments.
• Updates and Communicates with Regional Leadership
  team and President on Segment/PC initiatives,
  Customer engagements, Account Planning etc..
• Manages Peer-level Culinary Customer relationships.
  Leverages Segment and/or Product category Leads as
  needed.
• Provides Coaching, talent development, training to all
  Culinary Leads and BU Chefs.
• Co-leads Regional Acquisition customer development
  across units. Supports Penetration of existing
  accounts.
• Leadership of the Local Business Units’ Culinary team,
  their objectives and initiatives aligned with
  Regional/Global Leadership Teams, and Regional
  Commercial Teams.
• Leverages and enables Proactive and Reactive
  Innovation across units and provides unique
  applications of Innovation aligned with Customer
  needs.
• Leads, in conjunction with Regional Marketing and
  Insight in the implementation and validation of Market
  relevant trends needed for NPD.
• Works closely with Regional R&D for local unit
  enablement of Commercialized/New Innovation and/or
  NPD.
• Assess Training gaps in Culinary Skills/competencies
  and coordinates with Global Culinary for the
  implementation of training consistent across all units.
• Leadership and support for the overall Communication
  of Global Culinary Council initiatives and activities and
  local and regional leadership.
• Supports Region Culinarians with ideations aligned to
  Customer, Product Category and/or Segment needs.
• Delivers on the Regional financial goals/targets set
  forth by Senior Leadership.
• Responsible for delivering Culinary
  Consultation/Advisership to Local Units,
  partnerships/eco-systems, external customers.
• Responsible for overall expense and travel budgets for
  Culinary. AOPs/LRPs for Culinary Function (financial
  goals and Metrics)
• Potentially 3+ direct reports, dotted line reports.

 

Requirements:

• Post Primary/Secondary Education Certificate/Degree.
• Minimum 2-year AOS Degree of Culinary Arts from
  accredited institution or graduated from a 4-year
  cooking apprenticeship or equivalent.
• Food Science, Technical Experience or Certification
  preferred.
• 3 years minimum as Directing Manager of Culinary
  Team and/or Commercial Team.
• Minimum 3 years professional experience in a
  commercial kitchen for food service operations or and
  industrial organization specializing in new product
  development.
• Experience and proven success in business
  development and growth in a 1-2 year time frame with
  customers.
• Proven experience in building and maintaining
  business relationships.
• Operates with a high level of tenacity, personal
  commitment, and enthusiasm.
• Financial and technical acumen in understanding
  needs and developing effective strategies.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Basic Computer proficiency skills in Word, Excel,
  Power Point, Microsoft and others.
• Creating, Managing and responsible Budgeting
  proficiency.