Executive Culinary Manager at Topgolf Payroll Services — Columbus, OH

Topgolf | Executive Culinary Manager

Job Description

ABOUT TOPGOLF

WHAT WE’RE SEEKING

Do you think about food from the guest's first impression to the last bite? Are you as comfortable talking about food cost and labor efficiency as you are developing menus that excite people? Can you build a kitchen culture that performs under pressure and takes pride in what they put out?

We're looking for an Executive Culinary Manager who leads a culinary operation with both creativity and business discipline. Someone who develops their team drives quality and consistency at scale and brings an operator's mindset to every decision. The food here matters. It's part of the experience, not an afterthought.

If you want to lead a culinary program that people actually talk about, bring your standards here.

THE ROLE

The Executive Culinary Manager leads all culinary operations at the venue, ensuring guests receive exceptional, consistent, best-in-class dining experiences. This role requires two critical skill sets: deep culinary expertise and strong people leadership.

The Executive Culinary Manager supervises, trains, coaches, and develops the kitchen team, while also managing the full scope of culinary operations; scheduling, inventory, ordering, food and labor cost management, safety and sanitation, vendor relationships, and menu development.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Lead the Kitchen Team

• Supervise the culinary team in delivering best-in-class dining experiences across all occasions
• Coach, develop, and drive engagement with kitchen Team members daily
• Delegate effectively and hold team members accountable for standards and execution
• Build a kitchen culture rooted in excellence, care, and continuous improvement

Manage Culinary Operations

• Monitor inventory, order product, and maintain strong vendor relationships
• Maintain food and labor costs according to budget, with a full understanding of COGS
• Ensure proper equipment operation, maintenance, and kitchen safety
• Oversee all safety and sanitation standards and ensure full regulatory compliance

Drive Culinary Excellence

• Select, develop, and standardize recipes to corporate approval to ensure consistent quality
• Establish and maintain presentation techniques and quality standards
• Plan and cost menus for special events and chef-choice occasions
• Utilize culinary innovation to elevate the guest experience

Partner Across the Business

• Communicate and effectively partner with venue leadership, Home Office, and vendors
• Develop and implement action plans in response to performance opportunities
• Demonstrate Topgolf's core values: Fun, One Team, Excellence, Courage, and Caring

CORE COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESS

• Pushes the kitchen team to achieve and maintain the highest culinary standards
• Drives a track record of success through consistent food quality, cost management, and team performance
• Fosters a sense of urgency and accountability for hitting food cost, labor, and service targets
• Leads the team to persist and maintain performance standards even during peak volume

• Develops and retains a high-performing kitchen team through coaching and mentorship
• Ensures the team has the right skills and leverages individual culinary strengths
• Communicates clear goals, roles, and production standards to all kitchen Team members
• Creates a team culture of pride, craftsmanship, and continuous improvement

• Addresses risks and contingencies as part of the culinary planning and prep process
• Finds the right balance between production planning and adjusting to event or volume changes
• Ensures the kitchen's plans and priorities are coordinated with the broader venue Operations team
• Plans ahead to make sure critical ingredients, staffing, and resources are lined up for service and events

• Monitors food cost, labor cost, and waste metrics and adjusts operations accordingly
• Holds self and team accountable for safety, sanitation, and compliance standards
• Accepts responsibility for kitchen performance and acts decisively to drive improvement
• Follows through on commitments to leadership, vendors, and the broader venue team

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 8 years of culinary management experience in a high-volume environment
• Culinary degree, professional culinary certification, or equivalent training and experience in a high-volume full-service kitchen and events-driven environment preferred
• Must be 21 years of age or older as required by state or local law

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to remain on your feet and in motion for extended periods throughout the shift, including standing, walking, and navigating a fast-paced kitchen environment; this role operates in a high-volume kitchen and requires sustained physical stamina throughout the duration of each shift
• Ability to lift, carry, and move items up to 50 pounds independently and up to 75 pounds with assistance, including food products, equipment, supplies, and delivery transport across multiple levels of the venue
• Ability to navigate stairs, ramps, and multi-level areas of the venue when transporting food, coordinating events, or overseeing service delivery
• Ability to work in varying temperature environments on a frequent basis, including hot kitchen conditions, walk-in coolers, and freezers
• Ability to perform repetitive hand and wrist motions including cutting, stirring, lifting, and operating kitchen equipment throughout the shift
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in a high-energy venue environment that may include moderate to high levels of background noise
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-volume environment while maintaining focus, food safety standards, and quality under pressure

BENEFITS