Airline Lounges Director of Culinary Services

Sodexo Careers•Chicago, IL

4d•Remote

About The Position

Airline Lounges Director of Culinary Services Role Overview Sodexo Live! Airport Lounges, North America is seeking a visionary Director of Culinary Services to lead the strategic development and execution of innovative culinary experiences for our United Airlines Portfolio. This high-impact role demands a creative leader with a strong culinary background, exceptional collaboration skills, and a passion for delivering elevated guest experiences. This culinary leader will be very adept at menu development and innovation, as well as being a key part of client sales and presentation teams. The Director will serve as a brand ambassador and innovation catalyst, shaping the future of premium dining through elite partnerships, new concept development, and trend-setting initiatives. This role is remote with up to 70% travel nationally. Our preferred location for this role is Chicago, Detroit, Washington DC, or Dallas.

Requirements

Proven experience (10+ years) in culinary leadership within premium hospitality, airline lounges, or high-end F&B environments
Strong portfolio of concept development and successful business rollouts
Exceptional culinary palate with deep knowledge of global cuisine and food trends
Excellent interpersonal, presentation, and client-facing communication skills
Passionate about innovation, quality, and the guest experience
Ability to travel for site visits, tastings, events, and conferences
Bachelor's Degree
5 years of management experience
5 years of experience in operations, marketing, or a related field.

Responsibilities

Lead all aspects of culinary engagement, including Global Chef partnerships, restaurant collaborations, high-profile Pop-Ups, and curated off-site culinary events.
Spearhead new food & beverage concept ideation from the Request for Proposal (RFP) phase through to launch. Responsibilities include overarching concept design, RFP menu creation, and seamless rollout of new business initiatives.
Collaborate closely with Executive Chefs across premium airline lounges to develop, review, and approve a la carte menus that meet brand, quality, and client expectations.
Regularly host and attend client tastings to present and refine menus for upcoming rollouts and culinary refreshes.
Act as the primary liaison with client culinary teams and guest experience leadership to ensure every offering aligns with brand standards and elevates the premium customer experience.
Represent Sodexo Live! as the premier voice in culinary innovation at industry conferences, panels, seminars, and media events, reinforcing our position as a leader in premium hospitality.