What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Culinary Enterprise Strategy & Operations position at Strategic Focus Recruiting?
Location: Dallas, TX
Reports To: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Department: Social Enterprises / Operations
Overview of Role:
The Director of Social Enterprises serves as the senior operational leader responsible for overseeing and scaling a diverse portfolio of mission-driven businesses. This role combines strategic vision with hands-on execution and requires a leader who can drive financial performance while building strong systems, developing talent, and expanding revenue-generating opportunities.
This leader will oversee:
· Restaurant and hospitality operations
· Catering program development and expansion
· Retail and customer-facing enterprises
· Farm-based corporate and private event programming
· Workforce development integration within enterprise environments
The Director will play a critical role in strengthening margins, stabilizing systems, expanding market reach, and activating new revenue channels.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Enterprise Growth
- Develop and execute a multi-year growth strategy for all social enterprises.
- Align enterprise operations with organizational mission and financial sustainability goals.
- Identify new revenue opportunities, partnerships, and market expansions.
- Establish and monitor KPIs related to revenue, margin, customer experience, workforce development, and mission outcomes.
- Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance in partnership with Finance and Operations.
- Partner with executive leadership on long-term business planning and capital investment decisions.
- Ensure consistency, quality, and accountability across all social enterprise operations.
- Ensure compliance with food safety, labor standards, licensing, and regulatory requirements.
- Provide direct oversight and performance management of enterprise leaders and managers.
Restaurant & Hospitality Operations
- Provide oversight of daily restaurant operations, ensuring high standards in:
- Food quality and service delivery
- Labor management and scheduling optimization
- Cost control and margin performance
- Guest experience and brand consistency
- Implement and standardize operating procedures across all hospitality units.
- Analyze sales trends, menu performance, and operational efficiencies to drive profitability.
- Build strong kitchen and front-of-house leadership structures.
Catering Program Development & Expansion
- Design and scale a structured catering program to serve corporate, nonprofit, and private clients.
- Develop tiered menu offerings and pricing strategies aligned to margin goals.
- Establish operational workflows for catering execution (logistics, staffing, production).
- Build a proactive corporate catering sales pipeline.
- Collaborate with marketing to position catering as a primary revenue driver.
- Set measurable annual catering revenue growth targets.
Extension Farm & Event Revenue Strategy
- Lead the strategic expansion of farm-based corporate and private events, including:
- Weddings
- Corporate retreats
- Family reunions
- Community gatherings
- Brand activations
- Develop scalable event packages, pricing models, and vendor partnerships.
- Ensure operational readiness for event hosting (facilities, staffing, safety, compliance).
- Build relationships with corporate partners and event planners.
- Protect the integrity of the brand and mission while activating revenue growth.
Financial & Performance Accountability
- Oversee enterprise budgets and financial performance across all business units.
- Maintain strong cost controls and margin oversight.
- Partner with Finance on forecasting, reporting, and capital planning.
- Use data-driven decision-making to improve revenue, reduce waste, and optimize labor.
- Ensure all enterprises meet or exceed established financial targets.
People Leadership & Workforce Development
- Lead, coach, and develop enterprise leaders with a focus on accountability, growth, and servant leadership.
- Support apprenticeship and workforce development pathways embedded within social enterprises.
- Foster a culture of dignity, psychological safety, and professional growth.
- Partner with People Operations to ensure strong hiring, onboarding, performance management, and corrective action processes.
Operational Systems & Infrastructure
- Strengthen enterprise systems including:
- Inventory management
- Procurement processes
- Vendor partnerships
- Compliance and regulatory standards
- Safety and risk mitigation
- Create clear SOPs and accountability mechanisms across all units.
- Ensure cross-functional coordination between operations, facilities, marketing, development, and finance.
Growth & Market Positioning
- Evaluate opportunities to expand enterprise footprint or offerings.
- Support brand positioning as a destination for hospitality, community, and corporate engagement.
- Leverage enterprise storytelling to support development and fundraising initiatives.
- Represent enterprise operations with external stakeholders and partners.
Qualifications
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in business, Hospitality, Nonprofit Management, Operations, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
- 7 years of progressive leadership experience in social enterprise, hospitality, food operations, retail, or mission-driven business environments.
- Demonstrated experience leading multi-unit or multi-function operations.
- Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, P&L oversight, and performance metrics.
- Proven ability to lead and develop managers and frontline leaders.
- Experience working in mission-based, community-centered, or workforce development organizations.
Preferred:
- Master’s degree (MBA, MPA, or related field).
- Experience in nonprofit social enterprise models.
- Familiarity with workforce development, apprenticeship, or second-chance employment programs.
- Experience scaling operations in growing or transitional organizations.
Working Conditions
- Standard office environment with occasional evening or weekend hours for events.
- Occasional outdoor work required during community and donor events.
- Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds for event setup and support.
Salary : $90,000 - $110,000