Director of Culinary / Corporate Executive Chef

Job overview

The Director of Culinary / Corporate Executive Chef role is onsite in Metro Detroit, MI, with regular travel to restaurants and a co-manufacturing partner in the Midwest; compensation is not specified. Buddy’s Pizza operates restaurants and sells frozen pizza through grocers and distributors. The culinary leader maintains consistent recipes and quality across restaurant and retail products while developing new menu items and frozen products. The role connects culinary standards, product development, training, food cost, and production execution across both businesses.

What you'll do

• Own and document brand recipes and specifications
• lead restaurant menu items, limited-time offers, and updates from concept to launch
• lead frozen product development from bench through plant trials and first production
• conduct quality checks and address deviations
• partner on recipe costing, menu pricing, food cost targets, and ingredient changes
• develop kitchen training
• maintain catering menus
• support food safety, allergen, nutrition, and labeling accuracy
• monitor trends and competitors. Requires 8+ years in professional kitchens, including 3+ years as an executive, corporate, or culinary manager in a multi-unit restaurant company, plus hands-on product development and production experience. Regular travel is required.

What we're looking for

Skills & competencies

director of culinary

corporate executive chef

metro detroit mi

buddy's pizza

full-time

restaurant operations

frozen product development

pizza

menu development

food safety

regular travel

co-manufacturing

Work arrangement

• Weekend coverage required

Benefits & perks

• Competitive pay, bonus, and benefits are mentioned
• specific details are not provided.

Why this role

Leads culinary work across restaurant and frozen retail businesses; works directly with the CEO and leadership team; regular travel across Metro Detroit and to a Midwest co-manufacturing partner.

About the employer

Buddy's Pizza is hiring for this role. Industry: Full-Service Restaurants. Sector: 72.