Assistant Culinary Director

Location: New York, NY

We are seeking an experienced, highly skilled Assistant Culinary Director to support culinary operations across a growing, multi-unit restaurant group specializing in upscale Korean cuisine. This individual will work closely with the Culinary Director and Executive Chefs to maintain culinary standards, develop menus, improve kitchen operations, and ensure consistency across multiple locations.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in Korean cuisine, upscale dining, and multi-unit culinary operations. This is a hands-on leadership position for a culinary professional who combines creativity, technical expertise, and strong operational skills.

Responsibilities:

• Support the Culinary Director in overseeing culinary operations across multiple restaurant locations.
• Work closely with Executive Chefs and kitchen leadership to maintain consistent food quality, presentation, and execution.
• Assist with menu development, seasonal offerings, recipe testing, and new dish creation.
• Ensure consistency in recipes, portioning, plating, preparation, and cooking techniques across all locations.
• Provide hands-on culinary training, coaching, and development for Executive Chefs and kitchen teams.
• Conduct regular restaurant visits to evaluate kitchen performance, food quality, cleanliness, and operational standards.
• Assist with food cost management, inventory controls, purchasing, and vendor relationships.
• Monitor kitchen labor, productivity, and overall operational efficiency.
• Establish and maintain standardized recipes, preparation procedures, and culinary guidelines.
• Support new restaurant openings, menu rollouts, and culinary initiatives.
• Collaborate with operations leadership to improve kitchen performance and profitability.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation, and health department regulations.
• Stay current with culinary trends, ingredients, and techniques while maintaining the integrity of the cuisine.

Qualifications:

• 5+ years of progressive culinary leadership experience, preferably in upscale or fine dining restaurants.
• Strong background in Korean cuisine is required.
• Previous experience overseeing multiple kitchens or supporting multi-unit culinary operations strongly preferred.
• Extensive knowledge of Korean ingredients, traditional techniques, and contemporary Korean cuisine.
• Experience with menu development, recipe standardization, and culinary training.
• Strong understanding of food costs, inventory management, purchasing, and kitchen financials.
• Proven ability to mentor, develop, and lead Executive Chefs and kitchen management teams.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to travel between restaurant locations as needed.
• Hands-on leadership approach with a strong attention to detail and culinary execution.

What We're Looking For:

A passionate and technically skilled culinary leader who understands both the art and business of restaurant kitchens. The right candidate is knowledgeable in Korean cuisine, comfortable working across multiple locations, and capable of developing culinary talent while maintaining consistency, quality, and high standards. Someone who can bring fresh ideas to the table while respecting the culinary identity and vision of the restaurant group.

Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.