Senior Director of Food Service

Responsibilities

Senior Director of Food Service - Central Market

Lead Culinary Innovation. Inspire Teams. Elevate Experiences.

At Central Market, we are not just in the business of food-we are in the business of creating extraordinary culinary experiences. As part of the H-E-B family, Central Market is a chef-driven, food-forward concept known for scratch cooking, quality ingredients, and unmatched hospitality.

We are seeking a dynamic and visionary Senior Director of Food Service to lead the enterprise-wide strategy and operations of Central Market's Food Service business. This individual will drive innovation, consistency, and performance across all stores while leading a high-impact team of Business Development Managers (BDMs) and functional experts.

Do You Have...

• A Heart for People - You coach, connect, and inspire leaders to be their best
• A Head for Business - You think strategically, lead decisively, and deliver results
• A Passion for Results - You bring creativity, structure, and accountability to every challenge

What You will Do

Enterprise Leadership

• Lead the strategic direction and performance of all Food Service departments across Central Market stores, including Chef Prepared Foods, Bakery, Pastry, Deli, Cheese, Coffee Bar and Restaurants
• Serve as the Merchant Leader of Operations
• Set operational, culinary, and customer experience standards that drive consistency and excellence across the brand
• Collaborate closely with senior leadership, culinary innovation teams, operations, merchandising, and H-E-B support partners
• Serve as the enterprise champion for culinary innovation, in-store shopping experiences, and fresh food leadership

Team Leadership

• Directly lead a team of 5 Business Development Managers and a total team of 14+ leaders and support staff
• Develop talent pipelines, succession plans, and performance strategies to grow and retain a high-performing team
• Cultivate a culture of accountability, coaching, and continuous improvement
• Travel regularly to stores to assess performance, coach teams, and inspire operational excellence

Operational Excellence

• Own enterprise-level financial performance for all Food Service departments, including sales, labor, food cost, and shrink
• Drive process improvement across systems for production planning, labor management, inventory control, and food safety
• Ensure compliance with all food safety, sanitation, and regulatory standards
• Analyze key business metrics and customer insights to inform strategy and improve guest satisfaction

Culinary & Brand Stewardship

• Ensure Central Market's food service offerings reflect culinary leadership, innovation, and brand differentiation
• Partner with category, product, and marketing teams to develop seasonal programs, new products, and store-level activations
• Guide the evolution of prepared food programs and in-store dining formats that align with changing consumer expectations

What You Bring to the Table

• 10+ years of progressive experience in grocery retail & merchandising
• 3+ years buying office leadership experience
• Experience managing senior-level direct reports (e.g., BDMs, Regional Leaders) with total teams of 15+
• Strong expertise in scratch-based cooking, culinary merchandising, food safety, and restaurant-level service operations
• Product Development process management experience
• P&L ownership and deep financial literacy across high-volume, complex operations
• Bachelor's degree in culinary arts, Business, or equivalent work experience
• A passion for developing leaders, building culture, and driving guest delight
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and change management skills
• Passion for food, world-class food knowledge
• Willingness to travel frequently across Texas

Why Central Market?

As part of the Partner-owned H-E-B family, Central Market offers the opportunity to lead with purpose, own your impact, and shape the future of culinary retail in Texas. If you are passionate about food, hospitality, and people-you'll thrive here.

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