Culinary Director / Catering Executive Chef - Charleston, South Carolina

This role leads all culinary production across multiple outlets, including large-scale off-premise catering, an exclusive event venue, and a retail market. The Culinary Director ensures smooth, profitable, and collaborative operations while maintaining the company’s reputation for excellence. This is a hands-on leadership role ideal for someone with a catering and events background who thrives in high-volume, logistics-driven environments.

• Lead, manage, and motivate the culinary team with clear communication and accountability.

• Oversee daily culinary operations across catering, retail, and venue outlets.

• Ensure consistent, high-quality food production for both on-site and off-site events, averaging 150+ guests per function.

• Partner with operations and sales to deliver seamless events and maximize profitability.

• Manage scheduling, staffing, and labor to align with financial targets.

• Control food and labor costs, inventory, and overall efficiency.

• Uphold sanitation, safety, and compliance standards.

• Support menu development and culinary innovation, balancing creativity with scalability and profitability.

• Train and develop staff, promoting growth, safety, and cross-functional knowledge.

• 8–10 years of progressive culinary experience, with a strong background in catering, hotels, or country clubs

• Strong background in off-premise catering a HUGE PLUS.

• 4+ years of supervisory/management experience leading diverse teams.

• Proven ability to collaborate with operations and sales for client satisfaction and profitability.

• Solid financial acumen: food costing, labor management, and budgeting.

• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to thrive in fast-paced, high-volume environments.

• Culinary degree preferred, but significant large-scale catering/banquet experience is essential.

• Hands-on chef with the ability to execute and lead by example.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel; experience with Caterease or inventory management systems a plus.

• Bonus opportunities

• 401(k) with company contributions

• Comprehensive health benefits

• Family-owned business with a supportive, family-oriented culture

• Creative freedom in menu development and event execution

With over 175 offices and 350 recruiters in the US and Canada, we have connections that build rewarding careers and grow great brands. Our franchisees and recruiters are here for you without boundary restrictions! Want to move to another state? Want to hire managers throughout North America? We are unique in that our franchisees can work the entire country while offering you one point of contact for all your needs whether you want to hire managers or look for a job in multiple states.

Our clients include nationwide and local restaurants, hotels, retail and grocery chains, assisted living facilities, hospitals, airport concourse outlets, spas, catering and wedding venues, casinos, companies that hire sales and customer service representatives and much more.

Patrice & Associates is the largest and most successful hospitality and retail Executive Search firm in North America and has been in business for more than 25 years. Over these years, we have honed our methods that make us stand apart from our competition.

To help hospitality industry leaders hire the best talent and help great talent find the best opportunities