Culinary Experience Manager

Position: Culinary Experience Manager

Reports to: Director of Social Enterprise and Initiatives

FLSA Classification: Exempt

Direct Reports: None

Salary Range: $70,000-$75,000

Key Relationships: Director of Social Enterprise and Initiatives, Line Cooks, Executive Director, Chief Development Officer, Chief Operations Officer, Chief Program Officer, Accounting and Finance Team, Vendors, Manager of Recruitment and Program Delivery, Manager of Employer and Strategic Partnerships, Culinary Manager, Culinary and Operations Associate, Fellows, Graduates.

Drive Change Foods is a mission-driven food truck and catering company that transforms lives through the power of hospitality. We create exceptional culinary experiences while providing meaningful employment and professional development for young people impacted by the justice system.Rooted in the belief that everyone deserves a second chance, we serve bold, seasonal, and locally sourced food with purpose. Every plate we serve helps fund reentry support, skills training, and economic mobility for our community—reimagining what justice and service can look like, one meal at a time.

OUR VALUES:

Education: I am committed to my own growth and education. I commit to learning about the issues, systems, historical and current, that affect the food system and American Legal System.

Innovation: I continually look for ways to approach our work through innovation and creativity. I bring new ideas, question the status quo and am committed to being part of the solution.

Hospitality: I approach all members of our DC community with care, empathy and a desire to connect and meet them where they are at.

Courage: I am committed to taking action in order to center equity and justice in our work and collective mission.

Collective Accountability: I give and ask for feedback consistently and with an open mind. I understand that feedback is a gift and investment in personal and professional growth. I hold myself and others accountable to our values.

About the Role

You are more than a chef: you are a mentor, role model, and leader for young adults launching their culinary careers. At Drive Change, our mission is the essential ingredient in everything we do. As the Culinary Experience Manager, you bring that mission to life in the kitchen each day, using food as a tool for transformation, skill-building, and justice. Your leadership fuels not only culinary excellence but also lasting impact in the lives of the young people and communities we serve.

We’re seeking a dynamic chef with financial savvy to lead the culinary vision and kitchen operations of our dynamic, values-driven company. This is a rare opportunity for a mission-aligned culinary leader to help build a high-performing food business while training and uplifting the next generation of hospitality leaders.

The Culinary Experience Manager will be responsible for developing and executing menus for our catering and food truck operations, managing food and labor budgets, leading kitchen operations, and building a collaborative, nurturing environment for our alumni staff (all justice-involved). The role reports to the Director of Social Enterprise and Initiatives and works in close collaboration with the Executive Director and Chief Development Officer to ensure culinary excellence and social impact go hand-in-hand.

Key Responsibilities

Culinary Leadership & Menu Development

• Develop creative, cost-effective, seasonal menus for both catering and food truck operations.
• Test, refine, and document recipes with attention to scale, sourcing, and execution.
• Ensure consistent quality, presentation, and taste across all offerings.
• Infuse every menu with purpose, using food as a vehicle for social change, skill-building, and storytelling that reflects Drive Change’s mission.

Kitchen, Financial and Operational Management

• Oversee day-to-day kitchen operations, including prep, service, sanitation, and safety protocols.
• Develop and manage annual and project-based food budgets in collaboration with the Director of Social Enterprise and Initiatives, Chief Operating Officer, and finance team.
• Manage inventory, ordering, and vendor relationships to ensure cost-effective, sustainable purchasing.
• Track and analyze food and labor costs, ensuring alignment with financial targets and social enterprise sustainability goals.
• Implement systems for cost control, inventory management, and vendor accountability.
• Regularly review P&L reports and contribute to forecasting and pricing strategy for catering and food truck operations.
• Operate with a dual bottom line: ensuring strong financial outcomes while creating a consistent, empowering learning environment for young adults in the kitchen.

Team Leadership & Training

• Lead, train, and inspire a kitchen team composed of Drive Change alumni: young adults who are building their professional experience.
• Provide direct supervision, mentorship, and culinary instruction in partnership with program and operations staff.
• Foster an inclusive, healing-centered kitchen culture that balances accountability with compassion.
• Model professional growth, emotional intelligence, and leadership — showing young people that the kitchen is a place where their potential can rise.

Cross-Departmental Collaboration

• Collaborate with the Director of Social Enterprise and Initiatives on business strategy, operations, and workforce planning.
• Work alongside the fellowship, culinary, and operations teams to support hiring pipelines for graduates.
• Partner with the Development team to support fundraising and storytelling through food.
• Participate in organizational events, activations, and community-building efforts as needed.
• Serve as an ambassador of our mission by connecting culinary work with larger organizational goals and showing how every dish contributes to transformation.

Skills & Attributes Needed:

• 3+ years of experience as an Executive Chef or Sous Chef in a high-volume or catering environment.
• Proven ability to manage food and labor budgets, cost out menus, and hit margin targets.
• Experience leading, mentoring, and training young people or nontraditional employees.
• Strong alignment with Drive Change’s mission of food justice, racial equity, and restorative opportunity.
• Excellent communication, time management, and leadership skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving nonprofit environment.
• A "No task is too big or too small" mentality and positive attitude
• Demonstrated ability for thoroughness, attention to detail, and good judgment
• Willingness and readiness for working with an early stage, small company
• Passionate about food and hospitality, reimagining criminal justice, and building ethical food systems
• NYC Food Handlers Certificate (or willing to obtain within 30 days).
• Mobile Food Vending Permit (or willing to obtain within 30 days).
• Pallet jack certification preferred (or willing to obtain within 30 days).
• Drivers license required.
• Experience launching or scaling food trucks, pop-ups, or catering operations preferred.

Work Schedule:

This position is a full-time, in person position. Evenings and weekends are required with comp time provided. The office location for this position is Brooklyn, New York.

BENEFITS

• Competitive Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life insurance with employer contributions
• Access to Employee Assistance Program, including therapy and family planning
• Unlimited Paid Time Off
• Parental Leave
• 401K plan
• Professional development opportunities
• Family meal provided most days

Requirements to Apply:

To apply to the Executive Chef role, please submit the following to people@drivechangenyc.org:

• Resume
• In lieu of a cover letter, answers to the following questions:
  • What aspects of this role are you most motivated by and why?
  • How does your personal and/or professional experience contribute to your commitment to working towards racial and economic justice for the young people that we serve? How specifically will it contribute to this role's expectations in stewarding others in their own process?
  • What does the Drive Change tagline, "Reimagine Justice, Reimagine Service" mean to you?
  • Describe your approach to creating a high-performing, inclusive kitchen culture. How do you balance accountability, mentorship, and healing-centered leadership when working with a team of young people with diverse life experiences?

Drive Change is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, or current employment status.

Drive Change values diverse experiences, including with regards to educational background and justice system involvement. We depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission.