Culinary Experience Manager

Overview

Join to apply for the Culinary Experience Manager role at DRIVE CHANGE, INC.

Position : Chef (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, Innovation, Hospitality, Courage, Collective Accountability. These values guide our work and culture.

About the Role

You are more than a chef : you are a mentor, role model, and leader for young adults launching their culinary careers. Our mission is the essential ingredient in everything we do. As the Chef (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 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 Chef (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.
• 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.
• 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

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

How to Apply

To apply to the Chef (Culinary Experience Manager) role, you apply directly through our website at DriveChangeNYC.org, or copy and paste the following link : https : / / wkf.ms / 4pDWPOw

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 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.

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