Senior Director of Food Service - Central Market

Senior Director of Food Service

Lead Culinary Innovation. Inspire Teams. Elevate Experiences. At Central Market, we are not just in the business of foodwe 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 peopleyou'll thrive here.