Job Description
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.
Job Tags
Work experience placement, Seasonal work, Work at office,