Culinary Director

The Culinary Director at Tacombi is responsible for connecting our guests to Mexico through its food. The director is a key leader focused on enhancing our culinary offerings and ensuring flawless menu execution across all locations. This role drives kitchen innovation, develops best in class and scalable back-of-house operations, upholds our sourcing philosophy, ensures operational safety practices and collaborates with the Leadership Team to achieve exceptional food quality, flavor and efficiency.

Key Responsibilities:

Menu Innovation & Execution:

• Develop and execute innovative menu items that reflect culinary trends and guest feedback while honoring Tacombi’s mission to share authentic Mexican culinary traditions.
• Oversee food production to ensure high standards of flavor, quality, and presentation.
• Collaborate with the Leadership Team on new dishes and Limited Time Offers (LTOs), promoting these initiatives effectively.
• Standardize recipes and preparation methods for consistency across locations.
• Lead tastings and workshops to train the kitchen team.
• Define and uphold the Tacombi sourcing philosophy

Team Leadership & Development:

• Mentor taqueria leaders to foster a culture of culinary excellence.
• Implement training programs to enhance leadership skills and operational readiness.
• Ensure teams are prepared for inspections and maintain high safety standards.

Operational Excellence:

• Manage daily kitchen operations for efficiency and productivity.
• Collaborate with the Leadership Team to meet labor and COGS targets, aligning with P&L goals.
• Implement waste reduction strategies and optimize resource use.
• Maintain kitchen equipment and manage inventory needs.

Qualifications:

• 5+ years of culinary leadership, ideally in multi-location settings.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish (required).
• Strong team leadership and mentoring skills, with a focus on culinary excellence.
• Solid business acumen with experience in P&L, labor, and inventory management.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and project management skills.
• Adaptable to a fast-paced, changing environment.
• Knowledge of restaurant operations, health, and safety standards.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and restaurant management software.
• Strong relationship-building skills; collaborative and inspiring.
• Passionate about hospitality, culture, and the Tacombi brand—especially tacos!