Director of Operations & Procurement

ABOUT US

Rethink Food is a chef-led nonprofit partnering with restaurants to better feed communities.
Through strong partnerships with local restaurants and community-based organizations, we work with a responsive, hyperlocal network that provides culturally celebrated, nutritious meals. Since 2017, we've served over 30 million meals and reinvested more than $142 million into local economies.

Our work falls into three core areas:

• Building the Network: We connect restaurants, community-based organizations, and food donors to deliver meals where they’re needed most.
  
  
• Setting the Example: Through our Sustainable Community Kitchen, we demonstrate what dignified, community-centered food access can look like.
  
  
• Advocating for Change: We champion policy and systems change to create a more sustainable, equitable food future for all.

ROLE SUMMARY

We are seeking a Director of Culinary Operations and Procurement who combines an elite culinary background with rigorous supply chain strategy. The ideal candidate has transitioned from high-caliber restaurant leadership into dedicated procurement and operations roles. You will partner with our kitchen team by building efficient operational culinary systems and standards. You will also lead procurement efforts, leveraging a trusted network of growers and purveyors to further Rethink’s mission to provide culturally celebrated meals to communities facing food insecurity.

In our agile environment, your role extends beyond core duties – it's an invitation to amplify your influence. You'll be expected to proactively leverage your diverse talents, contributing across a variety of initiatives to directly achieve our shared objectives.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Collaborate with the Culinary Team: Identify daily and seasonal procurement needs, balance inventory, and source ingredients that align with menu development. 
• Premium Purveyor Relations: Cultivate, maintain, and expand relationships with local farms, regional growers, and culinary purveyors.
• Contract & Price Negotiation: Lead negotiations for supplier contracts, secure volume discounts, and set strict quality, consistency, and delivery agreements. 
• Agile Budget Management: Monitor global supply chains, seasonal agricultural shifts, and market price fluctuations to protect operational budgets while maintaining high ingredient standards.
• Operational Systems Design: Build out, implement, and maintain robust standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure the kitchen runs seamlessly, efficiently, and predictably. 
• Sanitation & Efficiency Standards: Establish systems, schedules, and accountability loops that ensure the culinary team is working clean, organized, and in strict compliance with the highest food safety and sanitation standards. 
• Cross-Functional Bridge: Act as the strategic link between the kitchen floor, logistics, and finance to align ingredient sourcing with yield tracking, waste reduction, and community meal execution.
• Tech Stack Integration: Oversee modern inventory and procurement software to automate ordering, minimize waste, and generate clear food cost and operational data reporting.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience on the line or in kitchen leadership (e.g., Sous Chef, Chef de Cuisine) within Michelin-starred, fine dining, or luxury hospitality operations is preferred.
• 3+ years of subsequent, dedicated experience in a procurement, purchasing, or operations leadership role where you built internal logistics or kitchen systems.
• A proven, active, and reliable rolodex of premium farm contacts, boutique food distributors, and specialized culinary purveyors.
• A strong track record of designing workflow systems and enforcing strict kitchen cleanliness/organization protocols.
• Ability to work in a clean, organized, and efficient manner in a high-pressure environment.
• Flexible and have a strong ability to problem solve.
• Must have excellent knife skills and proficiency in all aspects of cooking.
• Ability to work independently, proactively, and resourcefully
• Must embrace the mission and core values of Rethink Food
• Must be able to stand, bend, stretch, lift and carry heavy materials up to 50 lbs

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE: Commitment to embodying our values of -

Inventiveness: At our core, we are relentlessly curious about solving problems. As our name suggests, we’re a team of creative thinkers, but we’re also hands-on doers, challenging norms with humility to find practical solutions that can create lasting change.

Vulnerability: Guided by an “always be better” mindset, we are a team that intentionally reflects on what we are doing well and where we need to improve. We hold ourselves and each other accountable, every day. No blame, no shame — we just want to be sure we’re always doing the right thing.

Thoughtfulness: Our vision for a nourished and thriving world starts with nourished and thriving individuals in each of our communities. Our work is centered on the needs of the people that bring our communities to life. We don’t pretend to have all of the answers. We are committed to listening and learning in order to identify and scale solutions that ensure stable and reliable access to healthy food for all so each and every community can thrive.

Kindness: At Rethink, we show up every day with empathy and compassion and believe everyone should be treated with dignity. Kindness goes a long way — we are all about just being kind

EEO STATEMENT

Rethink Food is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender (including gender identity or expression), pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual orientation, marital status, domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking victim status, ancestry, national origin, alienage or citizenship, age, disability, military or veteran status, genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristic, or other protected status. The organization is an Equal Opportunity Employer, drug-free workplace, and complies with ADA regulations as applicable.