Director of Culinary
Idle Hour Country Club, Lexington, KY, United States
Director of Culinary
Executive Culinary Systems Leader
Idle Hour Country Club — Lexington, Kentucky
Reports to:
Clubhouse Manager, General Manager / COO
Apply below after reading through all the details and supporting information regarding this job opportunity.
About Idle Hour- Founded in 1946, Idle Hour Country Club is a private, member-owned club defined by tradition, hospitality, and multi-generational community. As we enter an exciting new chapter — including a major kitchen renovation — we are seeking a senior culinary leader to help architect the next evolution of our dining experience.
Position Overview- The Director of Culinary is Idle Hour’s senior culinary authority and systems leader. This is an executive-level leadership role focused on building standards, mentoring culinary leadership, and designing the operating frameworks that deliver timing, quality, and consistency at scale across all culinary venues. This is not a daily line position.
It is a leadership, architecture, and continuity role.
The Director of Culinary partners closely with the Executive Chef, F&B leadership, and General Manager to ensure culinary excellence is not dependent on any one person — but built into the system itself.
Core Responsibilities- Culinary Systems Leadership Serve as the Club’s senior culinary authority and standards architect Design and maintain culinary operating systems that ensure consistency, accountability, and quality across all outlets Establish final quality control and substitution governance standards Build, document, and evolve operating frameworks that protect the member experience Leadership Development & Continuity Mentor the Executive Chef, Sous Chefs, and culinary leadership team Build succession pipelines and leadership bench strength Develop training frameworks, standards documentation, and accountability loops Serve as the continuity backstop — fully capable of stepping into kitchen leadership when required Renovation-Phase Architecture Design and oversee interim operating models during the renovation phase Architect temporary production, menu tiering, labor, and service continuity frameworks Partner with FOH leadership to control guest expectations and protect experience during construction Menu & Culinary Direction Partner with the Executive Chef to guide menu architecture, innovation, and seasonal planning Ensure recipe standardization, plating consistency, and production timing discipline Support signature dining experiences, tastings, and culinary programming Financial & Operational Stewardship Provide strategic oversight of food cost controls, labor architecture, and waste management Partner with Finance on budgeting, purchasing strategies, and inventory governance Protect operational efficiency and accountability across all culinary cost centers Cross-Departmental Partnership Partner with FOH, Events, and Membership leadership to align pacing, execution, and member recovery Monitor Dining Experience Survey feedback and ensure structural corrective action loops Support committee and Board communication as a culinary systems leader
Success Profile- The ideal candidate is: A systems thinker who designs operations rather than merely managing shifts A leadership multiplier who develops people and protects standards Calm, structured, and decisive Comfortable in executive-level accountability environments xsgimln Energized by building something lasting
Qualifications- 10+ years of progressive culinary leadership experience in private clubs, luxury hospitality, or fine dining Demonstrated success in building culinary systems, mentoring leaders, and driving consistency at scale Strong financial acumen in food cost, labor architecture, and purchasing strategy Able to step into kitchen leadership when continuity requires ACF or comparable certification preferred Experience with Jonas or similar systems a plus Deep appreciation for tradition, hospitality, and member-first culture
Compensation & Benefits- Competitive salary commensurate with experience Annual performance bonus tied to KPIs Full benefits package (health, dental, vision, 401(k)) Relocation assistance negotiable Continuing education and professional development support
To Apply Interested candidates should submit a résumé and brief cover letter to:
Chris Kennedy, CCM General Manager / COO
Clubhouse Manager, General Manager / COO
Apply below after reading through all the details and supporting information regarding this job opportunity.
About Idle Hour- Founded in 1946, Idle Hour Country Club is a private, member-owned club defined by tradition, hospitality, and multi-generational community. As we enter an exciting new chapter — including a major kitchen renovation — we are seeking a senior culinary leader to help architect the next evolution of our dining experience.
Position Overview- The Director of Culinary is Idle Hour’s senior culinary authority and systems leader. This is an executive-level leadership role focused on building standards, mentoring culinary leadership, and designing the operating frameworks that deliver timing, quality, and consistency at scale across all culinary venues. This is not a daily line position.
It is a leadership, architecture, and continuity role.
The Director of Culinary partners closely with the Executive Chef, F&B leadership, and General Manager to ensure culinary excellence is not dependent on any one person — but built into the system itself.
Core Responsibilities- Culinary Systems Leadership Serve as the Club’s senior culinary authority and standards architect Design and maintain culinary operating systems that ensure consistency, accountability, and quality across all outlets Establish final quality control and substitution governance standards Build, document, and evolve operating frameworks that protect the member experience Leadership Development & Continuity Mentor the Executive Chef, Sous Chefs, and culinary leadership team Build succession pipelines and leadership bench strength Develop training frameworks, standards documentation, and accountability loops Serve as the continuity backstop — fully capable of stepping into kitchen leadership when required Renovation-Phase Architecture Design and oversee interim operating models during the renovation phase Architect temporary production, menu tiering, labor, and service continuity frameworks Partner with FOH leadership to control guest expectations and protect experience during construction Menu & Culinary Direction Partner with the Executive Chef to guide menu architecture, innovation, and seasonal planning Ensure recipe standardization, plating consistency, and production timing discipline Support signature dining experiences, tastings, and culinary programming Financial & Operational Stewardship Provide strategic oversight of food cost controls, labor architecture, and waste management Partner with Finance on budgeting, purchasing strategies, and inventory governance Protect operational efficiency and accountability across all culinary cost centers Cross-Departmental Partnership Partner with FOH, Events, and Membership leadership to align pacing, execution, and member recovery Monitor Dining Experience Survey feedback and ensure structural corrective action loops Support committee and Board communication as a culinary systems leader
Success Profile- The ideal candidate is: A systems thinker who designs operations rather than merely managing shifts A leadership multiplier who develops people and protects standards Calm, structured, and decisive Comfortable in executive-level accountability environments xsgimln Energized by building something lasting
Qualifications- 10+ years of progressive culinary leadership experience in private clubs, luxury hospitality, or fine dining Demonstrated success in building culinary systems, mentoring leaders, and driving consistency at scale Strong financial acumen in food cost, labor architecture, and purchasing strategy Able to step into kitchen leadership when continuity requires ACF or comparable certification preferred Experience with Jonas or similar systems a plus Deep appreciation for tradition, hospitality, and member-first culture
Compensation & Benefits- Competitive salary commensurate with experience Annual performance bonus tied to KPIs Full benefits package (health, dental, vision, 401(k)) Relocation assistance negotiable Continuing education and professional development support
To Apply Interested candidates should submit a résumé and brief cover letter to:
Chris Kennedy, CCM General Manager / COO