Task Force Culinary Director/Executive Chef at OTO Development – Spartanburg, South Carolina

We are pleased to announce a wonderful opportunity for a Task Force Culinary Director/Task Force Executive Chef

Position Summary:

The Task Force Culinary Director/Executive Chef is a senior, hands-on culinary leader responsible for driving culinary excellence, operational consistency, and financial performance across a portfolio of hotels with varying food and beverage concepts. This role provides on-site task force leadership during hotel openings, renovations, brand conversions, leadership transitions, performance turnarounds, and special projects.

Operating as both a strategic Culinary Director and an embedded Executive Chef, this individual partners closely with Operations, Development, Design, Finance and Brand teams to elevate culinary programming while ensuring brand compliance, cost control, food safety, and exceptional guest experiences.

Key Responsibilities

Task Force Leadership & Deployment

• Deploy to properties as needed to support hotel openings, re-openings, renovations, leadership gaps, and operational recoveries.
• Serve as an interim Executive Chef when required, leading daily kitchen operations and culinary teams.
• Stabilize culinary operations quickly and establish sustainable systems and standards.

Culinary Strategy & Concept Development

• Develop, refine, and execute culinary concepts aligned with brand standards, market demand, and financial goals.
• Collaborate with Development and Design teams on kitchen layout, equipment selection, and workflow optimization.
• Lead menu development for restaurants, banquets, lounges, and special outlets.

Operational Excellence & Financial Performance

• Drive food cost, labor efficiency, and overall profitability while maintaining high-quality standards.
• Establish and enforce SOPs for kitchen operations, purchasing, inventory, production, and sanitation.
• Analyze financial performance and implement corrective action plans as needed.
• Conduct kitchen training, tastings, and mock services to ensure operational readiness.

Talent Development & Leadership

• Recruit, train, mentor, and develop Executive Chefs and culinary leadership teams across the portfolio.
• Build strong kitchen cultures focused on accountability, teamwork, safety, and professional growth with the Guiding Principles of OTO Development at the center.
• Identify high-potential culinary talent and support succession planning.

Quality Assurance & Stakeholder Engagement

• Partner with Regional and Property-level Operations, Sales, and Events teams to support group, banquet, and catering success.
• Support sales initiatives with menu development, tastings and client engagement as needed.
• Serve as a culinary ambassador for the company with ownership groups, brand partners, and external stakeholders.

What are the requirements for this position?

• You have a four-year college degree with a major in Hospitality Management, business, culinary arts or related field.
• You have prior experience as an Executive Chef or Culinary Director preferrable in a hotel environment.
• Food Handler certification and TIPS certification
• Experience with all aspects of restaurant, banquet, catering, culinary, bar operations. Proven systems knowledge and experience with a restaurant POS.
• You must be a dedicated self-starter with a strong attention to detail and you must work well independently and as part of a team.
• You must be able to communicate clearly and effectively in a professional business environment both verbally and in writing.

Physical Requirements for this Position

You must be able to walk and stand for extended periods of time as the job dictates.

Travel Requirements

This position requires up to 100% travel. Travel is outside the local area and overnight

About OTO Development

OTO Development is an industry-leading hotel development and management company. Partnering with the strongest brands in hospitality, OTO owns and operates a portfolio of upscale select service, extended stay, and lifestyle hotels in key markets across the United States.

OTO has been honored as Developer of the Year by major brand partners multiple times while also earning accolades for outstanding guest service, operational excellence, community service, sales, marketing, and revenue success.

Our company provides competitive pay and benefit programs, including medical insurance options, dental and vision insurance, 401k with company match, company provided life insurance, tuition assistance, paid time off, paid holiday time, travel discounts, and more.

Revised 1/22/26