Culinary Operations Lead, Ukraine

The Culinary Operations Lead is a key leadership position within WCK’s Ukraine response, responsible for overseeing all culinary operations and ensuring the delivery of high-quality meals that meet WCK’s standards. This individual will serve as the primary liaison for our network of Restaurant Partners, fostering strong relationships, mentoring partners in scaling production to meet demand while maintaining quality, and ensuring strict adherence to food safety standards.

The Culinary Operations Lead is a six (6) month term contract position with the opportunity for renewal, offering a unique chance to lead and shape WCK's responses. This role involves extensive travel across Ukraine, requiring the ability to visit restaurant partners and relief sites without restriction, including occasional supervised visits to areas within 20km of the frontline. To apply, you must be exempt from military conscription.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Partner Management:

• Act as the primary point of contact for WCK's network of Restaurant Partners.
• Foster and maintain strong relationships with partners, providing mentorship and support in producing large-scale, high-quality meals.
• Ensure partners consistently meet WCK’s food safety, sanitation, and meal quality standards.

Culinary Oversight:

• Develop, implement, and update culturally appropriate culinary standards and meal definitions tailored to regional needs.
• Monitor meal quality, portion sizes, and food safety through regular visits and reports.
• Work alongside partners during activations to provide hands-on support and feedback.

Emergency Response & Activations:

• Support activations by onboarding new restaurant partners and ensuring they quickly align with WCK standards.
• Provide culinary oversight during crisis responses to maintain quality and consistency.

Community Kitchen Development:

• Support efforts to establish sustainable community kitchens, to include planning, setup, and long-term operational guidance.

Collaboration & Communication:

• Coordinate with regional and country leads, security teams, and other departments to ensure smooth operations.
• Provide regular updates and insights to leadership, sharing feedback and recommendations for continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Leadership experience in culinary operations, with a strong understanding of food safety regulations.
• Professional culinary background, ideally with experience mentoring teams or managing large-scale kitchen operations.
• Fluent in Ukrainian and English, with excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to travel extensively within Ukraine without restrictions.

Attributes:

• Positive, adaptable, and committed to excellence in food safety and quality.
• Resilient and comfortable working in high-pressure, fast-paced environments.

Reports to: Ukraine Response Director (direct), Sr. Mgr. Culinary Operations (indirect)

Duration: Six (6) month contract terms with option to renew

Location(s): Ukraine-based remote, with frequent travel to active relief sites throughout Ukraine.

Contract Type: We are excited to offer an opportunity for Culinary Operations Lead, Ukraine in partnership with TCW Global. The successful candidate will be contracted by TCW Global which will handle all HR-related processes, including payroll, benefits, and compliance, while the employee will work directly with World Central Kitchen to fulfill the job responsibilities.

As a contractor of TCW Global you will receive the benefits and support of a dedicated HR team, ensuring a seamless experience while you contribute to the mission of World Central Kitchen.

WCK is an ambitious, fast-paced, entrepreneurial organization. Working at WCK often requires long and nontraditional hours. Everyone's role is to directly or indirectly feed people with urgency when disasters strike – even on weekends and holidays. Please review our North Star and if this approach resonates with you, we welcome your application.

Benefits

Why Join Us?

Innovative Environment: Be part of a forward-thinking team that values creativity and innovation.

Global Impact: Your work will have a direct impact on building a diverse and talented global team.

Professional Growth: Opportunities for continuous learning and career development.

Dynamic Team: Work with a supportive and enthusiastic team that values collaboration and fun.

If you’re ready to bring your unique talents to a role that’s as challenging as it is rewarding, we’d love to hear from you. Apply today and let’s build the future of World Central Kitchen together!

WCK is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Join us in being a part of WCK's global talent journey!

Salary: 3,156,116 - 3,574,432 UAH/year (gross), Depends on Experience