Tacombi is a fast-growing, omni-channel consumer and retail brand that is committed to globally sharing Mexican food and culture through hospitality experiences, CPG products, community outreach and digital content. Over the next couple years, we’ll be significantly expanding our footprint across the U.S., which means we are going to hire a lot of people and each one of them needs to uphold our brand promise, embody our core values and always extend Mexican Hospitality – Tacombi’s unique service culture – to our growing customer and employee bases.
The Culinary Director at Tacombi plays a pivotal role in bringing Mexico's vibrant culinary traditions to life, creating a deep connection between guests and the richness of Mexico through its food. This leader drives innovation in Mexican regional cooking, ensures flawless execution of our authentic offerings, and upholds Tacombi's sourcing philosophy by working closely with partners to secure the highest quality ingredients. Expertise in nixtamalization and tortilla-making is integral to this role, reflecting our commitment to sharing the soul of Mexican cuisine through exceptional food.
This position oversees kitchen innovation, develops best-in-class, scalable back-of-house operations, ensures operational safety, and collaborates with the Leadership Team to deliver exceptional food quality, flavor, and efficiency.
Key Responsibilities:
Menu Innovation & Execution:
- Develop and execute innovative menu items rooted in the diversity of Mexican regional cooking, honoring Tacombi’s mission to share authentic Mexican culinary traditions.
- Oversee food production to ensure high standards of flavor, quality, and presentation.
- Partner with the Leadership Team to design new dishes and Limited Time Offers (LTOs) while promoting these offerings effectively.
- Standardize recipes and preparation methods to ensure consistency across locations, highlighting authentic techniques and ingredients.
- Collaborate with trusted partners to source the finest ingredients, reinforcing Tacombi’s commitment to quality and sustainability.
- Conduct tastings and workshops to train and inspire the kitchen team in authentic culinary techniques.
Team Leadership & Development:
- Mentor taqueria leaders to cultivate a culture of culinary excellence and passion for authentic Mexican cuisine.
- Design and implement training programs emphasizing leadership, operational readiness, and technical skills in regional Mexican cooking.
- Prepare teams for inspections and ensure adherence to high safety and sanitation standards.
Operational Excellence:
- Oversee daily kitchen operations to maximize efficiency, consistency, and productivity.
- Partner with the Leadership Team to achieve labor and COGS targets in alignment with P&L goals.
- Implement waste reduction strategies, optimizing ingredient utilization while preserving flavor and authenticity.
- Ensure proper maintenance of kitchen equipment and management of inventory needs.
Qualifications:
- 5+ years of culinary leadership, ideally in multi-location settings, with proven expertise in Mexican regional cooking and tortilla-making.
- Bilingual in English and Spanish (required).
- Effective leadership and mentoring skills, with a focus on cultivating culinary excellence and operational precision.
- Solid business acumen, including experience managing P&L, labor, and inventory.
- Excellent organizational, communication, and project management abilities.
- Adaptable to a fast-paced, evolving environment with a collaborative and inspiring approach.
- 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!
Tacombi offers equal opportunities to all applicants, and we are committed to supporting diversity, equity and inclusion. We aim to hire, develop and retain top employees through structured processes that reduce bias and promote equity and belonging.
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What We Do
Tacombi started in 2006 on the sand-dusted streets of Playa Del Carmen with a converted taco-serving bus and a dream to share Mexico with the world. We opened our first taqueria in a downtown garage in New York in 2010, and also started producing our own authentic, traditional “Vista Hermosa” tortilla products to preserve and share the flavors of Mexico. We have continued to share Mexican taco culture through neighborhood taquerias across New York, Washington DC and Miami and offer our Vista Hermosa products through stores across the country.
As Tacombi opens kitchens in new cities, we have committed to grow our nonprofit The Tacombi Foundation and The Tacombi Community Kitchen, which was established to fight food insecurity and provide food relief for those in need.
