Director of Culinary & Gastronomy Partnerships

Job Description

Director of Culinary & Gastronomy Partnerships

Location: Europe (Italy preferred) | Hybrid / Travel-heavy
Reports to: Chief Logistics Officer
Role Type: Full-time, senior individual contributor with budget authority

Role Overview

SiGMA is seeking a Director of Culinary & Gastronomy Partnerships to design, curate, and deliver a world-class food and wine experience across its flagship exhibitions — starting with SiGMA World (in Rome in November).

This role is not an operational catering position.
It is a relationship-driven, commercial and creative leadership role, responsible for securing Michelin-level chefs, elite regional food producers, and prestigious vineyards to activate SiGMA’s VIP lounges and premium experiences.

The successful candidate will bring an established personal network across:

• top-tier chefs and chef agents
• wine producers (especially Italy)
• speciality and protected-origin food producers (e.g. mozzarella, pizza, cured meats, olive oil)

You will act as the single point of authority for culinary partnerships globally, owning both strategy and execution.

Key Objectives

• Position SiGMA as a premium culinary destination, not just a conference
• Secure headline chefs to cook live in VIP lounges
• Curate regional Italian excellence (Tuscany, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, etc.)
• Create scalable food & wine concepts that can travel across SiGMA’s global events
• Build long-term partnerships, not one-off appearances

Key Responsibilities

1. Chef & Culinary Talent Acquisition

• Identify, negotiate, and contract Michelin-level chefs and high-profile culinary talent
• Manage relationships with:
  • chefs directly
  • chef agents
  • restaurant groups
  • hospitality PR representatives
• Structure multi-day chef engagements (teams, menus, equipment, logistics)
• Balance prestige with operational reality and ROI
  

2. Food & Wine Producer Partnerships

• Secure premium vineyards, wineries, and wine consortia (with strong focus on Italy)
• Onboard speciality food producers (e.g. mozzarella from Campania, pizza from Napoli, cured meats, cheeses, olive oils)
• Ensure all producers meet quality, scale, and brand standards

3. Culinary Concept Design

• Design VIP lounge food & wine concepts, including:
  • live cooking stations
  • regional showcases
  • chef-led moments
  • tasting and pairing experiences
• Work closely with Events, Logistics, and Commercial teams to ensure feasibility
• Adapt concepts for different geographies and cultures

4. Commercial & Strategic Alignment

• Collaborate with Sales and Sponsorship teams to:
  • integrate culinary activations into sponsorship packages
  • unlock co-funding from brands and producers
• Own culinary budgets and ensure cost discipline
• Deliver clear ROI: experience quality, PR value, attendee satisfaction

5. Industry Representation & Scouting

• Attend key culinary, food, and wine events globally to:
  • maintain relationships
  • scout new talent and producers
  • stay ahead of industry trends
• Act as SiGMA’s public culinary ambassador when required

Required Experience & Profile

Essential

• Senior experience (8–15+ years) in one or more of the following:
  • culinary expos or gastronomy congresses
  • chef representation / talent booking
  • high-end hospitality groups
  • premium food & wine events
• A proven personal network of chefs and producers (this will be tested in interview)
• Demonstrated experience negotiating:
  • appearance fees
  • hospitality logistics
  • multi-party commercial agreements
• Comfortable operating independently with authority and accountability
• Fluent English & Italian

Highly Desirable

• Former Programme Director / Partnerships Director / Culinary Curator
• Experience working with Michelin-starred chefs
• Deep knowledge of Italian regional food & wine ecosystems
• Experience building premium experiences for VIP or UHNW audiences