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