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