What Drives Us: Our Core Values

At the heart of everything we do are five core values that shape our culture, guide our decisions, and keep us moving forward as a team. These aren't just words on a wall—they’re the standard we hold ourselves to every day.

1. Be Proud, Be Passionate

We believe great work starts with ownership and enthusiasm. We take pride in what we create—not just in the final product, but in how we get there. Every project is a chance to bring our best selves forward, to stand behind our work with confidence, and to let our passion drive innovation and excellence. We care deeply, and it shows.

2. Find the Good, Spread the Vibe

Positive energy creates momentum. We seek out what's working, celebrate wins (big and small), and uplift the people around us. Challenges come and go, but our attitude is what sets us apart. Whether we’re collaborating with teammates or serving customers, we lead with kindness, optimism, and the belief that every day is an opportunity to make someone’s day better.

3. Stay Curious

We never stop learning. Curiosity fuels our growth and keeps us adaptable in a world that’s constantly changing. We ask questions, dig deeper, and stay open to new ideas and perspectives. If there's a better way to do something, we want to find it. We embrace experimentation, welcome feedback, and strive to learn something new—every single day.

4. Respect Everyone, Respect Everything

Respect is the foundation of trust—and trust is the foundation of great teams. We listen before we speak. We value different viewpoints. We honor our commitments, treat people with dignity, and take care of the resources we’re given. Whether it’s a teammate’s time, a client’s business, or the planet we live on—we believe everything deserves thoughtful attention.

5. Get It Done

We show up with purpose and deliver with focus. When we say we’ll do something, we follow through—no excuses, no shortcuts. We believe in rolling up our sleeves, solving problems, and pushing through obstacles to make things happen. Results matter—but so does the grit, resourcefulness, and accountability it takes to get there.

Join Us

At the intersection of foodservice and innovation, you’ll find Culinary Depot—a company built on hard work, hands-on experience, and a relentless drive to serve. Founded by Sholem Potash in 1999 and expanded under CEO Michael Lichter, we’ve grown from a trusted equipment supplier into a full-service solution for commercial kitchens across the country.

Our mission is simple: deliver excellence to our customers and opportunity to our team. We’re passionate about what we do, and we believe that when our people thrive, our business thrives. Whether you're on the front lines or behind the scenes, your work matters here.

We’re proud of where we came from—and even more excited about where we’re going. If you're ready to grow with a company that values dedication, curiosity, and getting things done, we invite you to explore our open positions and apply today.

Director of Risk Management

Spring Valley, NY

Full Time

Entry Level

Culinary Depot is seeking a proactive, hands-on Director of Risk Management & Safety to lead company-wide risk reduction initiatives across workers' compensation, claims management, OSHA compliance, DOT compliance, fleet safety, warehouse safety, and operational risk.

This role will own the company's risk management strategy with a primary focus on reducing claim frequency and severity, improving EMR, minimizing litigation exposure, controlling insurance costs, and maintaining compliance across all operations.

The ideal candidate understands how safety programs, claims management, insurance costs, compliance, and operational execution work together to protect the company and improve financial performance.

Key Responsibilities

Workers' Compensation & Claims Management

Lead management of all workers' compensation claims from initial reporting through closure
Review claim reserves and work proactively to reduce unnecessary claim costs
Coordinate with insurance carriers, brokers, third-party administrators, attorneys, and medical providers
Conduct incident investigations and root-cause analysis
Develop return-to-work and modified-duty programs
Monitor claim trends and identify opportunities for loss reduction
Maintain detailed claim documentation and reporting

Risk Management & Insurance

Own company-wide risk management initiatives
Develop strategies to improve EMR and reduce insurance costs
Partner with insurance brokers and consultants during renewals and audits
Analyze loss runs and identify emerging risk trends
Monitor litigation exposure and assist in claim resolution efforts
Help ensure subcontractors meet insurance and safety requirements

Safety & Compliance

Oversee OSHA compliance across warehouse, retail, office, and field operations
Develop and maintain safety policies, procedures, and training programs
Conduct regular safety audits and inspections
Manage OSHA reporting requirements, including OSHA 300 logs
Ensure compliance with forklift certifications, equipment training, and required safety programs
Maintain accurate compliance records and documentation

Fleet & DOT Compliance

Manage driver compliance programs
Monitor CDL licenses, medical cards, and driver qualification files
Oversee vehicle inspection programs and maintenance compliance
Manage driver drug and alcohol testing programs, including random, post-accident, and reasonable suspicion testing
Ensure compliance with applicable DOT regulations
Analyze vehicle accident trends and implement corrective actions

Leadership & Continuous Improvement

Create accountability systems that promote a strong safety culture
Develop KPI reporting and risk dashboards for leadership
Identify opportunities to reduce operational risk across the organization
Stay current on OSHA, DOT, workers' compensation, and insurance industry developments

Immediate Priorities

Audit all open workers' compensation claims
Review claim reserves and outstanding exposure
Identify high-risk and high-cost claims
Strengthen injury reporting and incident investigation processes
Improve safety documentation and compliance tracking
Verify compliance of OSHA certifications, driver qualifications, and required training records
Build a proactive EMR improvement strategy
Enhance coordination between operations, brokers, insurance carriers, and claims teams

Qualifications

Required

Experience in risk management, safety management, workers' compensation, claims management, EHS, or a related field
Strong knowledge of workers' compensation claims administration
Experience managing OSHA compliance programs
Understanding of DOT regulations and fleet safety programs
Experience conducting incident investigations and root-cause analysis
Strong analytical and organizational skills
Ability to influence and drive accountability across departments

Preferred

Experience in distribution, logistics, transportation, construction, manufacturing, industrial, or warehouse environments
Experience improving EMR and reducing insurance costs
OSHA certifications
CSP, ARM, CRIS, ASP, CHST, or related certifications
Experience working directly with insurance brokers, carriers, and attorneys

What Success Looks Like

Reduced workers' compensation claim frequency and severity
Improved EMR performance
Lower insurance costs and claim exposure
Strong OSHA and DOT compliance
Reduced vehicle accidents and safety incidents
Improved return-to-work outcomes
Better visibility into company risk metrics and trends

Benefits

Competitive salary
Health benefits
Paid time off
Career growth opportunities
Opportunity to build and lead risk management strategy for a growing organization

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