Manager of Culinary Innovation

The Manager of Culinary Innovation is responsible for defining and implementing a culinary (protein and sous vide manufacturing and commercialization) vision, roadmap, and strategy that aligns with the company's overall objectives. Blends strategic thinking, market analysis, innovation, and leadership to ensure that all culinary efforts resonate with customers, drive competitive differentiation, and achieve financial targets. Demonstrate a strong aptitude for new concept development, process standardization, and quality. Champions workplace safety, food safety, HACCP and GMP programs, fostering a shared vision and strategy to achieve Operations Excellence.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Oversee culinary operations, including concept engineering, commercialization development initiatives, and monitoring market trends to forecast potential new products and enhance existing products. Apply seasoned culinary knowledge and deep operational expertise across multi-protein mixes by using a strong familiarity to reinforce the brand experience. Lead and maintain strategic initiatives that continue to evolve Colorado Premium’s culinary identity and ensure initiatives are compared in the context of the larger landscape of our competitors.
• Provides purchasing guidance, layout, and effective implementation of culinary equipment to support functionality and future innovation. Determines strategy and establishes short and long-term culinary innovation vision to support ongoing culinary innovation. Expertise in showcasing customer ideation and commercialization to drive culinary concepts, dishes, and techniques by researching ingredients, experimenting with flavors, and striving to push culinary boundaries.
• Work cross-functionally with Operations, Engineering, Finance, Supply Chain, Sales, and R&D on the timely and effective integration of plant line expansions, extensions, and automation efforts in all facilities. Proactively partners to frame out all cross-functional projects from R&D product specification development to commercialization. Provide tactical and strategic culinary guidance, strategic product development, recipe ideation, and final commercialization validation. Participate in regular customer (current and potential) visits, industry events, and production facilities.
• Responsible for maintaining comprehensive documentation of all data, identifying potential areas for improvement, and optimizing production strategies and processes to increase efficiency while upholding product excellence. Possesses excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, to effectively convey culinary concepts, provide clear instructions, and build strong relationships with both internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Expertise in introducing innovative culinary concepts and techniques to enhance offerings and stay ahead in the industry. Facilitate product development and strategies by drawing on current and emerging culinary trends, and by continually assessing the evolving consumer needs and behaviors. Maintains a functional awareness of the effective product and price architecture for different customer products and affordability. Promote a strong food and innovation culture while keeping core values and food ethos a priority.
• Assesses the product life cycle relative to the evaluation or development of new products, reviewing existing products for continuation and managing the abandonment of non-profitable/low-margin items. Manage the Culinary budget, including responsibility for achieving EBITDA financial fiscal year objectives and setting high expectations for improvement in results. Use data to iterate and continuously enhance the culinary and brand experience.

Education/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree, 10 years’ culinary rotations in multi-unit restaurant organization and in manufacturing/supplier side development environment, preferably in a protein-related industry, including evidence of strategic and tactical expertise.
• Prior experience and expertise in the protein culinary development and advisory industry is required. Venture capital or private equity sector experience is beneficial.
• Proficient in MS Office Suite, and knowledge of industry productreporting systems.
• Ability to solve a wide range of complex,multi-disciplinary problems that must consider short and intermediate-term company-wide planning.
• Ability to deliver presentations regarding potentially controversial issues, which involve negotiation, and influence positive outcomes among groups of varying positions.
• Ability to improve existing systems or procedures that periodically result in innovative ideas or approaches of considerable significance.
• Travel – Up to 30% to meet with business partners, customers, vendors, and industry-related events.