Culinary Development Manager
$135,000–$155,000 year
On-site · Walnut Creek, California, United States
Job Summary
Culinary Development Manager at Kinder’s based in Walnut Creek, CA. Lead the culinary development of new flavor profiles and products for assigned segments, translating consumer insights and market trends into differentiated concepts. Develop and iterate recipes from bench-top prototypes to scalable formulations ready for scale-up and transition to R&D/Product Development. Ensure formulations meet flavor, quality, and regulatory standards; support internal tastings, benchmarking, and readiness for commercialization. Partner with Innovation, Product Development, and Commercialization; collaborate with Culinary Operations, Sourcing, and R&D/PD to evaluate ingredients and qualification. Maintain detailed documentation, ensure food safety compliance, and contribute to a highly organized culinary environment. May support customer-facing culinary initiatives and product demos. Requires 5+ years culinary experience, a bachelor's degree (preferred), and ServSafe certification (or ability to obtain). Location is Walnut Creek, CA with periodic travel; salary range $135,000–$155,000 per year. Benefits and company culture emphasize collaboration, growth, and a balance between office presence and flexibility.
Required Qualifications
- 5+ years of professional culinary experience (restaurant, catering, or CPG/product development environments preferred)
- Bachelor’s degree in culinary arts, food science, or related field preferred (or equivalent hands-on experience)
- Strong understanding of flavor systems, ingredient functionality, and food processing fundamentals
- Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, high variability environment
- Experience developing recipes from concept through execution, with attention to consistency and scalability
- Familiarity with ingredient sourcing, efficient kitchen operations, and inventory management
- Strong understanding of food safety principals and regulatory basics
- ServSafe certification required (or ability to obtain within 60 days)
- Strong communication skills with ability to collaborate effectively across functions
Apply with one swipe on Sorce. We auto-fill applications and apply on your behalf — no cover letters, no 40-minute forms.
Hiring someone like this?
Get your role in front of qualified candidates on Sorce.