Culinary R&D Training Manager
$114,000–$134,000 year
On-siteLos Angeles, California, United States
Job Summary
Operationalize R&D output by converting certified recipes into executable playbooks with prep sequences, station setups, and timing logic. Build and run training programs that design curricula, conduct initial kitchen training for new menu launches, and establish ongoing certification systems. Monitor live KPI dashboards across all locations to surface performance drift early, then decide whether to deploy on-site, escalate, or coach remotely. Field diagnose underperforming kitchens using a clear diagnostic framework to identify root causes, design corrective plans, and execute them with teams. Close the loop by updating playbooks and training notes after every intervention to ensure the system improves. Own kitchen readiness by partnering with Kitchen Ops to ensure operational preparedness before go-live for new brands or menus. Partner with R&D on scaled recipe tests and productization reviews to validate real-world execution.
Required Qualifications
- 2+ years in food operations
- multi-unit management
- culinary ops consulting
- QSR/fast-casual ops leadership background
- Personally run or overseen high-volume kitchens
- Strong analytical instincts
- Comfortable reading performance data (ratings, COGS, ticket times, waste reports)
- drawing real operational conclusions from it
- diagnosing what they mean on the floor
- Training background
- built or run training programs before
- know how to transfer standards to a team and make them stick
- Systems builder
- write playbooks people actually use
- build SOPs that survive the Friday night rush
- Willingness to travel and deploy
- on-site presence in kitchens when the data calls for it
- Calm under pressure
- Clear head
- diagnostic process
- ability to get a team to trust you fast
- Scrappy and self-directed
- don't need a big team or big budget to be effective
- good data
- good recipes
- mandate to make things work
Desired Qualifications
- Familiarity with digital-first / ghost kitchen / delivery-only kitchen operations
- Experience with kitchen tech platforms (KDS, POS, ordering systems)
- comfort interpreting operations data at a system level
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