Culinary Innovation Manager

Kellanova • Chicago, IL

41d • Hybrid

About The Position

Are you a passionate chef, looking to apply your culinary expertise and creativity behind some iconic brands? Join our team as a Culinary Innovation Manager. Provide strategic culinary leadership across diverse customer segments in our Away From Home (AFH) organization. Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to drive product activation, inspire customer excitement, and deliver back-of-house solutions featuring our brands. The is a hybrid role based out of Battle Creek, MI. There may be flexibility for individuals located in Chicago, IL or Naperville. Estimated travel is 40%-50%. Leverage your culinary capabilities to create new innovation and transform existing products. Your work will elevate our company's culinary culture and offer exposure across all levels and functions. Work across Kellanova's categories on some of our most iconic brands like MorningStar Farms, Cheez-It, Pringles, Pop-Tarts, and RX!

Requirements

• Associates Degree or higher in Culinary Arts and significant commercial foodservice experience.
• Proven ability to lead culinary presentations to top-level commercial customers (R&D, Sales, Marketing, Culinary Directors).
• Culinary creativity and commercial menu/recipe development skills.
• Strong communication and organizational abilities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and technology platforms for organizing work.
• In-depth knowledge of commercial restaurant operations and kitchen equipment.

Responsibilities

• Culinary Collaboration - Collaborate with customer and partner chefs to create concepts using Kellanova brands for back-of-house execution. Inspire food design and ensure products meet customer needs in collaboration with R&D.
• Insights to Action - Translate insights from Consumer Insights and Brand Marketing into actionable food design sessions.
• Culinary Ideation & Immersion Leadership - Plan and execute culinary ideations and immersions with key customers. You will develop, implement, and document gold-standard prototypes, recipes, and formulas. Create custom recipes to support innovation launches and our existing portfolio.
• Presentations & Tours - Lead culinary presentations and tours for internal and external audiences to drive growth.
• Training & Expertise Integration - Embed culinary expertise in AFH through training on food preparation, presentation, and product differentiation.

Benefits

• Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, accidental death & dismemberment insurance, employee assistance program, short-term disability coverage, and long-term disability insurance.
• Also, voluntary income protection benefits such as supplemental life, accident as well as a 401(k) plan with company contributions is available.
• Part-time employees may have access to benefits on a pro-rated basis.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Industry: Food Manufacturing
• Education Level: Associate degree