Culinary Programming Manager

Compass Group•New York, NY

5d•$90,000 - $110,000•Onsite

About The Position

Restaurant Associates is seeking an agile, confident, proactive, and creative Culinary Programming Manager to manage projects supporting a client food program. The role helps build and support the infrastructure of a centralized culinary program, works with Smart Menus, and builds and uses reporting to analyze data and implement changes across the food program’s cafés. The manager develops efficient systems, automates processes, and translates culinary expertise into scalable program solutions across Restaurant Associates. The position reports to the Director of Culinary Programs & Development and is based in New York, NY, with a Monday–Friday work schedule. The role manages program projects and operational initiatives, using data and impact metrics to assess proposals, establish performance benchmarks, and support recommendations. It also supports rollout and development of Smart Menu and related menu-management tools, annual culinary planning, recipe and menu documentation, and the creation of scalable culinary programs. The manager works with internal stakeholders, clients, and culinary subject-matter experts, while balancing guest-first hospitality with operational and financial rigor.

Requirements

Typically at least 5 years of experience across culinary, foodservice, business, or related fields.
Strong technical proficiency with Google Suite tools, including Sheets, Docs, and Slides.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present to internal stakeholders and provide clear executive direction.
High level of culinary execution, experience, and/or interest.
Strong time-management skills and ability to meet tight deadlines and pivot or prioritize as needed.
Ability to automate processes.
Analytical mindset and creative problem-solving ability.

Nice To Haves

Completed degree or equivalent professional experience is preferred.
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is preferred but not required.
Positive, proactive, humble, helpful, and creative interpersonal approach; able to take ownership, listen, remain open-minded, offer constructive feedback, and solicit opportunities to learn, grow, and receive feedback.
Ability to leverage creativity in the kitchen and develop engineering solutions.
Ability to identify opportunities to use AI and improve efficiency.

Responsibilities

Gather and analyze data to establish key performance benchmarks.
Draft comprehensive proposals and business cases for new initiatives.
Validate program proposals through data-driven insights and impact metrics.
Develop structured project plans using RACI frameworks to define governance and accountability.
Manage multiple concurrent projects using standardized tracking tools, identifying and mitigating risks or roadblocks.
Balance guest-first hospitality with operational and financial rigor.
Engage internal stakeholders and clients to ensure alignment.
Lead change management across diverse teams.
Support rollout of the new Smart Menu and future menu-management systems.
Analyze current programs using available tools, such as Smart Menu.
Work with the team to develop the annual culinary plan.
Support further development of Smart Menu in Google Sheets to enable menu engineering and reporting.
Work with culinary subject-matter experts to document successful programs and innovations and translate them into scalable programs.
Standardize and archive validated recipes and menu concepts in the core database.
Document standard operating procedures using relevant tools, including documents, presentations, photos, and videos.
Identify opportunities for new programs.
Create and present recommendations for new programs, supported by user experience and financial data, trend analysis, and draft menus.