Manager - Culinary Innovation

The Wendy's Company•Dublin, OH

1d•$105,000 - $184,000•Onsite

About The Position

Lead culinary innovation by creating trend-forward menu items aligned with brand strategy. Manage formulation, testing, and optimization of new products and processes to drive profitable growth. Serve as a leader within the Culinary Innovation team, fostering creativity and best in class consumer experiences.

Requirements

Bachelors Degree in Food Science, Culinary or related field.
10 years’ combined experience in product development, restaurants and education
Proficient computer skills including outlook, word, excel and power point
Strong organizational, communication, delegation and presentation skills
Creative thinker with ability to achieve results in a dynamic environment
Passion for food

Responsibilities

Manage Culinary Strategy for Multiple Category Platforms: Develop and maintain a robust innovation pipeline across assigned menu categories. Ensure alignment with brand strategy, R&D Food Vision, food safety standards, and cost targets. Conduct regular category reviews, identify gaps, and propose solutions to meet consumer expectations. Act as subject matter expert, providing insights and recommendations to cross-functional teams. Monitor performance metrics and make product recommendations based on consumer trends and competitive analysis.
Manage Product Development: Lead creation of gold-standard prototypes and new product formulations that can be scaled for commercialization. Conduct rigorous testing: portion studies, temperature/yield analysis, and competitive benchmarking. Validate equipment compatibility and operational feasibility in restaurant environments. Document findings and present actionable recommendations to leadership and cross-functional partners.
Supplier Relationship Management: Build strategic partnerships with suppliers to ensure high quality partnerships and best ways of working. Be knowledgeable on timelines, quality standards, and cost parameters to meet business objectives. Organize supplier demos, tastings, and innovation sessions to align with brand vision. Provide structured and timely feedback to suppliers following product reviews and provide supplier performance feedback to culinary leadership for quarterly business meetings. Stay informed on supplier capabilities and emerging technologies to leverage for future projects.
Provide Culinary Vision & Trend Leadership: Serve as a thought leader in culinary innovation, influencing the brand’s food culture. Research and interpret culinary trends, competitive offerings, and consumer insights. Ensure compliance with Brand ingredient regulations, nutritional standards and ESG goals. Be agile and willing to adapt strategy in a fast-paced environment.
Grow and Develop Direct Reports: Mentor team members through structured development plans and performance feedback. Identify stretch assignments and cross-functional opportunities to build leadership skills. Foster a collaborative and innovative work environment that encourages creativity and accountability. Provide coaching on project prioritization, stakeholder management, and technical skills. Support succession planning by preparing high-potential talent for future leadership roles.