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Culinary Development Jobs in Georgia (NOW HIRING)

Sonic

Culinary Innovation Manager (Sonic)

Atlanta, GA · On-site

The Culinary Innovation Manager should bring a creative viewpoint to all new product development ... This position will lead and manage product development of new products and execution of strategic ...

Altius Search Group

Senior Sous Chef

Atlanta, GA · On-site

$60K - $70K/yr

Support menu execution and contribute to ongoing culinary development What We're Looking For * 3-6+ years in a Sous Chef or Senior Sous Chef role * Experience in elevated, fine dining or high-quality ...

Gecko Hospitality

Culinary Manager

Acworth, GA

$55K - $65K/yr

Professional development and advancement opportunities * Opportunity to lead a quality focused culinary team in Acworth, GA Key Responsibilities * Lead daily kitchen operations and food production

Topgolf

Culinary Manager

Augusta, GA · On-site

Fun, One Team, Excellence, Courage, and Caring Support the Executive Culinary Manager in building a high-performance kitchen team Participatein team development and model the standards expected of ...

Topgolf

Culinary Manager

Alpharetta, GA · On-site

Fun, One Team, Excellence, Courage, and Caring Support the Executive Culinary Manager in building a high-performance kitchen team Participate in team development and model the standards expected of ...

2 Beards and a Bar DBA 714

Executive Sous Chef

Newnan, GA · On-site

$19 - $24/hr

Working under an extremely talented and seasoned executive chef, Myke Billiot, we expect our team of kitchen staff to grow towards their professional culinary development while embracing a culture of ...

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Culinary Development information

What is culinary development?

Culinary development is the process of creating, testing, and refining new recipes, menu items, and food concepts for restaurants, food brands, or hospitality businesses. Professionals in this field combine culinary expertise with creativity and market research to develop dishes that meet customer preferences and industry trends. They often collaborate with chefs, nutritionists, and marketing teams to ensure that new offerings are both delicious and commercially viable.

How does a culinary development professional typically collaborate with chefs and product teams to create new menu items?

Culinary Development professionals work closely with chefs, food scientists, and product development teams to brainstorm, prototype, and refine new menu offerings. This often involves conducting taste tests, sourcing unique ingredients, and ensuring recipes are scalable for larger production. Regular meetings and feedback sessions are key, as is collaborating with marketing and operations teams to ensure the final product aligns with brand standards and customer preferences. Effective communication and adaptability are essential, as priorities may shift based on market trends or operational constraints.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in culinary development, and why are they important?

To excel in Culinary Development, you need a deep understanding of food science, recipe formulation, and culinary techniques, often supported by a degree in culinary arts or food science. Familiarity with kitchen equipment, food safety certifications (like ServSafe), and product development software is typically expected. Creativity, strong collaboration, and adaptability are vital soft skills for innovating new dishes and working with cross-functional teams. These abilities ensure successful creation and launch of appealing, safe, and commercially viable food products.

What is the difference between Culinary Development vs Culinary Chef?

AspectCulinary DevelopmentCulinary Chef
CredentialsRelevant culinary certifications, culinary school diplomaProfessional culinary certifications, culinary school diploma
Work EnvironmentResearch and development kitchens, product testing labsRestaurant kitchens, hotel kitchens, catering services
Employer & Industry UsageFood companies, product development firms, culinary innovation teamsRestaurants, hotels, hospitality industry
Primary FocusCreating new recipes, developing food products, culinary innovationPreparing dishes, managing kitchen staff, executing menus

While Culinary Development focuses on creating and testing new recipes and food products, Culinary Chefs are responsible for preparing dishes and managing kitchen operations. Both roles require culinary certifications, but their work environments and primary objectives differ significantly.

What are the most commonly searched types of Culinary Development jobs in Georgia?

The most popular types of Culinary Development jobs in Georgia are:

What are popular job titles related to Culinary Development jobs in Georgia?

For Culinary Development jobs in Georgia, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Culinary Development jobs in Georgia look for?

The top searched job categories for Culinary Development jobs in Georgia are:

Culinary Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Culinary Development job openings in Georgia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 75% Full Time, 14% Part Time, 7% Contract, and 3% Nights. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution.

Culinary Innovation Manager (Sonic)

Sonic Drive-In

Atlanta, GA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 20 days ago

Sonic Drive-In rating

4.6

Company rating: 4.6 out of 10

Based on 1,636 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

86th of 107 rated fast food restaurants

Job description

The Culinary Innovation Manager should bring a creative viewpoint to all new product development, while delivering relevant food and beverage concepts to the SONIC guest. This position will lead and manage product development of new products and execution of strategic initiatives as it relates to all segments and dayparts from concept approval to product launch, including bringing concepts to life through consumer and in-store testing. It will be critical for this role to partner with cross-functional teams to deliver products that best meet successful criteria for consumer, operations & financial goals.


Responsibilities:

  • Support the Product Innovation team and Director of Culinary in delivering against organizational and personal goals, objectives, and strategies

  • Work independently on development projects, with check-ins and guidance from supervisor as needed

  • Participate in the creation of new product development objectives while collaborating with cross functional teams including Category Management, Brand Experience, Operations, Procurement, Commercialization, Quality Assurance, and others as appropriate

  • Independently work with vendor partners to develop new products from gold-standard products to initial benchtop samples and through commercialization process. Own development of products.

  • Make recommendations for improvements to current prototypes. Collaborate with cross-functional teams in the development and creation of product specifications on commercialized products with vendor partners, Commercialization Quality Assurance, and other teams as necessary

  • Lead product taste tests and new product showings

  • Present product improvement/change recommendations based on taste test results and/or feedback to Culinary Innovation leadership Partner with Procurement Team to develop accurate food & paper formulas.

  • Plan and execute Product Showcase events to (and not limited to) SONIC Senior Management, Board of Directors, Franchise Community, Marketing Leadership, Shareholders & SONIC National Convention

  • Provide guidance and support to other product developers

  • Other duties assigned as needed

Requirements:

  • 2 Year Degree Preferred - A culinary or Food related degree is preferred for this position

  • 3-5 years' experience in a culinary or product development role required. Experience in QSR culinary development highly preferred

  • Ability to think strategically, be detail oriented and respond quickly to business needs

  • Bring creativity to menu development and trend dives for the team

  • Excellent communication and presentation skills, especially the ability to explain difficult concepts and insights in applicable business terms. Ability to summarize insights into PowerPoint presentations in clear and understandable calls to action.

  • Ability to collaborate and motivate across the operations, supply chain, field, and marketing teams.

  • Self-starter with the ability to project manage and handle multiple assignments simultaneously and meet all desired deadlines.

  • Strong leadership, sales support, project management and training skills

  • Understanding how to take products or programs through a development and testing process

  • Effective problem-solving skills and ability to listen and translate details accurately

  • Should possess an innate curiosity and growth mindset

At SONIC, we encourage and attract wildly creative people. Bold, unique personalities whose passion for what they do shows in the food, the experience and the culture of our brand. Sound like you? Join us as we deliver delightful and delicious moments to our guests!


    Inspire is a multi-brand restaurant company whose portfolio includes more than 33,000 Arby's, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin', Jimmy John's, and SONIC restaurants worldwide.
    We're made up of some of the world's most iconic restaurant brands, but we're much more than just a restaurant company. We're a team of hundreds of thousands who individually and collectively are changing the way people eat, drink, and gather around the table. We know that food is much more than a staple-it's an experience. At Inspire, that's our purpose: to ignite and nourish flavorful experiences.

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