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Culinary Innovation Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Salted

VP of Culinary

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$180K - $220K/yr

Develop and execute an LTO strategy that balances culinary innovation with the constraints (and benefits) of our small, extremely high volume footprints * Use data to optimize our product mix for ...

Kinder's

Culinary Development Manager

Walnut Creek, CA · On-site

Culinary Development & Innovation * Drive culinary development of new flavor profiles and products for assigned segments of the Kinder's portfolio (e.g., sauces, seasonings) * Translate consumer ...

Compass Group

Executive Catering Chef

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$84K - $116K/yr

This role combines culinary innovation, client engagement, operational leadership, and team development to deliver exceptional hospitality experiences. The Events & Catering Chef serves as a ...

Kinder's

Culinary Development Manager

Walnut Creek, CA · On-site

$135K - $155K/yr

This is a high-impact role responsible for supporting innovation cycles and driving culinary gold-standard formulation through the creation, testing, and refinement of new products and flavor ...

Compass Group

Executive Catering Chef

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$84K - $116K/yr

This role combines culinary innovation, client engagement, operational leadership, and team development to deliver exceptional hospitality experiences. The Events & Catering Chef serves as a ...

Compass Group

Executive Catering Chef

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$84K - $116K/yr

This role combines culinary innovation, client engagement, operational leadership, and team development to deliver exceptional hospitality experiences. The Events & Catering Chef serves as a ...

Bon Appetit

Executive Catering Chef

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$84K - $116K/yr

This role combines culinary innovation, client engagement, operational leadership, and team development to deliver exceptional hospitality experiences. The Events & Catering Chef serves as a ...

Kinder's

Culinary Experience Specialist

Walnut Creek, CA

$38K - $52K/yr

Gain exposure across Product Development, Innovation, Quality, Brand Management, Sales, and ... Support field culinary experiences at customer events, trade shows, retailer demos, consumer ...

Kinder's

Culinary Experience Specialist

Walnut Creek, CA

$38K - $52K/yr

Gain exposure across Product Development, Innovation, Quality, Brand Management, Sales, and ... Support field culinary experiences at customer events, trade shows, retailer demos, consumer ...

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Culinary Innovation information

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How much do culinary innovation jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average hourly pay for culinary innovation in California is $18.70, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.95 and $18.51 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a professional in Culinary Innovation typically collaborate with other departments within a food company?

Professionals in Culinary Innovation regularly work cross-functionally with teams such as product development, marketing, quality assurance, and supply chain. They often translate culinary trends and consumer preferences into viable product concepts, collaborating with food scientists to ensure recipes are scalable and meet safety standards. Effective communication and teamwork are essential, as they participate in brainstorming sessions, attend product tastings, and provide culinary expertise during product launches. This collaborative environment allows them to influence multiple stages of the product lifecycle and see their ideas brought to market.

What is the difference between Culinary Innovation vs Food Scientist?

AspectCulinary InnovationFood Scientist
Required CredentialsCooking certifications, culinary degrees, culinary arts experienceFood science degrees, certifications in food safety and technology
Work EnvironmentCommercial kitchens, R&D kitchens, culinary labsResearch labs, manufacturing facilities, food development centers
Employer & Industry UsageRestaurants, food companies, culinary startupsFood manufacturing, research institutions, regulatory agencies

While both roles focus on food development, Culinary Innovation emphasizes creating new recipes and culinary concepts, often in a kitchen setting. Food Scientists focus on the scientific aspects of food, including safety, preservation, and formulation, typically working in research labs. Understanding these differences helps in choosing the right career path or job search focus.

What is culinary innovation?

Culinary innovation refers to the process of creating new food products, recipes, or dining experiences by combining creativity with culinary expertise. It often involves experimenting with flavors, techniques, and presentation to meet evolving consumer tastes and industry trends. Professionals in this field may work in restaurants, food manufacturing, or hospitality, collaborating with chefs and product developers to bring fresh ideas to the table. Culinary innovation helps businesses stay competitive by offering unique and exciting options to customers.

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

To excel in Culinary Innovation, you need a strong background in culinary arts, food science, and recipe development, often supported by experience in professional kitchens or a relevant degree. Familiarity with commercial kitchen equipment, food safety certifications, and product development software is typically required. Creativity, adaptability, and strong collaboration skills help drive the creation of unique dishes and successful teamwork. These abilities are crucial for developing innovative food concepts that meet market demands and maintain high-quality standards.

What are the most commonly searched types of Culinary Innovation jobs in California?

The most popular types of Culinary Innovation jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Culinary Innovation jobs?

Cities in California with the most Culinary Innovation job openings:

Culinary Innovation jobs near you
Infographic showing various Culinary Innovation job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 67% Full Time, and 33% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $38,904 per year, or $18.7 per hour.

VP of Culinary

Salted

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

$180K - $220K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Re-posted yesterday

Job description

Join the largest delivery-first restaurant group in the United States!
At Salted, we believe the future of restaurants doesn't look anything like what we see today. The most successful brands will focus primarily on delivery and take-out and use technology to nurture customer relationships that exist outside four walls.
We're looking for a VP Culinary to lead our culinary strategy as we embark on our next stage of growth and expand from 35 locations to over 100+ over the next 3 years. If you think this could be you, we'd love to hear from you.
Please note that we encourage candidates who are interested in this role to email us directly at [email protected] with your resumé and a brief note about yourself. Please include "VP Culinary" in the subject line. We read every one of these emails.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
You will be the leader of our culinary strategy across our multi-brand portfolio (with a primary focus on our flagship brand, moonbowls). As our culinary leader, you will balance creativity with a systematic approach to creating consistent, profitable, and most importantly, uniquely positive customer experiences. This role reports directly to our CEO and initially will manage a team of two (Culinary Director + R&D Chef).
Responsibilities include:
  • Define and execute a cohesive culinary roadmap that aligns with Salted's brand positioning (better-for-you, clean label, unique + craveable) and long-term business goals (100+ locations, highly profitable, the gold standard in digital-first)
  • Maximize the culinary offerings of our core brand menus as we turn these brands into household names
  • Lead the R&D pipeline for both new brands as well as our core brands (every month, we test 1-2 new brands out of our Test Kitchen)
  • Develop and execute an LTO strategy that balances culinary innovation with the constraints (and benefits) of our small, extremely high volume footprints
  • Use data to optimize our product mix for financial results as well as customer frequency
  • Serve as the culinary voice to our partners and executive team, presenting compelling, data-backed menu strategies that drive growth
  • Research and stay current with supplier opportunities to reduce costs and improve the quality of ingredients
  • Collaborate with Ops to establish and enforce elite standards for prep, presentation, and safety (HACCP)
  • Partner with Marketing, Ops, and Tech teams to ensure new launches are promoted effectively and executed flawlessly in every kitchen
  • Lead your team with candor and directness
  • Stay obsessed with the customer experience. Identify unmet needs and emerging trends to keep Salted ahead of the curve in a fast-changing industry.

WHO YOU ARE
The ideal candidate is extremely detail-oriented, has a deep understanding for the complexities of scaling quality and consistency across nationwide locations, and has an unquenchable thirst to create food that impacts millions of people's lives.
  • 10+ years experience working in the QSR or fast food industry in a culinary role
  • Deep understanding for how to ensure culinary consistency at national scale
  • Able to translate customer ratings, PMIX, and COGs data into actionable menu improvements
  • Test-and-learn oriented mindset
  • Effective planner who cares deeply about the details as well as the big picture strategy
  • Knowledge of HACCP, SOP's, and government/industry food safety and quality regulations, codes, and standards
  • Proven ability to collaborate with other departments, proactively identify problems/opportunities, and take ownership of deadlines and deliverables
  • Must be based in the Los Angeles area with some flexibility to travel to kitchens around the US
  • Passionate about building something great!

BENEFITS
Salary Range: $180,000 to $220,000
• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan (401k)
• Stock Options in Company
• Career Advancement Opportunities
• Work with a team that's transforming the restaurant industry!
Responsibilities and tasks outlined in this document are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of the company.
Salted is an equal-opportunity employer committed to building an inclusive team. If you require accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact [email protected].

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