ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Culinary Innovation Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Acxion

Culinary R&D Manager

Chicago, IL · On-site

$80K - $90K/yr

ABOUT THE ROLE We're seeking a highly creative, client-facing, and commercially minded Culinary R&D Manager to join our culinary innovation team. This role sits at the intersection of culinary ...

VCR Group

Culinary Director

New York, NY · On-site

$110K - $130K/yr

Oversaw menu development and culinary innovation across restaurants, events, and hospitality properties. * Supported new restaurant openings, renovations, and operational transitions from concept ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsCulinary Innovation Jobs

Culinary Innovation information

See salary details

$9

$18

$33

How much do culinary innovation jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average hourly pay for culinary innovation in the United States is $18.95, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.14 and $18.75 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.
More about Culinary Innovation jobs
What cities are hiring for Culinary Innovation jobs? Cities with the most Culinary Innovation job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Culinary Innovation jobs? The most popular types of Culinary Innovation jobs are:
What states have the most Culinary Innovation jobs? States with the most job openings for Culinary Innovation jobs include:
Culinary Innovation jobs near you
Infographic showing various Culinary Innovation job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 100% Physical job distribution, with an average salary of $39,420 per year, or $19 per hour.
Culinary Innovation Manager (Sonic)

Culinary Innovation Manager (Sonic)

Inspire Brands

Atlanta, GA

Other

Posted 26 days ago

Inspire Brands rating

5.8

Company rating: 5.8 out of 10

Based on 56 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

29th of 103 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.

    What Inspire Brands employees say

    Pay

    Benefits

    Hours and flexibility

    Workplace

    Get the full story on Breakroom

    Inspire Brands logo

    About Inspire Brands

    Sourced by ZipRecruiter

    Inspire Brands Inc., located in Atlanta, GA, United States, operates in the foodservice industry as a multi-brand restaurant company, making it among the biggest restaurant companies globally. Their portfolio includes well-known restaurant brands such as Arby's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Sonic, and Jimmy John's, reflecting their commitment to innovation and quality. Founded in 2018 as a result of a consolidation of various restaurant brands under one corporate umbrella, Inspire Brands was formed with a vision to invigorate excellent brands and supercharge their long-term growth.

    Industry

    Food services and drinking places

    Company size

    10,000+ Employees

    Headquarters location

    Atlanta, GA, US

    Year founded

    2018

    View All Inspire Brands Jobs

    Apply