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Culinary Product Development Jobs in Seattle, WA

Kizuki Ramen

Culinary Director

Redmond, WA · On-site

$110K - $130K/yr

Menu Innovation & Product Development * Lead creation, testing, and rollout of new menu items and seasonal offerings. * Collaborate with Marketing on product launches, promotions, and culinary ...

CSC Generation

Culinary Lead (Sur La Table)

Kirkland, WA · On-site

$19.50 - $25/hr

Key Responsibilities Leadership & Team Development • Supports the recruitment, training, and ... Performance is measured by key KPIs such as second-class sign-ups, retail culinary product sales ...

CSC Generation

Culinary Lead (Sur La Table)

Kirkland, WA · On-site

$21.13 - $22.48/hr

Key Responsibilities Leadership & Team Development · Supports the recruitment, training, and ... Performance is measured by key KPIs such as second-class sign-ups, retail culinary product sales ...

Sodexo

Culinary Supervisor

Seattle, WA

$28 - $32/hr

This role coordinates culinary staff, monitors production schedules, enforces standardized recipes ... Access to ongoing training/development and advancement opportunities to turn your job into a career ...

Sodexo

Culinary Supervisor

Seattle, WA · On-site

$28 - $32/hr

This role coordinates culinary staff, monitors production schedules, enforces standardized recipes ... Access to ongoing training/development and advancement opportunities to turn your job into a career ...

Sodexo Live!

Culinary Supervisor

Seattle, WA

$28 - $32/hr

This role coordinates culinary staff, monitors production schedules, enforces standardized recipes ... Access to ongoing training/development and advancement opportunities to turn your job into a career ...

Trident Seafoods

R&D TECHNICIAN

Seattle, WA · On-site

$24 - $28/hr

R&D Technician Trident Seafoods is North America's largest vertically integrated seafood harvesting ... culinary support for presentations, customer meetings, and product reviews. * Conducts basic ...

Actalent

Food Product Developer R&D

Seattle, WA

$28 - $33/hr

Utilize data and insights to create culinary concepts into food and beverage products. * Manage low ... Experience with the development and scale-up of food and beverage products. * Understanding of food ...

The Emily Program

Culinary Lead

Seattle, WA · On-site

$24 - $31/hr

Acts as Person in Charge (PIC) in the manager's absence, overseeing food production, service, and ... Completes required Learning and Development assignments and policy reviews within set timeframes.

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Culinary Product Development information

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How much do culinary product development jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 11, 2026, the average hourly pay for culinary product development in Seattle, WA is $28.37, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $23.27 and $29.81 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To succeed in Culinary Product Development, you need a strong background in food science, culinary arts, and recipe formulation, often supported by a degree in food science, culinary management, or a related field. Familiarity with product lifecycle management systems, sensory evaluation tools, and food safety certifications like HACCP is highly valued. Creativity, attention to detail, and strong collaboration skills help professionals innovate and adapt to market trends while working in cross-functional teams. These skills ensure the development of safe, appealing, and commercially viable food products that meet consumer and regulatory standards.

What is culinary product development?

Culinary product development is the process of creating new food products or improving existing ones for restaurants, food manufacturers, or retail markets. This role involves researching food trends, experimenting with recipes and ingredients, conducting taste tests, and ensuring products meet quality, safety, and cost standards. Culinary product developers often collaborate with chefs, food scientists, marketing teams, and suppliers to bring innovative and marketable food items from concept to production.

What degree do you need to be a culinary product developer?

A culinary product developer typically holds a bachelor's degree in culinary arts, food science, or a related field. Relevant skills include food formulation, sensory evaluation, and knowledge of food safety standards, often complemented by experience in food manufacturing or product testing.

What does a culinary product developer do?

A culinary product developer designs and creates new food products, recipes, and formulations for companies or brands. They conduct research, test prototypes, and collaborate with teams to ensure products meet quality, safety, and market standards, often using culinary skills, food science knowledge, and product development tools.

What are some common challenges faced in a culinary product development role, and how can they be addressed?

Culinary Product Development professionals often encounter challenges such as balancing innovative flavors with production feasibility, meeting strict food safety regulations, and adapting recipes for large-scale manufacturing without compromising quality. To address these, it's important to work closely with cross-functional teams including food scientists, quality assurance, and production staff. Staying updated on industry trends, maintaining clear documentation, and conducting thorough product testing can also help overcome these hurdles and lead to successful product launches.

How to become a culinary product development professional?

To become a culinary product development professional, individuals typically need a background in culinary arts, food science, or a related field, along with experience in food formulation, testing, and innovation. Skills in recipe development, knowledge of food safety standards, and proficiency with product development tools are essential, and some roles may require a bachelor's degree or certification in food technology or related disciplines.

What is the difference between Culinary Product Development vs Food Scientist?

AspectCulinary Product DevelopmentFood Scientist
CredentialsCooking or culinary arts certifications, culinary degreesFood science degrees, certifications in food safety
Work EnvironmentTest kitchens, culinary labs, food companiesResearch labs, manufacturing facilities, quality control
Industry UsageFood companies, restaurants, product startupsFood manufacturing, research institutions, regulatory agencies

While Culinary Product Development focuses on creating and testing new food products through culinary techniques, Food Scientists analyze the chemical and physical properties of food to ensure safety, quality, and shelf life. Both roles collaborate closely in the food industry but serve different functions in product innovation and scientific research.

What are popular job titles related to Culinary Product Development jobs in Seattle, WA? For Culinary Product Development jobs in Seattle, WA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Culinary Product Development jobs in Seattle, WA look for? The top searched job categories for Culinary Product Development jobs in Seattle, WA are:
Culinary Product Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Culinary Product Development job openings in Seattle, WA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 40% Full Time, and 60% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $59,012 per year, or $28.4 per hour.

Culinary Director

Kizuki Ramen

Redmond, WA • On-site

$110K - $130K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, PTO

Re-posted 16 days ago

Job description

Job Title:
Culinary Director

Location:
Redmond / Renton, WA | Company Wide | Full-Time

Pay Range:
$110,000 – $130,000 annually**
Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, skills, and internal equity.

About Us:

Kizuki International LLC is one company united by a single purpose — to spread joy through authentic culinary experiences. Our family of Asian culinary brands includes:

  • Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya – delivering the most authentic Japanese ramen experience outside Japan through scratch-made broths, Japanese-designed interiors, and craftsmanship.
  • Supreme Dumplings – offering handcrafted Xiao Long Bao and other small bites made with precision, tradition, and heartfelt execution.
  • Tang Bar / Swish Swish – a modern fast-casual concept bringing bold Sichuan malatang flavors to a customizable, energetic format.

Though each concept is unique, all share the same values: craftsmanship, connection, hospitality, and a relentless pursuit of culinary excellence. We proudly operate 20+ restaurants and 4+ central kitchens/commissary facilities across multiple states — and we’re growing.


About the Role:

The Culinary Director is a senior leadership role responsible for driving culinary excellence, operational consistency, menu innovation, and food quality across all restaurant brands and commissary kitchens within Kizuki International LLC.

You will oversee culinary strategy and execution across 20+ restaurant locations and multiple central kitchens supporting Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya, Supreme Dumplings, Tang Bar, and Swish Swish.

This role requires a strategic, hands-on leader ready to elevate multi-concept, multi-state operations. You will coach, inspire, and support back-of-house teams, define culinary standards, and partner closely with Operations, Procurement, Marketing, and Executive Leadership.


Reports To: Director of Operations

Key Responsibilities

Culinary Leadership & Standards

  • Maintain, enforce, and elevate culinary standards across all restaurant and commissary locations.
  • Ensure consistency in flavor, texture, presentation, and portioning.
  • Conduct audits for food quality, kitchen cleanliness, equipment condition, and health-code compliance.
  • Lead cross-concept standardization of recipes, SOPs, and production systems.

Menu Innovation & Product Development

  • Lead creation, testing, and rollout of new menu items and seasonal offerings.
  • Collaborate with Marketing on product launches, promotions, and culinary storytelling.
  • Identify opportunities for innovation, efficiency, and enhanced guest experience.

Operational & Financial Management

  • Manage food costs, labor costs, and budgets to meet financial targets.
  • Optimize prime cost, COGS, food cost %, labor cost %, inventory turnover, and menu profitability.
  • Partner with Procurement to source high-quality ingredients while maintaining cost control.
  • Oversee equipment uptime, workflow design, and production throughput across kitchens.

Team Leadership & Development

  • Coach and develop chefs, kitchen managers, and commissary leads.
  • Foster a collaborative, high-performance kitchen culture.
  • Deliver training on culinary techniques, safety, and operational best practices.
  • Strengthening cross-training and career pathways for culinary teams.

Quality Assurance & Safety

  • Uphold strict food safety standards and allergen management procedures.
  • Maintain high audit scores and regulatory compliance.
  • Identify and mitigate safety risks.

Interdepartmental Collaboration & Brand Stewardship

  • Partner with Operations to resolve staffing challenges and guest feedback.
  • Support vendor and supplier relationships.
  • Represent the company at events, tastings, and community engagements.

Indicators & Measurements of Success

Financial Metrics:

  • Prime Cost, COGS, Food Cost %, Labor %, Food Waste %, Inventory Turnover, Menu Item Profitability

Operational Efficiency:

  • Order Accuracy, Turnaround Time, Production Throughput, Equipment Uptime, Yield %, On-Time Delivery Rate

Quality & Consistency:

  • Product Presentation, Customer Feedback, Food Temperature Compliance, Allergen Management

Safety & Compliance:

  • Food Safety Audit Scores, Safety Incident Rate, SOP Compliance, HACCP adherence, Culinary Team Retention

Requirements:

  • 5+ years multi-unit culinary management experience, including 3+ years in senior leadership
  • High school diploma or GED required; Culinary Arts or Hospitality Management degree preferred
  • Strong financial knowledge: COGS, labor, food cost %, budgets, and inventory systems
  • Excellent communication skills with ability to coach, motivate, and influence teams
  • Knowledge of food safety, sanitation regulations, and production systems
  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, multi-unit environment managing multiple priorities
  • Ability to travel between locations and work nights/weekends as needed
  • Physical ability to stand for long periods, lift up to 50 lbs, and work in various kitchen conditions
  • Bilingual skills are a plus and highly valued

Benefits

  • Medical, Dental, Vision, Life & AD&D insurance
  • Employee Assistance Program & Teladoc
  • Paid time off
  • People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply


We are an equal opportunity employer. We consider all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve.

Join Our Culinary Family

If you are passionate about driving culinary excellence, developing teams, and elevating multi-concept operations, we’d love to meet you. Your leadership will shape the future of 20+ restaurants, 4+ commissary kitchens, and four fast-growing Asian culinary brands — all united by the belief that food made with passion brings people together.