Culinary Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

BUILT ON FLAVOR. FUELED BY PEOPLE.
What's it like to work at Kinder's? Well, there's a lot of snacking and geeking out over what we all cooked over the weekend. Beyond that, there's also plenty of hard work. Because we don't just like flavor, we're obsessed with it.
With over 100 products sold nationwide, we're now a top-five brand in multiple flavor categories at Costco, Walmart, Whole Foods, and more. We're not your typical CPG company. Privately held and founder-led, we like to think of ourselves as a pirate ship in a sea of cruise ships. Our crew is adventurous and fearless. We chart our own course and chase big ideas to make food unforgettable.
As we expand globally and approach $1 billion in revenue, we need more smart-and-scrappy, flavor-obsessed people to come aboard. If you're looking for a place where you can see the real impact of your work... this is it! Every day, you'll be part of a journey to add flavor to millions of meals and lives.
About the Role:
Kinder's is seeking a passionate, execution-focused, and creatively driven Culinary Experience Specialist to help bring our flavor to life-in the kitchen, in the field, and across digital platforms. This role is designed for a culinary professional who wants to grow inside an ambitious, fast-growing organization while representing Kinder's through exceptional food execution, recipe development, and operational excellence.
This position begins with a training program designed to build deep fluency in Kinder's products, brand standards, food safety, and cross-functional collaboration. Upon completion, the Culinary Experience Specialist will transition into a dynamic, fail forward role supporting our Culinary team across product development, customer events, and content creation.
We are a fast-growing company committed to bringing amazing flavor solutions that are as exciting and delicious as they are simple to use. We are obsessed with quality. We care deeply about how our brand shows up in the real world - on grills, in kitchens, at events, and across digital channels. While we've been around for 80 years, we believe we're just getting started.
As our footprint continues to expand nationwide across retailers including Costco,
Walmart, Sam's Club, Whole Foods, Sprouts, Kroger, Safeway, and many more, we are investing in culinary talent who can represent Kinder's with excellence, credibility, and operational discipline.
How You Will Have an Impact at Kinder's
The Culinary Experience Specialist will play a critical role in supporting Kinder's culinary development, field culinary execution, and brand storytelling through food. This role blends hands-on cooking, product testing, recipe development, field execution, and cross-functional partnership.
You will begin with a six-month cross-functional development program spanning Culinary, Product Development, Innovation, Quality, Brand, Sales, and Operations. Following successful completion, you will operate as part of the Culinary team, supporting the culinary needs of the business through recipe creation, product application, culinary events, and consumer engagement initiatives.
This role will report to the Culinary Director and work cross-functionally with Studio (Brand), Growth, Sales, Quality, Product Development, and Operations as needed.
Primary Responsibilities
Culinary Foundations & Development Program

• Develop deep fluency in Kinder's full portfolio of sauces, seasonings, rubs, and future product innovations
• Participate in hands-on culinary training focused on protein execution, grilling, smoking, recipe development, and scalable food preparation
• Support internal tastings, sensory evaluations, and competitive benchmarking exercises
• Gain exposure across Product Development, Innovation, Quality, Brand Management, Sales, and Operations through rotational learning experiences
• Build a strong understanding of Kinder's quality standards, food safety expectations, and consumer experience philosophy
• Complete certifications and training requirements necessary to fulfill the role

Field Culinary Experience Support

• Support field culinary experiences at customer events, trade shows, retailer demos, consumer activations, and internal company events
• Execute high-volume cooking with consistency, professionalism, and brand alignment
• Set up, maintain, and operate mobile cooking environments safely and efficiently
• Engage directly with customers and consumers to represent the Kinder's brand authentically
• Maintain field equipment and event readiness standards
• Support event planning logistics, including ingredient preparation, transportation coordination, and on-site execution
• Ensure strict adherence to food safety and sanitation standards at all events

Culinary Development & Recipe Support

• Assist with recipe development and product application testing for new and existing products
• Create and refine consumer-friendly recipes that showcase Kinder's products and inspire confidence in home cooks
• Test recipes for accuracy, consistency, and repeatability across a variety of cooking methods and skill levels
• Support Product Development and R&D teams with product evaluations, sensory documentation, and culinary feedback
• Participate in internal tastings, product reviews, and competitive benchmarking exercises
• Prepare samples and support internal culinary presentations
• Maintain organized documentation of recipes, product feedback, and testing results
• Contribute culinary insights that support innovation initiatives and future product development

Culinary Content & Brand Support

• Partner with Brand, Digital, and Content teams to support culinary storytelling and product education initiatives
• Provide culinary guidance for recipe content, product applications, website content, and marketing materials
• Support recipe preparation, food styling, photography, and video content production as needed
• Help build and maintain a library of brand-aligned recipes and culinary applications
• Contribute cooking tips, preparation techniques, and usage ideas that enhance the consumer experience
• Help ensure all culinary content reflects Kinder's standards for quality, flavor, and accessibility

What You Bring to the Table
Education / Experience

• 2-6+ years of professional culinary experience (restaurant, catering, hospitality, culinary events, test kitchen, or CPG culinary environments preferred)
• Experience working in Michelin-starred or other highly acclaimed restaurant environments is a strong plus
• Ability to thrive in fast-paced, high-variability environments
• Experience cooking in high-volume or event environments strongly preferred
• Comfortable cooking both independently and as part of a team
• Experience supporting recipe development, product testing, or culinary content creation is a plus
• Strong execution skills and attention to detail
• Strong organizational and documentation skills
• Ability to lift, transport, and set up cooking equipment
• Strong communication skills when interacting with customers and consumers
• Culinary degree preferred but not required
• Strong understanding of food safety principles and sanitation practices
• ServSafe certification required (or ability to obtain within 60 days)

Personal Characteristics

• Builder mindset with a strong sense of ownership
• Calm under pressure
• Passionate about flavor and execution excellence
• Highly adaptable and resourceful
• Team-oriented with low ego
• Creative thinker with strong attention to detail
• Energized by bringing brands to life through food
• Passionate about delivering great experiences that feel authentic and human
• Curious and eager to continuously learn and grow

Location & Travel

• Based onsite in Walnut Creek, California
• Travel required to support customer events, retailer activations, trade shows, and culinary initiatives as needed

Pay Transparency
The expected starting salary range for this role is $105,000-$115,000 per year. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range based on the location of the role. The amount a particular employee will earn within the salary range will be based on factors such as relevant education, qualifications, performance, and business needs.
SEASONED FOR SUCCESS:

• No two days here are the same.
• We try to be good team members and good communicators, but we don't live by hierarchy and structure - everyone is a difference maker here.
• We make a lot of decisions in the face of incomplete information - our team embraces ambiguity and tries to make good decisions fast rather than great decisions slow.
• We believe our job is to take smart risk, not to eliminate risk.
• We believe in growing our skills and becoming a better company with more managerial expertise, but we are an entrepreneurial company at heart.
• We aren't trying to be average - we want to do exceptional things, and we are willing to work hard to achieve them.

BENEFITS THAT BRING MORE TO THE TABLE:
We offer a range of total rewards that may include paid time off, 401k, bonus / incentive eligibility, equity grants, competitive health benefits, and other family-friendly benefits, including parental leave. Kinder's benefits vary based on eligibility and can be reviewed in more detail during the interview process.
OUR RECIPE FOR BALANCE:
We believe great culture starts with people. We're a people-first company built on connection, collaboration, and balance. Most of our work happens in the office to spark creativity and community, but we also offer flexibility so team members have the autonomy to work outside the office when needed to support their work-life balance and personal commitments.
WHERE EVERY INGREDIENT MATTERS:
Kinder's is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, citizenship, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, results of genetic testing, veteran status, as well as any other legally-protected characteristic. If you have a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act or similar law, and you need any accommodation during the application process or to perform these job requirements, please reach out to us at careers@kinders.com