Director Culinary Innovation Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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.