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Director Of Culinary Innovation Jobs in Bothell, 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 ...

Plymouth Housing Group

Director of Innovation

Seattle, WA · On-site

$136K - $154K/yr

ABOUT THIS ROLE The Director of Innovation supports Plymouth Housing's Quality, Innovation and Health (QIH) department by leading grant research, funding opportunity analysis, and grant management ...

the Chef Agency

Culinary Director

Seattle, WA · On-site

$115K - $120K/yr

... innovation, and profitability across multiple locations. Key Responsibilities: * Develop and ... Deep knowledge of food trends, global cuisines, and modern cooking techniques * Strong ...

Sodexo

Culinary Supervisor

Seattle, WA

$28 - $32/hr

As a Culinary Supervisor at Sodexo, you will provide hands-on supervision of daily food production ... The Culinary Supervisor actively participates in food preparation while directing workflow and ...

Sodexo

Culinary Supervisor

Seattle, WA · On-site

$28 - $32/hr

As a Culinary Supervisor at Sodexo, you will provide hands-on supervision of daily food production ... The Culinary Supervisor actively participates in food preparation while directing workflow and ...

Sodexo Live!

Culinary Supervisor

Seattle, WA

$28 - $32/hr

As a Culinary Supervisor at Sodexo, you will provide hands-on supervision of daily food production ... The Culinary Supervisor actively participates in food preparation while directing workflow and ...

Summit Public Schools

Innovation Manager

Seattle, WA · On-site

Reporting to the Senior Director of Innovation (and working day-to-day with Directors of School Design / RISE Teams), this role manages the operational backbone of the pilot portfolio: planning ...

Marriott

Director of Food and Beverage

Seattle, WA

The position ensures the food and beverage/culinary operation meets the brand's target customer ... innovation and driving necessary change. Ensures that regular, on-going communication occurs in all ...

Marriott

Director of Food and Beverage

Seattle, WA

The position ensures the food and beverage/culinary operation meets the brand's target customer ... innovation and driving necessary change. Ensures that regular, on-going communication occurs in all ...

Aegis Living

Culinary Services Director

Seattle, WA

$35 - $40/hr

In this integral role, you will spearhead the operation of the culinary department that will set ... As a Culinary Services Director, your contributions to the team may include: * Ability to operate a ...

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Director Of Culinary Innovation information

See Bothell, WA salary details

$33.5K

$108.3K

$239.2K

How much do director of culinary innovation jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 27, 2026, the average yearly pay for director of culinary innovation in Bothell, WA is $108,302.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $67,100.00 and $137,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a Director of Culinary Innovation do?

A Director of Culinary Innovation leads the development of new food concepts, recipes, and menu items for restaurants, food service companies, or food brands. They research food trends, collaborate with chefs and product development teams, and oversee the testing and implementation of new culinary ideas. Their goal is to create unique, marketable, and profitable food offerings that set their organization apart from competitors. Additionally, they ensure that new products align with the brand's identity and customer preferences while maintaining high standards for quality and safety.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Director of Culinary Innovation, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director of Culinary Innovation, you need extensive culinary expertise, menu development experience, and usually a degree in culinary arts or hospitality management. Familiarity with food production technology, recipe management software, and industry certifications such as ServSafe are commonly required. Strong leadership, creativity, and the ability to collaborate across departments are essential soft skills for this role. These skills are vital for driving culinary trends, ensuring food quality, and leading teams to deliver innovative and profitable menu offerings.

What are some common challenges faced by a Director of Culinary Innovation when introducing new menu concepts?

A Director of Culinary Innovation often encounters challenges such as aligning creative ideas with operational feasibility, ensuring new dishes can be replicated consistently across multiple locations, and balancing innovation with customer preferences and brand identity. Collaboration with chefs, supply chain teams, and marketing is essential to address sourcing limitations and ensure successful rollouts. Additionally, staying ahead of food trends while maintaining cost-effectiveness requires ongoing market research and adaptability.

What is the difference between Director Of Culinary Innovation vs Executive Chef?

AspectDirector Of Culinary InnovationExecutive Chef
Primary FocusDeveloping new culinary concepts and product innovationOverseeing kitchen operations and food preparation
Work EnvironmentCorporate kitchens, R&D labs, product development settingsRestaurant kitchens, hotel kitchens, catering services
CredentialsOften culinary degree, experience in product development or innovationCulinary degree, extensive kitchen management experience
Industry UsageFood manufacturing, hospitality, restaurant chainsRestaurants, hotels, catering companies

The main difference is that the Director Of Culinary Innovation focuses on creating new culinary concepts and products, often in a corporate or development setting, while the Executive Chef manages daily kitchen operations and food quality in a restaurant or hospitality environment.

What are popular job titles related to Director Of Culinary Innovation jobs in Bothell, WA? For Director Of Culinary Innovation jobs in Bothell, WA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Director Of Culinary Innovation jobs in Bothell, WA look for? The top searched job categories for Director Of Culinary Innovation jobs in Bothell, WA are:
What cities near Bothell, WA are hiring for Director Of Culinary Innovation jobs? Cities near Bothell, WA with the most Director Of Culinary Innovation job openings:
Director Of Culinary Innovation jobs near you
Culinary Director

Culinary Director

Kizuki Ramen

Redmond, WA • On-site

$110K - $130K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, PTO

Posted yesterday

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.