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Menu Planning Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

The Whale & Ale- Gastropub

Chef de Cuisine

San Pedro, CA · On-site

$62K - $66K/yr

Responsibilities * Assist in menu planning and development to create innovative dishes that meet customer expectations. * Supervise kitchen staff, providing guidance and support to ensure efficient ...

The Whale & Ale- Gastropub

Chef de Cuisine

San Pedro, CA · On-site

$62K - $66K/yr

Responsibilities * Assist in menu planning and development to create innovative dishes that meet customer expectations. * Supervise kitchen staff, providing guidance and support to ensure efficient ...

The Whale & Ale- Gastropub

Chef de Cuisine

Acton, CA · On-site

$67K - $91K/yr

Responsibilities * Assist in menu planning and development to create innovative dishes that meet customer expectations. * Supervise kitchen staff, providing guidance and support to ensure efficient ...

Alila Napa Valley

Event Planning Manager

Napa, CA · On-site

$75K - $85K/yr

Primary sales efforts are in banquet food and beverage and venue rental and includes menu planning, agenda setting, and resort event services. Duties also include contract review and facilitating ...

Hope The Mission

Sous Chef

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$53K - $72K/yr

This includes collaborating on menu planning and special event development, directly leading and mentoring the culinary team, enforcing sanitation and food safety standards, managing ordering and ...

Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Event Planning Manager

Napa, CA · On-site

$75K - $85K/yr

Primary sales efforts are in banquet food and beverage and venue rental and includes menu planning, agenda setting, and resort event services. Duties also include contract review and facilitating ...

Air Fayre CA Inc

Supply Chain Coordinator

Gardena, CA · On-site

$23 - $27/hr

Coordinate meal ordering and menu planning with a focus on fresh food production * Liaise with the Supply Chain Manager and suppliers to ensure specifications and delivery schedules are met

Serenite Hospitality

Head Chef

Groveland, CA · On-site

The Head Chef will be responsible for overseeing the kitchen operations, menu planning, food preparation, and ensuring the highest quality of food is served to our customers. The ideal candidate will ...

Hope The Mission

Events Sous Chef

North Hills, CA · On-site

$51K - $70K/yr

This includes food production, menu planning, staff and volunteer supervision, inventory management, and event logistics. This role also runs HTM's weekly volunteer sessions and steps in to lead the ...

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All JobsMenu Planning JobsMenu Planning Jobs in California

Menu Planning information

See California salary details

$55.3K

$101.9K

$154.9K

How much do menu planning jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 1, 2026, the average yearly pay for menu planning in California is $101,867.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $82,400.00 and $115,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is menu planning?

A Menu Planning job involves designing balanced, cost-effective, and appealing meal options for restaurants, cafeterias, or institutions. This role requires selecting ingredients, considering dietary needs, and ensuring variety while minimizing food waste. Menu planners work closely with chefs, nutritionists, and suppliers to create meals that meet customer preferences and business goals.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in menu planning?

Success in Menu Planning requires strong culinary knowledge, nutritional understanding, and experience with food cost management, often supported by a degree in culinary arts, nutrition, or hospitality. Familiarity with menu design software, nutritional analysis tools, and inventory management systems is highly beneficial. Creativity, attention to detail, and effective communication are valuable soft skills for collaborating with chefs and meeting client or customer preferences. These skills are crucial for developing balanced, appealing, and cost-effective menus that align with organizational goals and customer needs.

What are some typical challenges faced by professionals in menu planning roles?

Professionals in menu planning often face the challenge of balancing nutritional requirements, budget constraints, and customer preferences while maintaining variety and appeal in their menus. They must also adapt to seasonal ingredient availability, supply chain issues, and evolving dietary trends. Collaboration with chefs, purchasing teams, and nutritionists is common, requiring strong cross-functional communication. Overcoming these challenges successfully ensures the creation of menus that satisfy both operational needs and guest expectations, making the role critical to a food service operation’s success.

What are the qualifications of a menu planning?

A menu planner typically needs strong knowledge of nutrition, culinary skills, and understanding of dietary restrictions. Relevant qualifications may include a culinary degree, certification in nutrition, or experience in food service management. Good organizational skills and familiarity with food safety standards are also important.

What does a menu planning do?

A menu planner develops and organizes menus for restaurants, cafeterias, or food services, ensuring a balanced variety of dishes that meet nutritional, budget, and customer preferences. They consider factors like ingredient availability, food costs, and dietary restrictions, often using tools like menu software to create efficient and appealing menus.

What are the most commonly searched types of Menu Planning jobs in California?

The most popular types of Menu Planning jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Menu Planning jobs in California?

For Menu Planning jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Menu Planning jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Menu Planning jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Menu Planning jobs?

Cities in California with the most Menu Planning job openings:

Menu Planning jobs near you
Infographic showing various Menu Planning job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 85% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $101,867 per year, or $49 per hour.

WDI Menu Planning Intern, Spring 2027

The Walt Disney Company

Glendale, CA • On-site

$26.50/hr

Full-time

Posted 8 days ago

Walt Disney Company rating

7.6

Company rating: 7.6 out of 10

Based on 130 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

5th of 52 rated entertainment

Job description

Job Posting Title:

WDI Menu Planning Intern, Spring 2027

Req ID:

10159160

Job Description:

WDI Menu Planning Intern(Orlando or Glendale)

About the Role & Program

Be a part of an innovative team and culture...

Walt Disney Imagineering is the creative force that imagines,designsand brings to life all Disney theme parks, resorts, attractions and cruise ships worldwide. Working across a spectrum of disciplines that range from creative and conceptual to scientific and technical, Imagineers blend an innovative mixture of storytelling, art,scienceand technology to create immersive experiences, memorable destinations, and innovative entertainment for families around the globe.

The approximate date of this internship is January 2027 to June 2027 and will be located in Orlando, FL or Glendale, CA.
As a Menu Planning intern, you will support the WDI Menu Planning & Partnership Planning group within the Global Creative Strategy Studio by analyzing experience development and performance data and providing valuable business tools and analytical insights! This role will report to Senior Manager, Menu Planning and Development

What You Will Do

  • Apply data analytics to address sophisticated business problems andprovidekey insights to WDI leaders to make moreinformedcreative investment decisions

  • Source, input, andmaintainrelevant product data for global park experience assets including operational performance, consumer insights, financial metrics, etc.Identifygaps and work toleveragepartner input. Improve process for sustaining data management

  • Analyze data sets toidentifytrends and insights using different analytical techniques (ex. statistics, forecasting, optimization)

  • Communicate results through compelling presentations by tying together logical aspects of the story with graphics, charts, and verbiage

  • Consolidatefindings from recently opened experiences to help improve future development decisions

  • Support the team in research questions, industryinsightsand trends analysis, and ad-hoc projects

  • Strategicallyassistin producing planning materials and analysis - from early draft to final form

Required Qualifications & Skills

  • Be comfortable in speaking and sharing ideas in ahighly collaborativeteam environment

  • Strong eye for visual/graphic methods of communication

  • Ability to synthesize and convey complex information in a concise way

  • Detail-orientation, planning, editing/proofreading, and organization skills

  • Ability to successfully multi-task and excel in afast-pacedenvironment with multiple assignments

  • Willing and able to quickly grasp and learn new concepts and the relationship of those concepts

  • Knowledge of MS Office Suite including advanced Excel skills


Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience with data visualization toolse.g., Tableau andAirtable(or similar)

  • Experience with presentation toolse.g., Keynote, PowerPoint

  • Experience with AI tools e.g., Claude

  • Broad understanding of The Walt Disney Company, Disney Experiences, and the theme park industry

Eligibility Requirements & Program Information

Candidates for this opportunity MUST meetall ofthe below requirements:

  • Be enrolled in an accredited college/university pursuing a degree taking at least one class at time of application posting OR currentlyparticipatingin a Disney College Program or Disney Internship

  • Be at least 18 years of age

  • Possess unrestricted work authorization

  • Have not completed one year of continual employment on a Disney internship or program.

Additional Information

  • Able to provide reliable transportation to/from work

  • Must be fully available for the duration of the internship

  • Able to provide own housing for the duration of the internship in Glendale, CA

  • We provide limited housing opportunities for Florida Based Professional Interns through American Campus Communities, for more information click here

The pay rate for this role in Glendale, CA and Orlando, FL is $26.50 per hour for undergraduate students and $27.50 per hour for graduate level students. Select benefits may be provided as part of the compensation package, such as medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered. To learn more about our benefits visit: https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits.

Job Posting Segment:

WDI New Experience Development

Job Posting Primary Business:

New Experience Development (WDI)

Primary Job Posting Category:

Other

Employment Type:

Full time

Primary City, State, Region, Postal Code:

Glendale, CA, USA

Alternate City, State, Region, Postal Code:

USA - FL - Epcot - Main Building (WDI)

Date Posted:

2026-08-24

What Walt Disney Company employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Walt Disney logo

About Walt Disney

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Disney, we're storytellers. We make the impossible, possible. We do this through utilizing and developing cutting-edge technology and pushing the envelope to bring stories to life through our movies, products, interactive games, parks and resorts, and media networks. Now is your chance to join our talented team that delivers unparalleled creative content to audiences around the world. "We create happiness." That's our motto at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. And it permeates everything we do. At Disney, you'll help inspire that magic by enabling our teams to push the limits of entertainment and create the never-before-seen!

Industry

Amusement, gambling, and recreation

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Burbank, CA, US

Social media

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