Culinary and innovation Manager

Join our passionate team at Luna Grill, where we believe that exceptional food is at the heart of unforgettable experiences. We are dedicated to innovation and quality, and we’re looking for a Culinary and Innovation Manager to elevate our culinary offerings and enhance guest satisfaction.

As the Culinary and Innovation Manager, you will lead our innovative kitchen, ensuring the highest standards of quality while transforming product concepts into reality. With your strong culinary background and expertise in ingredient development, you will play a vital role in product formulation, ingredient selection, and testing.

Why Join Us? At Luna Grill, you’ll be part of a dynamic team committed to culinary excellence and innovation. If you’re ready to make a significant impact on our brand and guest experience, we want to hear from you!

LUNA-TIC Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the Chief Culinary Officer to create and refine product recipes, managing the initial production scale-up for consumer research and testing.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive product development calendar for our one-year pipeline.
• Oversee new ingredient testing and maintain consistency across all restaurant locations.
• Lead product tastings and participate in competitor research and ideation sessions.

Culinary Leadership:

• Manage Luna’s test kitchen, ensuring all equipment and samples are maintained effectively.
• Prepare and deliver engaging presentations on new products and menu optimizations to the Executive Team and various departments.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning and collaboration within the culinary team.
• Research internal and external culinary trends, integrating findings into recipe development and menu enhancements.
• Evaluate ingredients and packaging for optimization to ensure operational efficiency and uphold our high-quality standards.

Cross-Functional Leadership:

• Collaborate with cross-functional partners to identify and communicate trends in the product development process.
• Work with Supply Chain and Restaurant Readiness teams to approve ingredients, packaging, and small wares for new menu items.
• Ensure compliance with health regulations and food safety requirements in product storage, preparation, and delivery methods.
• Assist in preparing food products for field testing in collaboration with Restaurant Excellence and Restaurant Readiness teams.
• Provide detailed documentation of product development, including photos for SOP and marketing materials.
• Partner with Marketing and PR teams to promote new menu items and brand initiatives, participating in food photography and video shoots.

LUNA-TIC Qualifications:

• Strong culinary background with experience in product development and ingredient selection.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and collaborate effectively across departments.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills, with a passion for fostering team growth.
• Bachelor’s degree in food science, or nutrition, culinary or related education is required
• A minimum of 5 years of culinary or product development experience is required, preferably with a multi-chain provider.