Culinary Development Manager

About the role

Kinder’s is seeking an experienced and creatively driven Culinary Development Manager to join our team of passionate culinary professionals working hard to bring the future of flavor to consumers everywhere. This role is designed for a culinary leader who wants to grow inside an ambitious, fast-growing organization while representing Kinder’s through exceptional food execution and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive culinary development of new flavor profiles and products for assigned segments of the Kinder’s portfolio (e.g., sauces, seasonings)
• Translate consumer insights, market trends, and retailer needs into differentiated, flavor-forward concepts
• Develop and iterate recipes from bench-top prototypes to culinary gold-standard formulations ready for scale-up and transition to R&D/Product Development
• Ensure all formulations meet Kinder’s standards for flavor, quality, and manufacturability
• Support internal tastings, cuttings, and competitive benchmarking to inform product direction and refinement
• Partner with R&D/Product Development to support product evaluation, sensory documentation, and readiness for commercialization
• Serve as a culinary partner to Innovation, Product Development, and Commercialization to move products from concept to launch
• Collaborate with Culinary Operations, Sourcing, and R&D/PD to evaluate and qualify new ingredients
• Manage kitchen operations, sample management, and equipment readiness
• Champion Kinder's culinary standards, brand voice, and commitment to exceptional flavor across all work

Education / Experience

• 5+ years of professional culinary experience (restaurant, catering, or CPG/product development environments preferred)
• Bachelor’s degree in culinary arts, food science, or related field preferred (or equivalent hands-on experience)
• Strong understanding of flavor systems, ingredient functionality, and food processing fundamentals
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, high variability environment
• Experience developing recipes from concept through execution, with attention to consistency and scalability
• Familiarity with ingredient sourcing, efficient kitchen operations, and inventory management
• Strong understanding of food safety principals and regulatory basics
• ServSafe certification required (or ability to obtain within 60 days)
• Strong communication skills with ability to collaborate effectively across functions

Personal Characteristics

• Growth mindset with an excitement to learn (and teach)
• Low ego with a strong sense of humility
• Energized by bringing brands to life through food and creating memorable flavor experiences
• Collaborative and solutions-oriented, with a creative approach to problem solving
• Comfortable leading when needed and supporting when it best serves the team
• Passionate about delivering food experiences that feel authentic, thoughtful, and human