Vice President - Product Category Management & Culinary

Responsibilities

• Define and implement the overall vision, strategy, and long-term roadmap for all product categories
• Drive innovation and identify opportunities for category expansion or repositioning
• Develop and execute the company’s culinary vision, strategy, and innovation roadmap
• Provide leadership and mentorship to executive chefs, regional culinary directors, and kitchen teams
• Ensure brand standards, menu consistency, and high-quality execution across all locations
• Oversee product assortment strategy, pricing, and lifecycle management for assigned categories
• Monitor category performance, adjusting strategies to optimize sales, margins, and inventory
• Lead the creation of new menu items that align with brand identity, consumer trends, and profitability goals
• Partner with brand experience to launch seasonal and promotional offerings
• Oversee recipe standardization, testing, and rollouts across the system
• Partner with merchandising and supply chain to optimize sourcing, vendor relationships, and cost efficiency
• Collaborate with brand experience and digital teams to develop category-specific promotional plans
• Work closely with finance to set category budgets, forecasts, and financial performance targets
• Monitor food cost, waste management, and vendor relationships to maximize profitability
• Collaborate with supply chain and procurement teams to source quality, sustainable, and cost-effective ingredients
• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing category & culinary management team.
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and customer-centric thinking
• Ensure culinary excellence that supports overall brand reputation and customer satisfaction
• Represent the culinary function at industry events, trade shows, and media opportunities
• Establish KPIs and dashboards to measure category health and business performance
• Use data-driven insights to drive decision-making and continuous improvement
• Deliver regular performance updates to executive leadership and key stakeholders

Qualifications

• 12+ years of progressive experience in product/category management, merchandising, or related fields, with at least 5 years in senior leadership roles
• 4-year Degree in Business, Marketing or related field required. Advanced degree preferred
• Proven success in driving category growth, profitability, and innovation
• Strong analytical skills with expertise in P&L management and data-driven decision-making
• Experience in multi-unit retail, consumer goods, or foodservice industries highly preferred

Required Knowledge, Skills, or Abilities

• Exceptional strategic thinking skills with a strong commercial mindset
• Results-oriented with strong ability to balance short-term wins and long-term growth
• Proven skills in building strong vendor partnerships and customer-centric strategies
• Collaborative leader who thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Excellent leadership, communication, and negotiation skills