Culinary Innovation Lead – Kitchen Operations

US Foods; California (MO); On-site; USD 41,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Pre-tax spending accounts

Retirement benefits

Paid time off

Employee stock purchase plan

Job summary

US Foods is seeking a hands-on culinary leader for its Innovation Kitchens, based onsite. You will supervise daily operations, manage scheduling for events and trainings, ensure food safety, and uphold high culinary standards across product development activities.

The role requires a 2-year culinary degree or 6 years of relevant experience, plus a ServSafe Manager certificate. Strong communication, inventory, and multitasking skills are essential for success in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Must have a 2-year Culinary Degree or minimum 6 years of relevant culinary experience.
• Current ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certificate required.

Responsibilities

• Supervise day-to-day operations of the US Foods Innovation Kitchens.
• Manage kitchen and event scheduling to support business initiatives, customer engagements, trainings, product evaluations, and special projects.
• Maintain kitchen readiness through inventory management, ordering, receiving, sanitation, equipment maintenance, and food safety compliance.
• Maintain kitchen equipment inventories, preventive maintenance schedules, and repair records.
• Support Exclusive Brand product development and commercialization activities through product evaluations, sensory reviews, cuttings, and Stage Gate processes.
• Execute product evaluations including sample ordering, preparation, setup, data collection, and documentation.
• Support new product concept development through culinary applications, preparation methods, and usage recommendations.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to develop training materials, culinary content, demonstrations, and educational resources.
• Provide culinary support and exceptional customer service to internal and external stakeholders.
• Support customer, supplier, and company events through culinary presentations, demonstrations, and operational execution.

Skills

Culinary excellence

Inventory management

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Excel

Communication skills

Organization / multitasking

Customer service

Education

2-year Culinary Degree

Tools

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

US Foods is seeking a hands-on culinary leader for its Innovation Kitchens, based onsite. You will supervise daily operations, manage scheduling for events and trainings, ensure food safety, and uphold high culinary standards across product development activities.

The role requires a 2-year culinary degree or 6 years of relevant experience, plus a ServSafe Manager certificate. Strong communication, inventory, and multitasking skills are essential for success in a fast-paced environment.