Culinary Program Manager — Data-Driven Menu Innovation

Compass Group USA; New York (NY); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Vision

Life Insurance/ AD

Disability Insurance

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state

Associate Shopping Program

Health and Wellness Programs

Discount Marketplace

Identity Theft Protection

Pet Insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Personal Leave

Job summary

Restaurant Associates is seeking an agile and confident Culinary Programming Manager to manage projects in support of the client food program. You will help build and support a centralized culinary program, work with Smart Menus, and both build and utilize reporting to analyze data and implement changes across the food program's cafés.

Reporting to the Director of Culinary Programs & Development, the Culinary Programming Manager is a proactive and creative problem-solver who can develop

Qualifications

• Typically requires a minimum of 5 years of experience across culinary, foodservice, business, or related fields.
• Completed degree is preferred, or equivalent professional experience.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification preferred but not required for this role.
• Strong technical proficiency in Google Suite tools (Sheets, Docs, and Slides).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present to internal stakeholders and provide clear executive direction.
• Analytical mindset with creative problem-solving ability.

Responsibilities

• Lead program management and operational leadership for culinary initiatives.
• Analyze data to establish key performance benchmarks and KPIs.
• Draft proposals and business cases for new initiatives with data-driven insights.
• Develop project plans using RACI frameworks for governance and accountability.
• Manage multiple projects with standardized tracking tools and mitigate risks.
• Balance guest-first hospitality with operational and financial rigor.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and clients to ensure alignment.
• Lead change management across diverse teams.

Skills

Data analysis

Project management

Google Suite

Communication

Automation

Culinary knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

Equivalent professional experience

Tools

Google Sheets

Google Docs

Google Slides

Job description

Restaurant Associates is seeking an agile and confident Culinary Programming Manager to manage projects in support of the client food program. You will help build and support a centralized culinary program, work with Smart Menus, and both build and utilize reporting to analyze data and implement changes across the food program's cafés.

Reporting to the Director of Culinary Programs & Development, the Culinary Programming Manager is a proactive and creative problem-solver who can develop