Culinary R&D Training Manager Los Angeles, CA

Lab37; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 114,000 - 134,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Company-paid life and disability insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Discretionary vacation days

Job summary

Lab37 in Los Angeles is looking for a dedicated Food Operations Manager to ensure that the output from the R&D kitchen is successfully implemented in real kitchens. This position involves developing operational systems, training staff, and analyzing performance metrics to improve efficiency.

The ideal candidate has at least 2 years of relevant experience, strong leadership skills, and the ability to remain effective under pressure. Join Lab37 and help revolutionize the food industry.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years in food operations or management.
• Strong ability to analyze performance data.
• Experience in creating and conducting training.

Responsibilities

• Operationalize R&D output into playbooks.
• Build and run training programs for kitchen staff.
• Monitor kitchen performance remotely and ensure support.

Skills

Leadership in food operations

Analytical skills

Training program development

Systems building

Calm under pressure

Job description

Lab37 Robotics is a technology company focused on the development and deployment of robots designed specifically for direct‑to‑customer food production. Our mission is to revolutionize the food industry by creating innovative robotic solutions that enhance efficiency, quality, and customer satisfaction.

Role Overview

You make sure what gets built in the R&D kitchen actually works in the real one — at scale, under pressure, shift after shift. You sit at the intersection of culinary operations, training, and performance analytics. You can read a dashboard from your couch and know which kitchen is about to have a problem, then get on the ground, find the root cause, and fix it in a way that holds. Because fixing one kitchen isn’t the job. Turning every fix into a system — a playbook, a standard, a training flow — that the next kitchen inherits without you in the room: that’s the job.

This is not a corporate role. You’re part detective, part coach, part systems builder. You will move fast, work in scrappy environments, and be measured not just by whether the kitchen in front of you performs — but by whether the next one performs before you ever get there.

What you’ll do

• Operationalize R&D output: Take certified recipes and methods from the R&D kitchen and build the real‑world playbooks that make them executable — prep sequences, station setups, timing logic, contingency guides, and shift flow documentation.
• Build and run training programs: Design the curriculum, conduct initial kitchen training for every new menu launch, and build the ongoing certification and reinforcement system that ensures standards don’t decay.
• Monitor remotely, act decisively: Live in our kitchen KPI dashboards (ratings, COGS, waste, ticket times) across all locations. Surface drift early. Know when to deploy yourself vs. when to coach remotely.
• Field diagnose and execute: When a kitchen is underperforming, land there with a clear diagnostic framework — observe ops, identify root cause (not symptoms), design a corrective plan, and execute it with the team, not just for them.
• Close the loop: Every field intervention produces an updated playbook, a training note, or a flag back to R&D — ensuring the system gets smarter each time.
• Own kitchen readiness: Work alongside Kitchen Ops to ensure that every kitchen launching a new brand or menu is operationally ready before go‑live.
• Partner with R&D: Sit in on scaled recipe tests and productization reviews — be the voice in the room asking “can a real kitchen team actually run this?”

What we’re looking for

• 2+ years in food operations — multi‑unit management, culinary ops consulting, or a QSR/fast‑casual ops leadership background. You have personally run or overseen high‑volume kitchens.
• Strong analytical instincts: Comfortable reading performance data (ratings, COGS, ticket times, waste reports) and drawing real operational conclusions from it — not just flagging numbers, but diagnosing what they mean on the floor.
• Training background: You’ve built or run training programs before. You know how to transfer standards to a team and make them stick.
• Systems builder: You write playbooks people actually use. You build SOPs that survive the Friday night rush, not just look good in a doc.
• Willingness to travel and deploy: This role requires on‑site presence in kitchens when the data calls for it. You’re not afraid to get on a plane, put on an apron, and work a shift alongside the team.
• Calm under pressure: Underperforming kitchens are stressful environments. You come in with a clear head, a diagnostic process, and the ability to get a team to trust you fast.
• Scrappy and self‑directed: You don’t need a big team or big budget to be effective. You’ll have good data, good recipes, and a mandate to make things work.

Bonus Points

• Familiarity with digital‑first / ghost kitchen / delivery‑only kitchen operations.
• Experience with kitchen tech platforms (KDS, POS, ordering systems) and comfort interpreting operations data at a system level.

What else you need to know

Our work environment is fast‑paced and dynamic, fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and fulfilling work. We believe that a stimulating and enjoyable workplace is key to driving innovation and achieving excellence. At Lab37 Robotics, every team member plays a vital role in shaping the future of food production, and we are committed to supporting our employees’ growth and success.

Join us at Lab37 Robotics and be a part of a forward‑thinking company that’s transforming the way the world approaches food production.

The base salary range for this role is $114,000 - $134,000 per year. Actual compensation will be determined on an individual basis and may vary depending on experience, skills, and qualifications. Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package. You may also be eligible for equity awards and an annual performance‑based bonus.

Benefits Summary (USA Full‑Time Exempt Employees)

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance (multiple plans, incl. HSA options).
• Company‑paid life and disability insurance (short‑ and long‑term).
• Voluntary insurance: accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity.
• Optional supplemental life insurance for self, spouse, and children.
• 401(k).
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (Healthcare, Dependent Care, Commuter)
• Discretionary vacation days
• 8 paid holidays per year

Benefits are subject to change at the company’s discretion. Atoms accepts applications on an ongoing basis.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Lab37’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy: we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under applicable law.