Chipotle - Newport Beach, CA
posted about 2 months ago
The Culinary Innovation Manager at Chipotle plays a pivotal role in managing the Culinary Test Kitchen, overseeing Consumer Testing, and leading the Commercialization (Scale-up) Process for menu innovation efforts. This position is responsible for the end-to-end management of the ideation, development, and commercialization of food and beverage items for Chipotle's core menu and innovation initiatives. The role requires collaboration with external vendor partners and internal cross-functional teams to ensure that new menu items meet the company's high standards and are successfully brought to market. In this role, you will be a key partner in supporting all Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) core menu commercial projects, both domestically and internationally. You will manage new ingredient testing, including hold, yield, and portioning, as well as new ingredient validation for menu innovation. Additionally, you will be accountable for alternate vendor testing, validation, and approval processes for new menu items. The position also involves managing a team of direct and indirect reports, which includes overseeing consumer testing and the culinary test kitchen operations. Collaboration is essential in this role, as you will work closely with Culinary R&D chefs to ensure that core menu items meet CMG standards. You will also drive innovation sessions, including internal showcases and external presentations. Furthermore, you will collaborate with various cross-functional partners, including Marketing, Supply Chain, FSQA (Food Safety and Quality Assurance), Training, and Consumer Insight Teams, to ensure the successful launch of new menu items.