As a Culinary Innovation Lab Manager , you will help transform the future of R&D innovation and accelerate Kraft Heinz’s growth ambitions. Our Culinary team shapes and influences food-facing innovations by combining a creative approach with deep technical expertise to drive consumer and product opportunities. We pride ourselves on being the expert culinary connection to food and cooking within the marketplace, and we are looking for a “consumer-obsessed” culinary professional — someone who is creative, strategic, independent, collaborative, and who executes with high attention to detail and effective communication. This is a hands-on R&D innovation role supporting our Culinary Innovation Lab, where we identify strategic opportunities for KHC. This individual will partner closely with internal Marketing, Insights, and R&D Innovation and Functional teams, as well as external partners, to explore, develop, and test new product, ingredient, flavor, and consumer usage opportunities. Using Design Thinking and Agile methodologies, this individual will actively drive opportunity identification, dig site prioritization, minimal viable prototype (MVP) development, and consumer product-fit learning.
Essential Functions & Responsibilities
Apply advanced mastery of culinary fundamentals , including cooking techniques, ingredient functionality, safe food handling, and culinary nutrition , to identify consumer insights, articulate sensory attributes, and translate those insights directly into product development.
Leverage knowledge of functional ingredients and formulation principles to develop minimal viable prototypes (MVPs) for consumer testing, learning, and validation; apply sensory evaluation best practices to assess and communicate product performance.
P lan, develop, and execute culinary projects including competitive landscape reviews, immersions, trend presentations, concept ideation sessions, and product cuttings in partnership with the Innovation Lab Lead.
Serve as a creative and collaborative cross-functional partner, connecting culinary expertise to R&D, Marketing, Insights, and external partners throughout the innovation process.
Leads end-to-end culinary workstreams within innovation initiatives, with accountability for delivering against defined objectives , timelines, and business outcomes.
Manages multiple concurrent innovation initiatives across brands, platforms, or categories, ensuring alignment to commercial viability and business priorities.
Translates culinary concepts into scalable product opportunities, incorporating consumer insights, technical feasibility, and business considerations.
Expected Experience & Required Skills
Bachelor’s degree in culinary arts , f ood s cience, n utrition, or a closely related field with a minimum of 6 years of progressive culinary experience with demonstrable expertise in product development, cooking techniques, and flavor application.
Work Environment & Schedule
This position operates primarily in a hybrid work environment and is based at the Kraft Heinz R&D Innovation Center in Glenview, IL. Our hybrid model provides flexibility based on business needs, allowing employees to work virtually up to two days per week, with an expectation to work on-site at least three days per week at the Glenview R&D Innovation Center .
Physical demands include but not limited to
Frequent use of hands and arms for food preparation, weighing/measuring, knife work, stirring, mixing, and operating small equipment; repetitive motions are common.
Our Total Rewards philosophy is to provide a meaningful and flexible spectrum of programs that equitably support our diverse workforce and their families and complement Kraft Heinz’ strategy and values.
New Hire Base Salary Range:
$104,200.00 - $130,200.00
Bonus: This position is eligible for a performance-based bonus as provided by the plan terms and governing documents.
The compensation offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors
Benefits: Coverage for employees (and their eligible dependents) through affordable access to healthcare, protection, and saving for the future, we offer plans tailored to meet you and your family’s needs. Coverage for benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.
Wellbeing: We offer events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire a physical, social, emotional, and financial well-being lifestyle for our employees and their families.
You’ll be able to participate in a variety of benefits and wellbeing programs that may vary by role, country, region, union status, and other employment status factors, for example:
Physical - Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Screenings/Assessments
Social - Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, Leave of Absence, Flexible Work Arrangements, Recognition, Training
Emotional – Employee Assistance Program , Wellbeing Programs, Family Support Programs
Financial – 401k, Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Disability
Location(s)
Glenview R&D Center
Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for protected individuals, applicants that require accommodation in the job application process may contact [email protected] for assistance.
