Culinary Development Manager

Job overview

The Culinary Development Manager role is based onsite at Kinder’s headquarters in Walnut Creek, CA, with an expected starting salary of $135,000–$155,000 per year. The role supports culinary development and innovation for Kinder’s food products, including sauces and seasonings. The manager develops and refines recipes and flavor profiles from early prototypes through formulations ready for scale-up. The role partners with Innovation, Research and Development, Product Development, Commercialization, Brand, Sales, and Operations to support product quality and launch readiness.

What you'll do

• Develop new flavor profiles and products for assigned portfolio segments
• translate consumer insights, market trends, and retailer needs into concepts
• iterate recipes from prototypes to formulations ready for scale-up
• support tastings and competitive benchmarking
• partner on product evaluation, sensory documentation, and commercialization readiness
• evaluate and qualify ingredients
• document formulations and development learnings
• follow food safety and regulatory requirements
• maintain kitchen operations, sample management, and equipment readiness.

What we're looking for

Skills & competencies

culinary development manager

culinary innovation

recipe development

flavor profiles

product development

food product testing

walnut creek ca

kinder’s

$135k–$155k

servsafe certification

Work arrangement

• Weekend coverage required

Benefits & perks

• Benefits may include paid time off, 401(k), bonus or incentive eligibility, equity grants, health benefits, parental leave, and other family-friendly benefits, subject to eligibility.

Why this role

Requires 5+ years of professional culinary experience. ServSafe certification is required or must be obtained within 60 days. Customer-facing culinary support may be needed; periodic travel may be required.

About the employer

Kinder's is hiring for this role. Industry: All Other Miscellaneous Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing. Sector: 32.