Director, Culinary Innovation
Apply NowCompany: Dennys
Location: Spartanburg, SC 29301
Description:
Job Summary
Education and Experience Requirements
Education:
Culinary degree or related field or combination of experience and education sufficient to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.
Experience:
10+ years of experience in chain culinary product development. Restaurant experience is a must.
Required Knowledge and Skills
Strong understanding of culinary principles.
Effective written and verbal communication skills.
Strong solutions-oriented mindset.
Ability to work as part of a team.
Knowledge of and experience of leadership within a franchise organization
Balance of creativity with discipline
Ability to form interdisciplinary partnerships that ensure program successes.
Up to 25% travel.
Ability to stand and walk for extended periods of time.
Ability to lift up to 25 pounds.
Denny's, Inc. is committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all persons regardless of age, race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, genetic information, military or veteran's status, criminal background, or any other characteristic protected by Federal, State, or local law.
Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process should contact 864-597-8000. PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THIS NUMBER TO CHECK THE STATUS OF YOUR APPLICATION.
Denny's, Inc. participates in E-Verify. We will provide the Social Security Administration, and if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security, with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. For more information on E-Verify, please contact the DHS at 888-897-7781 or dhs.gov/e-verify. Please note that we do not use this information to pre-screen job applicants.
- Chart the course for the ideation and creation of recipes that meet the scope and objective of the Menu Innovation Strategy within the financials and operational capabilities of the restaurants.
- Be the expert on menu, consumer and competitive trends and utilize that knowledge to create innovative and operations-friendly products that drive traffic and sales for the Denny's brand
- Lead the refinement of recipes to meet the consumer preferences as established through sensory panels and marketing research.
- Proactively engage the cross functional teams that contribute to the success or failure of items to identify potential roadblocks to success and lead the culinary team to design products that can overcome those hurdles while meeting the needs of the guest.
- Coach the Manager, Product Development Chef in leading the kitchen teams to conduct sensory panels and focus groups
- Lead/liaison between the kitchen function and the front of house portion of product cuttings and presentations.
- Engage training department to identify, teach and champion unique culinary principles for each product launch to ensure that team provides key focus on those attributes that are critical to successful execution of new products and programs.
- Manage talent related to support of photoshoots and other marketing/advertising support initiatives.
- Conduct market visits to discover issues and find solutions before a recipe, product, or program is implemented nationally.
- Engage with current and potential vendor partners on new ideas that support current business initiatives: menu strategy, menu optimization, cost savings, and operations simplification.
- Responsible for management of the Spartanburg, SC test kitchen and culinary support staff.
- Engage key franchisees for continued feedback throughout the development process.
- Other duties as assigned.
Education and Experience Requirements
Education:
Culinary degree or related field or combination of experience and education sufficient to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.
Experience:
10+ years of experience in chain culinary product development. Restaurant experience is a must.
Required Knowledge and Skills
Strong understanding of culinary principles.
Effective written and verbal communication skills.
Strong solutions-oriented mindset.
Ability to work as part of a team.
Knowledge of and experience of leadership within a franchise organization
Balance of creativity with discipline
Ability to form interdisciplinary partnerships that ensure program successes.
Up to 25% travel.
Ability to stand and walk for extended periods of time.
Ability to lift up to 25 pounds.
Denny's, Inc. is committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all persons regardless of age, race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, genetic information, military or veteran's status, criminal background, or any other characteristic protected by Federal, State, or local law.
Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process should contact 864-597-8000. PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THIS NUMBER TO CHECK THE STATUS OF YOUR APPLICATION.
Denny's, Inc. participates in E-Verify. We will provide the Social Security Administration, and if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security, with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. For more information on E-Verify, please contact the DHS at 888-897-7781 or dhs.gov/e-verify. Please note that we do not use this information to pre-screen job applicants.