Sr. Manager, Culinary Innovation, Corporate Chef

The Sr. Manager, Culinary Innovation, Corporate Chef is a newly created position with a critical role to play in accelerating front-end, culinary innovation at Pizza Hut around the globe.

This managing Chef will be accountable for all front-end Culinary Design and Menu Innovation, developing a culinary point-of-view for the brand while leveraging trends, consumer insights and supplier partnerships. The Sr. Manager, Culinary Innovation, Corporate Chef will work cross-functionally and collaboratively with Menu Strategists, Brand Marketers, Consumer Insights Experts, trusted Supplier Partners, and others to bring traffic-driving innovation from idea to culinary "gold standard" for hand-off to Development & Commercialization teams around the globe.

The Sr. Manager, Culinary Innovation, Corporate Chef, reports to the Sr. Director, Global Food Innovation.

Job Functions: Leads ideation, culinary design, and "gold standard" benchtop prototyping to deliver a craveable, iconic menu that connects people through the joy of pizza. Partners collaboratively with Menu Strategy, Brand Marketing, Consumer Insights, Menu Development/Commercialization Teams, and Supplier Partners to identify, prioritize and deliver consumer-informed, traffic-driving menu innovation.

Coaches a team of 2 Innovation Chefs to be the culinary "heartbeat" of Pizza Hut globally; collaborates closely with a team of 20+ R&D leaders around the globe to understand the unique needs of their markets and deliver an innovation pipeline with true global relevance. Leads a community of corporate supplier chefs to collaboratively ideate new innovations. Develops an ecosystem of internal and external Subject Matter Experts to bring creative stimulus to the innovation process.

Pioneers new agile design and innovation processes and methodologies to speed up the pace and success of innovation, including evolution of a rapid testing model to gain early learning on innovation viability. Considers restaurant operations, team member capability and equipment capability throughout the innovation design process to enable restaurant-level execution excellence. Creates a broader team environment that encourages open communication and sharing of ideas.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL REQUIRED: Required: 10+ years of progressive culinary leadership experience including a minimum of 3-4 years in corporate innovation in a food forward multi-unit restaurant/retail brand or CPG/manufacturing equivalent. Demonstrated ability to develop an innovation pipeline.

Strong understanding of the business drivers behind successful restaurant innovation. Demonstrated ability to translate data from many sources (traditional consumer insights, syndicated trend data, pop culture, social influencers) into a strong culinary and business insight to underpin all innovation. People-focused leader, able to attract top talent and build, develop and inspire a world-class Culinary Innovation team.

A passion for food trends and new culinary directions with breadth and depth of culinary experience. Highly curious and creative. Consumer centric and growth mindset.

Experience building capabilities and implementing new ways of thinking. An open and inclusive thinker who embraces ideas other than their own. Collaborative working style; experience leading and influencing cross-functional teams.

The ability to organize, manage and complete multiple projects efficiently and on-time with tight deadlines. Must reside in DFW area/be in the culinary lab a minimum of 4 days/week. Travel: Up to 10% Preferred:

Culinary degree preferred, but not required. Experience with dough systems, cheese/dairy and sauces preferred, but not required.

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