Culinary Assurance & Implementation Lead

The Culinary Assurance & Implementation Lead supports the successful execution, consistency, and quality of Kevin's Natural Foods products throughout the manufacturing process. Reporting to the Manager of Culinary Assurance & Implementation, this role partners closely with Operations, QC, and R&D teams to help ensure products are produced safely, accurately, and consistently across internal manufacturing facilities and co-manufacturing partners. This position serves as a key culinary resource, supporting the implementation and maintenance of product standards, flavor integrity, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence. The ideal candidate demonstrates a strong work ethic, adaptability, and a flexible mindset, with experience in food manufacturing and the ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams in a fast-paced environment. What You’ll Do: - Support the consistent execution of flavor, texture, appearance, portioning, and finished product standards across internal manufacturing sites and co-manufacturers. - Assist Operation teams in translating approved culinary requirements into repeatable and scalable manufacturing processes. - Participate in first production runs, line startups, and process changes for existing products. - Verify that production activities align with documented SOPs, product specifications, and intended culinary outcomes. - Conduct routine sensory evaluations and in-line product assessments to support adherence to established quality standards. - Escalate culinary-related quality concerns and partner with internal stakeholders to support corrective actions and resolution efforts. - Provide observations and data-based feedback regarding execution trends, opportunities, and operational risks. - Maintain and update culinary SOPs, preparation guidelines, build sheets, and sensory standards under the direction of department leadership. - Serve as a day-to-day culinary support resource for manufacturing teams, reinforcing standards, consistency, and best practices. - Assist in the delivery of training for Operations, QA, R&D, and Production teams on culinary standards, quality drivers, and critical control points. - Collaborate closely with Quality and Food Safety partners to support compliance with HACCP, GMP, regulatory, and company requirements. - Help ensure culinary processes align with sanitation protocols, allergen control procedures, labeling accuracy, and food safety standards. - Support the maintenance of accurate product specifications and allergen controls in partnership with Quality Assurance. - Contribute to internal and external audits by providing culinary expertise and documentation support. - Assist with investigations related to consumer complaints, product holds, quality concerns, and deviations from standards. - Identify and communicate opportunities to improve product consistency, process repeatability, and execution efficiency while maintaining approved product intent. - Travel to manufacturing facilities and co-manufacturers as needed to support product execution, training, and consistency initiatives. - Manage assigned responsibilities autonomously while maintaining strong communication and collaboration with leadership and cross-functional teams. - Other duties as assigned and necessary. What You’ll Need: - Strong work ethic with a proactive, hands-on approach to problem solving. - Ability to balance independent decision-making with collaborative teamwork. - Flexible and adaptable mindset capable of responding effectively to changing priorities and operational needs. - Strong organizational, communication, and follow-through skills. - Ability to influence and build productive working relationships across multiple departments. - Detail-oriented with a passion for food quality, consistency, and execution. Healthy, Diverse Teams Breed Innovation: Kevin’s Natural Foods is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We deeply believe tha…