Title:  Culinary Innovation Manager

Are you a passionate chef, looking to apply your culinary expertise and creativity behind some iconic brands? Join our team as a Culinary Innovation Manager. Provide strategic culinary leadership across diverse customer segments in our Away From Home (AFH) organization. Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to drive product activation, inspire customer excitement, and deliver back-of-house solutions featuring our brands. The is a hybrid role based out of Battle Creek, MI.  There may be flexibility for individuals located in Chicago, IL or Naperville.  Estimated travel is 40%-50%.   

Leverage your culinary capabilities to create new innovation and transform existing products.  Your work will elevate our company’s culinary culture and offer exposure across all levels and functions. Work across Kellanova’s categories on some of our most iconic brands like Cheez-It, Pringles, Pop-Tarts, and RX! 

A Taste of What You’ll Be Doing

• Culinary Collaboration - Collaborate with customer and partner chefs to create concepts using Kellanova brands for back-of-house execution. Inspire food design and ensure products meet customer needs in collaboration with R&D.
• Insights to Action - Translate insights from Consumer Insights and Brand Marketing into actionable food design sessions.
• Culinary Ideation & Immersion Leadership - Plan and execute culinary ideations and immersions with key customers. You will develop, implement, and document gold-standard prototypes, recipes, and formulas. Create custom recipes to support innovation launches and our existing portfolio.
• Presentations & Tours - Lead culinary presentations and tours for internal and external audiences to drive growth.
• Training & Expertise Integration - Embed culinary expertise in AFH through training on food preparation, presentation, and product differentiation.

We’re Looking for Someone With

• Formal Culinary Arts training and significant commercial foodservice experience.
• Proven ability to present to top-level commercial customers (R&D, Purchasing, Buyers, Culinary Directors).
• Culinary creativity and commercial menu/recipe development skills.
• Strong communication and organizational abilities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and technology platforms for organizing work.
• In-depth knowledge of commercial restaurant operations and kitchen equipment.

Compensation

The annual salary range is $117,100 - $153,700, which is based on various factors such as location, experience and skill. Discretionary bonuses based on company and individual performance are also available.

What’s Next

Applications for this position will be accepted through November 25, 2025. After you apply, your application will be reviewed by a real recruiter, so it may take us a few weeks to get back with you by email or phone. Visit our How We Hire page to get insights into our hiring process and more about what we offer. All applicants must have permanent legal authorization to work in the United States. Kellanova does not sponsor employment visas for this role.

Need assistance throughout the application or hiring process? Email USA.Recruitment@Kellanova.com.

Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, accidental death & dismemberment insurance, employee assistance program, short-term disability coverage, and long-term disability insurance. Also, voluntary income protection benefits such as supplemental life, accident as well as a 401(k) plan with company contributions is available. Part-time employees may have access to benefits on a pro-rated basis. See KellanovaTotalHealth.com for more information.

Get to Know Us

At Kellanova, we are driven by our vision to be the world’s best-performing snacks-led powerhouse, unleashing the full potential of our differentiated brands and our passionate people. Our portfolio of iconic, world-class brands include Pringles, Cheez-It, Pop-Tarts, MorningStar Farms, Special K, Krave, Zucaritas, Tresor, Crunchy Nut, among others.

Kellanova’s Culture of Best means we bring our best to all that we do in pursuit of our vision to be the world’s best performing snacks-led powerhouse. Our culture celebrates boldness and empowers our people to challenge the status quo, achieve results, and win together.

Our focus on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (ED&I) enables us to build a culture of belonging where all employees have a place at the table and are inspired to share their passion, talents and ideas to work. 

Mars has agreed to acquire Kellanova in a combination that will shape the future of snacking! The transaction is anticipated to close towards the end of 2025 (subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals). The companies remain separate until closing. 

You can learn more at www.futureofsnacking.com, and our hiring teams will be happy to discuss further questions if your application advances in the hiring process.

Let’s shape the future of snacking.

Kellanova is an Equal Opportunity Employer that strives to provide an inclusive work environment, a seat for everyone at the table, and embraces the diverse talent of its people. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. For more information regarding our efforts to advance Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, please visit our website here.