Sr Scientist – Innovation Chef

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About the position

You will play a critical role in fueling KFC US’ pipeline of finger lickin’ good innovations by helping develop new menu items that deliver crave-worthy, guest-delighting experiences. Your mission is to support and lead portions of the innovation process—from early concept development to testing and validation—by contributing technical expertise, coordinating cross-functional input, and advancing new products toward commercialization. You will help ensure that every new menu item meets KFC’s high standards for taste, quality, operational ease, and brand relevance.

Responsibilities

  • Advance menu and ingredient innovation by leading hands-on product development, structured testing, data analysis, and sensory evaluation to ensure flavors perform from kitchen to restaurant.
  • Enable strong supplier partnerships by gathering and translating technical inputs, validating compliance to specs, and coordinating ingredients to support scalable, craveable, commercially viable solutions.
  • Evaluate consumer, operational, and cost data to identify opportunities that improve product quality, consistency, executional ease, and overall value.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with Marketing, Ops, QA, Supply Chain, and Finance; synthesize findings into clear recommendations, trial readouts, and storytelling materials that support decision-making.
  • Track culinary, menu, and ingredient trends —both within QSR and adjacent segments—to inform forward-looking menu evolution and ingredient strategy.
  • Represent the FIT team as a culinary subject-matter expert in cross-functional forums by sharing progress, surfacing risks, resolving roadblocks, and guiding solutions.
  • Drive transformative impact for KFC US by owning end-to-end innovation workstreams—from concept ideation through initial commercialization—ensuring ideas translate into real, executable menu wins.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited 4-year university, Culinary Degree or relevant work experience
  • 5-7+ years of professional culinary experience.
  • Experience in New Product Development/Food Innovation in the restaurant industry is required.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills to engage and align cross-functional stakeholders; ability to present effectively.
  • Strong analytical skills to interpret data and form action-able recommendations.
  • Proven project management capabilities, including driving great outcomes in a fast-paced environment.

Nice-to-haves

  • QSR experience is preferred but not required
  • Curious, resourceful, and energized by innovation and experimentation.
  • Comfortable navigating ambiguity and iterating quickly to move ideas forward.
  • Collaborative team player who inspires others and contributes positively to team culture.
  • Resilient and persistent in driving development work through technical and operational challenges.

Benefits

  • bonus eligibility
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