Director, Culinary Innovation and Strategic Sales

Director, Culinary Innovation and Strategic Sales About Monogram Foods A leading food manufacturer, Monogram Foods specializes in delivering your favorite foods and snacks with unparalleled quality and flavor. We specialize in co-manufacturing, private label, and food service solutions, offering a diverse range of products including appetizers, meat snacks, sandwiches, bacon, corn dogs, and baked goods. Established in 2004 and headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, Monogram Foods has earned recognition as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the nation. With over 4,000 team members across 12 locations in seven states, our unwavering commitment to excellence and passion for quality drives everything we do. Our dedication extends beyond our products to giving back to local communities. Through the Monogram Foods Loves Kids Foundation, we strive to "make it better" for children and families, embodying our core values and creating lasting, meaningful change. Our Culture Is Our Secret Ingredient At Monogram Foods, we're more than a food company—we're a passionate team dedicated to creating America's most beloved foods and making an impact in the communities where we operate. We value the dedication of our team members and are committed to fostering a fun, supportive work environment. We prioritize recognition, well-being, and a strong sense of belonging because we know that when our team is at its best, we can deliver our best to customers. Here you will enjoy competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and ample opportunities for growth and advancement. Plus, our inclusive culture—grounded in our company values—celebrates diversity and respects the unique perspectives of our team members. So, if you're hungry for a rewarding career, join our team and let's cook up something extraordinary together. Position Overview: The Director, Culinary Innovation & Strategic Sales is a senior leadership role designed to bridge culinary creativity, technical expertise, and commercial growth. Reporting directly to the SVP, this position serves as the primary culinary and technical interface between customers, Sales, R&D, and Operations. The Director will lead the company’s culinary innovation pipeline, strengthen customer relationships, and ensure alignment between product development and business objectives. This role combines culinary vision with business acumen to accelerate speed-to-market, inspire customers, and drive revenue growth. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Strategic Leadership & Culinary Vision • Define and execute a culinary innovation and sales strategy aligned with SVP priorities and company goals. • Lead the creation of trend-driven food concepts and ensure culinary excellence across customer touchpoints. • Provide strategic culinary insight to guide product development and business growth initiatives. Customer Engagement & Commercial Support • Act as the culinary and technical lead in customer meetings, translating menu needs into project briefs. • Conduct culinary demonstrations, tastings, and ideation sessions with key accounts to foster engagement and loyalty. • Build and maintain long-term relationships with culinary decision-makers and industry influencers. Innovation Pipeline & Project Prioritization • Develop and manage a centralized culinary innovation pipeline across divisions. • Collaborate with Sales and R&D leaders to prioritize projects based on strategic fit, value potential, and production capacity. • Track project status, remove roadblocks, and ensure seamless handoffs to divisional teams. Cross-Functional Collaboration • Partner with R&D, Business Development, and Operations to align culinary innovation with technical feasibility and manufacturing capabilities. • Coordinate ingredient sourcing and production capabilities for complex customer solutions. • Promote collaboration and knowledge-sharing across divisional culinary teams. Continuous Improvement & Production Support • Provide culinary guidance during scale-up, plant trials, and production optimization. • Ensure compliance with food safety regulations, nutritional requirements, and quality standards. • Collaborate with Operations to enhance scalability and efficiency of customer-driven innovations. Team Leadership & Development • Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and customer-centricity. • Manage resources effectively to deliver high-quality outcomes across multiple concurrent projects. The ideal candidate will have the following: Education and Experience: • Bachelor’s degree in Culinary Arts, Food Science, or related field (Master’s preferred). • Culinary degree or equivalent executive-level experience in culinary leadership. • 8–12 years of experience in culinary sales, food R&D, or corporate chef leadership. • Proven success in building customer relationships and translating culinary trends into profitable opportunities. • Strong business acumen with ability to connect culinary innovation to commercial growth. • Exceptional presentation, communication, and negotiation skills. • Deep knowledge of food safety, nutritional labeling, and commercial food production processes. • Ability to travel up to 50% for customer meetings and industry events. Competencies and Skills: • Strategic thinker with customer-centric approach to culinary innovation. • Inspirational communicator with executive presence. • Skilled in project management and cross-functional collaboration. • Relationship-driven leader with strong commercial instincts. • Passionate about delivering customer value through food innovation. Work Environment and Personal Protective Equipment: • Typical office environment/manufacturing environment; specific physical demands may vary depending on customer needs.