Chipotle Mexican Grill hiring Director, Product Development and Commercialization in Newport Beach, California, United States | LinkedIn (2024)

CULTIVATE A BETTER WORLD

Food served fast does not have to be a typical fast-food experience. Chipotle has always done things differently, both in and out of our restaurants. We are changing the face of fast food, starting conversations, and directly supporting efforts to shift the future of farming and food. We hope you will join us as we continue to learn, evolve, and shape what comes next on our mission to make better food accessible to everyone.

THE OPPORTUNITY

As the Director of Product Development & Commercialization, you will be an integral leader at Chipotle, leading the Product Development & Commercialization (PDC) pillar of the Culinary department. This includes leading the new product pipeline, establishing strategic innovation contacts, and frameworks to innovate, ideate, and develop new prototype concepts for Chipotle. You will lead the commercialization of new and optimized core products through the Chipotle Stage Gate Process for national scale, while stewarding a product from benchtop to full scale production across a network of approved suppliers. This will be done while ensuring our best-in-class Food Safety, Real Food, and Food with Integrity (FWI) standards are maintained. This role also supports in-store testing and validation of new innovative and optimized core products with the cross functional teams.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Be the strategic thought leader for Product Development & Commercialization and manage a high performing team.
• Lead the discovery phase of new concept ideation and development with internal Chipotle and external strategic vendor teams to deliver a validated concept while ensuring vendors are aware of essential CMG standards.
• Lead the new product development (NPD) pipeline through the stage gate process, whereby taking validated concepts, and bringing them to market test readiness.
• Leads a series of product showcases in response to a product development (PD) brief or business need and lead the Chipotle Discovery Session calendar with strategic vendor partners to showcase new products, categories, or process innovations.
• Partners extensively with the CMG Chef, FSQA, Supply Chain, Operations, and Brand Marketing teams to take high performing concepts from Discover to Validate stage.
• Is responsible for ensuring all new products maintain Chipotle's high Food Safety standards, Food with Integrity (FWI) standards, Operations parameters, and meet nutritional guidance.
• Leads the management of product formulations, specifications, and commercialization of products with strategic suppliers from benchtop to large scale productions with minimal product variation.
• Owns and manages the commercial production schedule for new and optimized core products including pre-production calls, in-person production visits, on-going commercial audits, product benchmarking, and commercial product evaluations for approval and corrective action feedback.
• Leads and manages the consumer testing of new and optimized core products with the culinary, field operations, and consumer insights teams.
• Supports International PDC needs as business needs warrant.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING TO THE TABLE

• Strong food science, technical, manufacturing, and R&D background with a passion for Exceptional Food, Exceptional People, and Cultivating a Better World.
• Dynamic people leader with proven track record of critical thinking and problem-solving skills, focused on collaboration, accountability, and results.
• Strong network of external partners including suppliers and consultants to support key business needs.
• Bachelor's Degree (BA/BS) from 4-year college or university required. Master’s degree in food science with a Culinary Arts Degree preferred.
• 10+ years of Product Development and national scale commercialization experience across different product categories in various domestic markets – Protein, Sauces, Spices, etc.
• 5+ years of supervisory experience
• Travel subject to business needs. Approximately 30-40% travel domestic and limited international.
• 5-Day in-person work week at Chipotle Office
• Ability to cook and work in BOH operations, ability to support development of benchtop prototype concepts and translate to restaurant operations and/or commissary partners, ability to reverse engineer a product, multi-tasking several projects, fluent project management skills, ability to make executive level presentations, ability to use computers and basic MS Office programs. Ability to engage with strategic vendors, internal stakeholders, and external agencies.

WHO WE ARE

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE: CMG) is cultivating a better world by serving responsibly sourced, classically cooked, real food with wholesome ingredients without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Chipotle has over 3,000 restaurants in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Germany and is the only restaurant company of its size that owns and operates all its restaurants. Chipotle is ranked on the Fortune 500 and is recognized on the 2022 list for Fortune's Most Admired Companies. With over 100,000 employees passionate about providing a great guest experience, Chipotle is a longtime leader and innovator in the food industry. Chipotle is committed to making its food more accessible to everyone while continuing to be a brand with a demonstrated purpose as it leads the way in digital, technology and sustainable business practices. For more information or to place an order online, visit www.chipotle.com

PAY TRANSPARENCY

A reasonable estimate of the current base salary range for this position is $142,000-$210,000. You are also eligible for annual cash bonuses and equity awards based upon performance and other factors. Actual compensation offered may vary depending on skill level, experience, and/or education. Chipotle offers a competitive total rewards package, which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401k, sick leave, vacation time, and much more. Visit https://jobs.chipotle.com/benefits

Chipotle Mexican Grill is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at all levels. As a people-first company rooted in values, our purpose extends beyond serving nutritious food using real ingredients. It means hiring world-class individuals and fostering a culture that champions diversity, ensures equity, and celebrates inclusion. All qualified applicants, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply.

Qualified applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and/or certain state or local laws. Please contact ADAaccommodations@chipotle.com if you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability.