Senior Manager, Culinary and Product Development

Shake Shack

. Support the rapid expansion of Shake Shack’s global licensing business through menu development, product manufacturing, food quality assessment and culinary marketing initiatives.

Posted 11/3/2026full-timeNew York City • New York • United StatesSenior💰 $121,650 - $159,650 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in food commercialization and new product development, with a strong focus on culinary trends, sensory evaluation, and quality assurance. Proven ability to collaborate across teams and manage projects effectively while maintaining attention to detail and strategic decision-making.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Food Commercialization ExperienceNew Product DevelopmentSensory Evaluation SkillsProject Management SkillsMulti-Unit Restaurant Experience

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Technical Commercialization SkillsCulinary Recipe DevelopmentFood Quality AssessmentProduct Specification DevelopmentIngredient Approval Processes

Soft Skills

Attention to DetailCollaborationStrategic Decision-MakingCommunication SkillsEntrepreneurial Mindset

Industry Keywords

Food ManufacturingGlobal CuisinesCulinary TrendsProduct Improvement InitiativesMarket Supply Chains

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Support the rapid expansion of Shake Shack’s global licensing business through menu development, product manufacturing, food quality assessment and culinary marketing initiatives.
Commercially develop proprietary Shake Shack products, focusing on localized production where possible.
Leverage supplier and partner networks or identify manufacturing facilities capable of producing core products.
Collaborate with manufacturing facilities to commercialize products according to brand standards and sensory, quality, and food safety specifications.
Execute product improvement and consistency initiatives through reformulations and maintenance.
Consult with manufacturers regarding process and ingredient changes and approve proposed ingredients.
Develop, review, and audit product specifications.
Travel independently to factory visits to implement product adjustments and approve final products for market use.
Calibrate products in Shake Shack restaurants and factories to ensure quality, continuous improvement, and adherence to standards.
Visit key markets, taste menus with local teams, and identify restaurant- and manufacturing-level improvements.
Train Operations teams as needed.
Ideate, develop, and implement limited-time-offer menu items for international markets.
Create custom recipes and standards for new LTO items, including recipes addressing local dietary restrictions and cultural differences.
Develop scalable recipes and procedures aligned with operational capabilities and market supply chains.
Conduct culinary tastings and oversee kitchen ordering, receiving, and product storage.
Maintain accurate recipes and standards across all markets.
Audit each market at least once per year and conduct regular culinary meetings.
Maintain ingredient approval files and product information.
Support marketing events, photo shoots, collateral development, and new-market strategy.
Interface with local chefs, restaurants, producers, shops, influencers, Marketing, Supply Chain, Culinary, R&D, and QA teams.

Requirements

What you’ll need

2-3 years experience working in food commercialization, new product development or manufacturing facility.
1 year working in a professional kitchen or restaurant (fine dining preferred)
Technical commercialization skills to develop, analyze and advise on custom food manufacturing needs
Deep knowledge of global cuisines, ingredients and culinary trends
Strong sensory evaluation and analysis skills
Entrepreneurial, self-starter mindset
Ability to multitask with a keen attention to detail
High level of collaboration and project management skill to work across a broad business base
Ability to communicate and translate technical information in a non-technical way to all levels in an organization
Strong judgement and strategic decision-making skills
Multi-unit restaurant experience
Food manufacturing experience
International travel experience

Benefits

Comp & perks

Weekly Pay and Performance bonuses
Shake Shack Meal Discounts
Exclusive corporate discounts for travel, electronics, wellness, leisure activities and more
Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance*
Employer Paid Life and Disability Insurance*
401k Plan with Company Match*
Paid Time Off*
Paid Parental Leave*
Access to Employee Assistance Program on Day 1
Pre-Tax Commuter and Parking Benefits
Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Accounts*
Development and Growth Opportunities
Hands-on mentorship, training, and growth potential
Flexible work arrangement indicated as hybrid