Apply on Employer Site

El Pollo Loco, Inc. · 1 day ago

Test Kitchen Manager

Costa Mesa, CA

Full-time

Hybrid

Senior Level, Lead/Staff

$95K/yr - $106K/yr

10+ years exp

El Pollo Loco, Inc. is a fast-paced and innovative company known for its delicious citrus-marinated, fire-grilled chicken. The Test Kitchen Manager is responsible for overseeing all day-to-day operations of the on-site test kitchen, ensuring it runs smoothly and efficiently while supporting culinary innovation and operational excellence.

Food and Beverage

Responsibilities

Oversee all day-to-day activities in the on-site test kitchen, including food deliveries, ingredient prep, build line set-up and tear-down, and end-of-day clean-up

Support showings and events by collaborating with the Culinary team to coordinate weekly internal tastings as well as large-scale showings for franchisees, agencies, and external partners

Serve as project lead for all external culinary events and activations, managing logistics, ingredient ordering, staffing, on-site execution, and post-event wrap-up

Partner with Sr. Director of Culinary in new product idea generation, iterations, and initial testing for Culinary and Marketing leadership

Manage equipment upkeep, sanitation, and overall organization of the test kitchen to ensure readiness and compliance with food safety standards

Maintain meticulous records of testing processes, recipe formulations, and product specifications to support future use and scalability

Coordinate and manage ingredient testing with Culinary Team members, ensuring accuracy and consistency in results

Qualification

Culinary ArtsRecipe DevelopmentKitchen Operations ManagementFood Safety ProtocolsLeadership SkillsTroubleshooting SkillsCommunication SkillsInterpersonal SkillsOrganizational SkillsAttention to Detail

Required

Bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts, Food Science or a related field required

Minimum 10+ years of experience in a professional kitchen, restaurant, or media test kitchen, with proven experience in recipe development and culinary operations

Food Handler's Certification required

Strong culinary background with experience in recipe development, cooking techniques, and food science

Effective leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to guide and collaborate across teams

Skilled at troubleshooting recipe failures, production challenges, and logistical issues under pressure

Strong working knowledge of various types of kitchen equipment, with the ability to quickly learn new tools and technologies

Meticulous approach to testing, documentation, and adherence to food safety protocols

Ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize tasks, and maintain a highly organized and sanitary workspace

Ability to work at the Support Center consistent with the hybrid work policy

Preferred

Prior experience managing kitchen operations, events, or activations strongly preferred

ServSafe Manager Certification preferred

Benefits

Hybrid work schedule

Competitive pay and bonus

Medical + Dental + Vision Insurance

401(K) Plan with match and immediate vesting

Flexible Spending Accounts

Vacation + Sick Pay + 12 Paid Holidays

Amazing office culture

Free El Pollo Loco food (Dine Out Card) + Restaurant Discount

Discounts on theme parks, movie tickets, sports events, hotels and more…

Company

El Pollo Loco, Inc.

Glassdoor3.5

In 1980 the first American El Pollo Loco opened on Alvarado Street in Los Angeles, quickly becoming a destination for the best citrus-marinated, fire-grilled pollo in town.

Founded in 1980

Costa Mesa, California, USA

5001-10000 employees