Kitchen Technology Innovation Lead

About CookUnity: Food has lost its soul to modern convenience. And with it, it has lost the power to nourish, inspire, and connect us. So in 2018, CookUnity was founded as the first-of-its-kind platform that connects the world with the source of truly great food: chefs. Today, CookUnity delivers 50 million meals a year from the industry’s best chefs to homes all over the country. Fresh. Ready-to-eat. And crafted with the passion that nourishes body and soul. Unwilling to stop there, CookUnity is expanding beyond delivery to become an ever-innovating marketplace focused on our singular mission: empower Chefs to nourish the world. If that mission has you hungry in more ways than one, you’ve found the right job posting. About the Role The Kitchen Technology Lead drives innovation by identifying, testing, and scaling tools, systems, and processes that improve kitchen efficiency, product quality, and chef enablement. This role is responsible for standing up proof-of-concept tests, collecting and analyzing data, and influencing cross-functional teams to drive adoption of high-leverage solutions. They act as the bridge between Culinary Operations, Product, and Engineering to make sure CookUnity’s kitchens are operating at the cutting edge of technology and process excellence. Key Responsibilities 1. Innovation Experimentation Design, lead, and operationalize proof-of-concept (POC) initiatives from idea to live test. Identify and prioritize high-impact technology or process innovations to improve chef enablement, efficiency, and food quality Build test plans and success metrics; evaluate effectiveness and ROI Translate findings into actionable insights and recommendations for pilot or scale. 2. Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner with analytics and operations teams to develop dashboards or tools that measure kitchen innovation performance. Work closely with Engineering, Product, Culinary Operations, and Chef Success to bring new technologies and tools to life. Act as the SME voice in tech development, ensuring solutions are practical, scalable, and user-friendly for chefs. Manage vendor relationships or external partners for kitchen technology trials. 3. Influence Communication Build alignment with senior stakeholders on which technologies or processes to invest in and scale. Communicate test results, business impact, and next steps in clear, compelling narratives. Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within Culinary Operations. Who You Are Let creators create: You empower chefs and operators by building tools and processes that remove friction and spark creativity. Every second and every detail count: You’re scientific and precise, always testing, measuring, and refining. Diversity is the spice of life: You welcome new ideas, experimentation, technologies, and perspectives that challenge the status quo. Nourish everyone and everything: You think about long-term value and systems - for chefs, customers, and operations - and how to leverage that interplay for impact. Food unites us: You love collaborating with culinary teams and know how to use technology to deepen that connection, aligning others through persuasion and clarity Qualifications 5+ years of experience in kitchen operations, culinary technology, RD, or process innovation roles. Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional projects from concept to measurable outcome. Strong analytical and data interpretation skills; experience with experimentation frameworks a plus. Familiarity with kitchen automation, production technology, or culinary RD environments. Excellent communication skills — able to simplify complex ideas and influence decisions. Passion for food innovation and enabling chefs through technology. Ability to travel regularly (up to 25%) Benefits 🩺 Health Insurance coverage ⛱ PTO policy and paid sick days 🌅 401k Plan. 🐣 Family leave: 12 weeks for primary caregiver and 6 weeks for secondary car ... (truncated, view full listing at source)