New Product Development Coordinator

Summary: Habit Burger & Grill is seeking a New Product Development Coordinator to support their FIT Team in the development, testing, and rollout of new menu items across their restaurant locations. The role involves conducting evaluations to ensure product quality, creating training materials, and maintaining a safe test kitchen environment. Responsibilities: - Independently conduct organoleptic evaluations (taste, texture, aroma, appearance) to ensure product quality and alignment with brand standards - Perform shelf life, yield, and portion studies to validate product specifications and operational success - Create, refine, and support development of training materials for new menu items, recipes, and procedures that will be used by the entire field team - Organize and support live cooking demonstrations for cross-functional teams, providing hands-on culinary expertise and operational insights - Support vendor relationships by coordinating ingredient sourcing, sampling, and specification alignment - Responsible for maintaining a clean, safe, and organized test kitchen environment in compliance with food safety standards - Travel locally and occasionally out-of-state for ingredient sourcing, supplier facility visits, in-restaurant validations, training events, and cross-functional culinary activations Required Qualifications: - Culinary background (Bachelors degree in culinary or food science, certifications, or equivalent kitchen experience required) - Current Food Handler's Card required - Requires the ability to stand for extended periods during kitchen tests, tastings, and in-restaurant visits - Strong attention to detail with the ability to accurately measure, record, and report data - Comfortable working in both kitchen and corporate environments - Strong communication skills and willingness to collaborate across multiple departments - Passion for food, innovation, and delivering exceptional guest experiences - Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) with the ability to create organized documents, data sheets, and presentations Required Skills: Culinary background, Food Handler’s Card Important Skills: Microsoft Office proficiency Nice-to-Have Skills: Passion for food, Collaboration skills Benefits: Hybrid work schedule (onsite expectation Tues, Wed, Thurs) and year-round flex day Friday, Onsite childcare through Bright Horizons, Onsite dining center and employee lounge, Onsite dry cleaning, laundry services, carwash, Onsite gym with fitness classes and personal trainer sessions, Up to 4 weeks of vacation per year plus holidays and time off for volunteering, Generous parental leave for all new parents and adoption assistance program, 401(k) with a 6% matching contribution from Yum! Brands with immediate vesting, Comprehensive medical & dental including prescription drug benefits and 100% preventive care, Discounts, free food, swag and… honestly, too many good benefits to name