About Purple CarrotFounded in 2014, Purple Carrot delivers clean, long-lasting energy through the power of plants. As the only company in America devoted entirely to plant-based eating, we have spent over a decade perfecting the balance of protein and fiber that only plants can provide. Offering chef-crafted, dietitian-designed meals delivered right to your door, we make plant-forward eating effortless, flexible, and endlessly exciting. Our menu spans quick weeknight dishes, occasion-worthy dinners, breakfast, lunch, snacks, and ready-to-eat meals. Purple Carrot prioritizes taste and flexibility, offering no membership fees, the freedom to skip or unskip weekly deliveries whenever you want, and a no-pressure, cancel-anytime policy. We pride ourselves on doing plants better than anyone else - and we have the receipts to prove it.DescriptionWe are looking for a Culinary Innovation Manager, Ready-to-Eat to join our mission-driven team. As an integral part of the Culinary department, you will join forces with the Director of Culinary (to whom you will also report) in our continued effort to inspire people to eat more plants!This position will play an important role in owning the Ready-to-Eat (RTE) portfolio — serving as the primary culinary partner to our co-manufacturer and driving the day-to-day strategy and execution of the category.As the Culinary Innovation Manager, Ready-to-Eat, you will oversee product commercialization, menu planning, portfolio management, and cross-functional execution, partnering closely with Operations, Procurement, Marketing, Creative, QA, and Fulfillment to ensure our meals are operationally sound, financially successful, and aligned with the Purple Carrot brand.We greatly thank all applicants; however, only those under serious consideration will be contacted.Location This role is based in Chicago, IL, with on-site presence alternating between our Fulton Market test kitchen, Marketing Office, Chicago production partner, and co-manufacturer in the northwest suburbs. On the Plate Own the Ready-to-Eat portfolio end-to-end, ensuring products align with our culinary standards, operational capabilities, financial targets, and customer expectations.Lead RTE commercialization with co-manufacturing partners — from product handoff through testing, scale-up, launch, and post-launch optimization.Serve as the primary culinary contact for co-manufacturing and production partners, building relationships that ensure consistent product quality and operational excellence.Partner with vendors to resolve product, quality, and commercialization challenges, and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.Drive cross-functional execution with Procurement, Operations, QA, Marketing, Creative, and Fulfillment to launch new products and execute weekly menus.Manage commercialization timelines, workbacks, and milestones to keep launches on schedule.Be on-site at production facilities during key launches to troubleshoot issues in real time.Manage RTE merchandising (menu rankings, web display) and maintain accurate product documentation — pricing, specs, shelf life, launch dates.Assist with ad-hoc projects and tasks as necessary.Main Ingredients for the Role Culinary degree or equivalent professional culinary experience.5+ years of experience in recipe development, product development, or culinary innovation.Strong understanding of product commercialization, from concept through launch.Working knowledge of recipe costing, ingredient specifications, nutrition labeling, and food manufacturing processes.Comfortable working in both a test kitchen and at manufacturing facilities.Proficient in Google Workspace; able to quickly learn recipe management, project management, and product lifecycle software.Able to commute regularly to our Chicago-area sites (test kitchen, office, co-manufacturer).Extra Special SauceLeadership experience is a plus, including managing direct reports and leading cross-functional initiatives.Experience working with co-manufacturers, commissaries, meal kits, or large-scale food production.Demonstrated experience managing multiple projects, priorities, timelines, and stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.Strong analytical skills — comfortable using customer insights, product performance, and business metrics to drive decisions.Experience collaborating cross-functionally across Culinary, Procurement, Operations, QA, Marketing, Creative, Product, and Fulfillment.Exceptional organizational skills with strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.CompensationThe anticipated base salary range for this role is $85,000 - $105,000. In addition to base salary, this role is eligible for an annual bonus based on a combination of individual achievements and overall company performance. Compensation is based on experience and qualifications, and the posted range is not a guarantee of any specific offer.GarnishWe love our staff, and show it with benefits (including but not limited to medical, dental, vision, FSA, and life insurance), matching retirement plan, generous and flexible paid time off, Purple Carrot box delivery credits, professional development, and the opportunity to work in collaboration with teammates who are passionate about food!Final TouchesWe are committed to a safe and inclusive work environment, free of discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetics, national origin, ancestry, age, medical condition, mental or physical disability, handicap, veteran status, or marital status.
About Purple Carrot
Founded in 2014, Purple Carrot delivers clean, long-lasting energy through the power of plants. As the only company in America devoted entirely to plant-based eating, we have spent over a decade perfecting the balance of protein and fiber that only plants can provide. Offering chef-crafted, dietitian-designed meals delivered right to your door, we make plant-forward eating effortless, flexible, and endlessly exciting. Our menu spans quick weeknight dishes, occasion-worthy dinners, breakfast, lunch, snacks, and ready-to-eat meals.
Purple Carrot prioritizes taste and flexibility, offering no membership fees, the freedom to skip or unskip weekly deliveries whenever you want, and a no-pressure, cancel-anytime policy. We pride ourselves on doing plants better than anyone else - and we have the receipts to prove it.
Description
We are looking for a Culinary Innovation Manager, Ready-to-Eat to join our mission-driven team. As an integral part of the Culinary department, you will join forces with the Director of Culinary (to whom you will also report) in our continued effort to inspire people to eat more plants!
This position will play an important role in owning the Ready-to-Eat (RTE) portfolio — serving as the primary culinary partner to our co-manufacturer and driving the day-to-day strategy and execution of the category.
As the Culinary Innovation Manager, Ready-to-Eat, you will oversee product commercialization, menu planning, portfolio management, and cross-functional execution, partnering closely with Operations, Procurement, Marketing, Creative, QA, and Fulfillment to ensure our meals are operationally sound, financially successful, and aligned with the Purple Carrot brand.
We greatly thank all applicants; however, only those under serious consideration will be contacted.
Location
- This role is based in Chicago, IL, with on-site presence alternating between our Fulton Market test kitchen, Marketing Office, Chicago production partner, and co-manufacturer in the northwest suburbs.
On the Plate
- Own the Ready-to-Eat portfolio end-to-end, ensuring products align with our culinary standards, operational capabilities, financial targets, and customer expectations.
- Lead RTE commercialization with co-manufacturing partners — from product handoff through testing, scale-up, launch, and post-launch optimization.
- Serve as the primary culinary contact for co-manufacturing and production partners, building relationships that ensure consistent product quality and operational excellence.
- Partner with vendors to resolve product, quality, and commercialization challenges, and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
- Drive cross-functional execution with Procurement, Operations, QA, Marketing, Creative, and Fulfillment to launch new products and execute weekly menus.
- Manage commercialization timelines, workbacks, and milestones to keep launches on schedule.
- Be on-site at production facilities during key launches to troubleshoot issues in real time.
- Manage RTE merchandising (menu rankings, web display) and maintain accurate product documentation — pricing, specs, shelf life, launch dates.
- Assist with ad-hoc projects and tasks as necessary.
Main Ingredients for the Role
- Culinary degree or equivalent professional culinary experience.
- 5+ years of experience in recipe development, product development, or culinary innovation.
- Strong understanding of product commercialization, from concept through launch.
- Working knowledge of recipe costing, ingredient specifications, nutrition labeling, and food manufacturing processes.
- Comfortable working in both a test kitchen and at manufacturing facilities.
- Proficient in Google Workspace; able to quickly learn recipe management, project management, and product lifecycle software.
- Able to commute regularly to our Chicago-area sites (test kitchen, office, co-manufacturer).
Extra Special Sauce
- Leadership experience is a plus, including managing direct reports and leading cross-functional initiatives.
- Experience working with co-manufacturers, commissaries, meal kits, or large-scale food production.
- Demonstrated experience managing multiple projects, priorities, timelines, and stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong analytical skills — comfortable using customer insights, product performance, and business metrics to drive decisions.
- Experience collaborating cross-functionally across Culinary, Procurement, Operations, QA, Marketing, Creative, Product, and Fulfillment.
- Exceptional organizational skills with strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
Compensation
The anticipated base salary range for this role is $85,000 - $105,000. In addition to base salary, this role is eligible for an annual bonus based on a combination of individual achievements and overall company performance. Compensation is based on experience and qualifications, and the posted range is not a guarantee of any specific offer.
Garnish
We love our staff, and show it with benefits (including but not limited to medical, dental, vision, FSA, and life insurance), matching retirement plan, generous and flexible paid time off, Purple Carrot box delivery credits, professional development, and the opportunity to work in collaboration with teammates who are passionate about food!
Final Touches
We are committed to a safe and inclusive work environment, free of discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetics, national origin, ancestry, age, medical condition, mental or physical disability, handicap, veteran status, or marital status.
Purple Carrot started with just a seed of an idea in 2014. Our vision is a world where plant-based eating is at the core of living well. Every day, on this mission, we’re breaking boundaries with plant-based eating. We value learning from customers, an ownership mindset, integrity, winning together, and being bold. We need your expertise on our team to make things happen! OUR CORE VALUESLearning from Customers We listen to our customer's voice as the foundation for every decision and action Making it Happen We are scrappy, have a bias for action, act with speed and urgency, and are hungry to get it done Ownership We take our mission seriously, ask ‘how might we’ even when it’s the harder path, make no excuses, and hold ourselves accountable to own the outcomeIntegrityWe do what’s right, work thoughtfully and ethically in a way that fosters trust with our customers, teammates, partners and communityWinning Together We embrace differences as an advantage, respect one another, and let the best idea winBeing BoldWe think big with tenacious curiosity, challenge the status quo, and are passionate about making our vision a reality
Purple Carrot started with just a seed of an idea in 2014. Our vision is a world where plant-based eating is at the core of living well. Every day, on this mission, we’re breaking boundaries with plant-based eating. We value learning from customers, an ownership mindset, integrity, winning together, and being bold. We need your expertise on our team to make things happen!
OUR CORE VALUES
Learning from Customers We listen to our customer's voice as the foundation for every decision and action
Making it Happen We are scrappy, have a bias for action, act with speed and urgency, and are hungry to get it done
Ownership We take our mission seriously, ask ‘how might we’ even when it’s the harder path, make no excuses, and hold ourselves accountable to own the outcome
Integrity
We do what’s right, work thoughtfully and ethically in a way that fosters trust with our customers, teammates, partners and community
Winning Together
We embrace differences as an advantage, respect one another, and let the best idea win
Being Bold
We think big with tenacious curiosity, challenge the status quo, and are passionate about making our vision a reality
