Innovation Strategist

The Culinary Edge, a CORE foodservice company, is the USA’s leading food & beverage innovation consultancy. We work with over 30% of the top 200 restaurant brands in the USA. At TCE you’ll find classically trained chefs working alongside designers, branding experts and food anthropologists. We fuse culinary excellence with human-centered design, to forge the future of how we eat and drink. We work at a fast pace on multiple projects, simultaneously traveling, exploring, tasting, learning, communicating and planning. If this sounds like the food & beverage adventure of your dreams, we want to hear from you. Our method is simple : Lead with empathy. Follow through with know-how. See and solve from every angle. Inspire action. TCE has an Innovation Strategist opportunity in San Francisco, CA What are WE looking for? We are looking for creative Strategists who think big, can steer our internal vision, and the visions of our clients. The Strategist is a multi-talented professional who is practiced in thinking critically about brands and businesses, crafting inspiring strategic narratives, and developing clear solutions to ambiguous problems. Above all, the Strategist demonstrates passion for the food and beverage industry and an ability to work collaboratively, nimbly, and effectively. Responsibilities Co-create compelling and grounded strategies with a diverse team of collaborators to create world-class F&B experiences for the largest and smallest brands in the world. Support Senior Strategists in guiding the project engagement. Guide internal and external client teams through our process. Develop deliverables and presentations employing captivating storytelling and a keen visual aesthetic. Constantly work to make yourself, your team, and the work better. Experience And Skills You have 2+ years of agency experience in consulting, corporate / brand strategy, or product development (food & beverage experience is a huge plus here). You are a passionate brand storyteller, killer with decks, confident with clients. You have hands‑on experience working in the world of food and beverage, from either a restaurant perspective, a brand perspective, or otherwise. You have a keen understanding of consumer trends, their business implications and the difference between a trend and a fad, particularly in the food world. You are versed in design methods & processes needed to produce outstanding frameworks and deliverables. You are able to synthesize a wealth of primary and secondary research into integrated, prioritized insights. You have a strong design sensibility and are well‑practiced in choosing the right presentation content, narrative and supporting imagery. You are able to frame information for different audiences, and can edit and build presentations accordingly for maximum impact. You are able to write and deliver presentations with content that is to‑the‑point, memorable and impactful. You are a dynamic public speaker who is able to deliver presentations with composure, confidence and joy. You are flexible and comfortable working in a sometimes ambiguous and dynamic environment. You are comfortable working closely with cross‑functional teams and eager to learn as you go. In your cover letter, please address the following. About you and TCE : Why are you interested in joining our team? About business strategy : Describe a challenging strategy project or problem that you were involved with. What made it challenging for you? How did you approach the problem? And what was the ultimate insight and outcome? About F&B innovation : If you came to work at TCE, which company, product or service would you want to redesign? Please note that applications without a writing sample will not be considered. Writing Sample Prompt : Review Your Favorite Restaurant At The Culinary Edge, we spend a significant amount of time dining out together. From hole‑in‑the‑wall spots to Michelin starred restaurants, we’re eager for culinary adventure and proceed without judgement. We want to get to know you and where you like to eat Pretend you are writing for the Eater blog about your favorite restaurant including name, location, why it's your favorite, and the must‑have menu items, and any unique facts readers should know. Department TCE Employment Type FT Minimum Experience Mid‑level Compensation $75,000-$90,000 / year #J-18808-Ljbffr