The Senior Director of Culinary Innovation serves as the Executive Chef for Portillo's, leading enterprise-wide menu strategy to balance the brand's iconic heritage with forward-thinking growth. Key responsibilities include developing a multi-year innovation roadmap, driving product development through consumer insights and trend analysis, and managing the end-to-end stage-gate process from concept ideation to system-wide launch. The role requires close collaboration with Marketing, Operations, and Supply Chain teams to ensure new items meet quality, financial, and operational standards. This position offers the appeal of shaping the future of a beloved Chicago-based brand within a culture rooted in family, greatness, and energy. The hybrid work arrangement requires four days on-site at the Aurora test kitchen with occasional travel for market tests and supplier collaboration.