Senior Director of Culinary Innovation

About the Role

The Senior Director of Culinary Innovation (Executive Chef) at Portillo's is a pivotal leadership position designed to shape the future menu strategy of our iconic, Chicago-based brand. This role balances our strong heritage and craveable food with forward-thinking innovation to deliver an unrivaled guest experience across our rapidly growing, multi-state footprint.

We are seeking a food- and guest-obsessed culinary leader to thoughtfully build and lead a multi-year innovation pipeline rooted in consumer insights, emerging food trends, and operational scalability. As a strategic thought partner to executive leadership, you will influence menu strategy, innovation priorities, and long-term brand positioning through food.

This is a hands-on role that owns the culinary strategy and the end-to-end stage-gate process, from concept ideation through test, validation, and system-wide launch. You will ensure all new menu items deliver on quality, taste, brand differentiation, speed of service, financial targets, and operational simplicity. Additionally, you will serve as a champion of culinary excellence, setting and protecting quality standards for all menu items, both current and future.

Operating at the intersection of culinary creativity, consumer understanding, and operational discipline, you will partner closely with Marketing, Operations, Supply Chain, and Finance to bring winning ideas to market at scale. You will help define what Portillo's culinary innovation looks like today and in the future, ensuring it remains distinctive, relevant, and executable across the system.

Our Culture

Our purpose is to create lifelong memories by igniting the senses with unrivaled food and experiences. We live by four core values:

• Family: We work together to make everyone feel at home, and we step up when someone needs help.
• Greatness: We are obsessed with being the best and work hard to continuously improve. Our greatness is rooted in Quality, Service, Attitude, and Cleanliness.
• Energy: We move with urgency and passion, while maintaining attention to detail.
• Fun: We entertain our guests, connect authentically, and make each other smile.

Work Model

This is a hybrid position requiring four days per week on-site, primarily at the test kitchen in Aurora, Illinois (3–4 days), with occasional on-site presence at the Portillo's Restaurant Support Center in Oakbrook, Illinois (approximately 1 day). One day per week may be remote.

Application & Interview Process

This position reports to the Chief Marketing Officer and works cross-functionally to support menu strategy and innovation. The role partners closely with senior leaders across Marketing, Operations, Supply Chain, and Finance, as well as external supplier partners to deliver and scale culinary innovation across the system.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Portillo's is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.