Manager Onboard Culinary Programs

JetBlue Airways Corporation is a major American airline known for its commitment to customer service, innovation, and high-quality onboard experiences. Established in 1999, JetBlue has built a strong reputation as a leading low-cost carrier offering affordable flights with a focus on comfort and service excellence. The company operates an extensive domestic and international flight network and emphasizes a culture centered on safety, caring, integrity, passion, and fun. JetBlue invests significantly in its onboard products to distinguish itself in an often price-competitive market through differentiated dining experiences and reliable service. As a hybrid work environment employer, JetBlue fosters collaboration and innovation among its teams while supporting flexible work arrangements to enhance employee engagement and productivity. The compensation package for this role includes a competitive base salary ranging from $114,000 to $170,000 annually, along with performance bonuses, equity incentives, and comprehensive benefits such as healthcare, 401(k) matching, and travel perks.

The Manager Onboard Culinary Programs at JetBlue plays a vital leadership role in shaping the airline's onboard dining experiences. Reporting to the Senior Manager of Onboard Experience Product Development, this position oversees the entire lifecycle of the culinary programs that JetBlue offers during flights. This role acts as the strategic culinary lead and primary liaison to all catering partners across JetBlue's global network, ensuring that menus meet the airline’s standards for quality, consistency, safety, and brand alignment. The manager engages both in strategic planning and operational management, orchestrating menu specifications, food safety compliance protocols, partner performance monitoring, and pricing strategies that meet budget requirements.

Key responsibilities include developing and maintaining accurate and timely menu specifications and recipes in collaboration with product development, operational teams, and catering vendors. The manager leads a team responsible for creating clear crew guides detailing plating, portioning, and service procedures, aligning these guides with inflight possibilities and catering supply chain realities. Food safety is paramount, and the manager owns the audit schedules, corrective action plans, and compliance frameworks necessary to maintain rigorous standards. In addition, this role develops dashboards and communication tools to provide visibility into fresh food catering network performance to leadership and frontline staff.

This leadership role also extends to managing relationships with suppliers, handling requests for proposals (RFPs), service level agreements (SLAs), and new partner onboarding. The manager must balance food quality, operational requirements, and cost control, working cross-functionally with teams including catering standards, finance, brand and marketing, and corporate communications. The position demands strong culinary expertise, operational discipline, and the ability to instill a culture of continuous improvement and accountability within the culinary programs team. Frequent domestic and international travel is expected to oversee catering operations and partner relationships. The manager is an essential contributor to JetBlue's commitment to delivering an exceptional and consistent onboard dining experience that reinforces the airline’s brand values and differentiates it in the marketplace.