Summer Strategy Internship

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your resume, cover letter, and writing sample (see below for prompt) to the Handshake application portal by April 28th, 2025.

Please note that applications without a writing sample will not be considered.

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Established in 2002, The Culinary Edge (TCE) is the USA’s leading food & beverage innovation consultancy. We work with ambitious brands, and sometimes we launch our own, like Starbird.

At TCE you’ll find classically trained chefs working alongside designers, brand planners, operational experts, and food anthropologists. We fuse culinary excellence, operational expertise, and human-centered design to forge the future of what we eat and drink.

TCE’s work supports all types of brands, from startups to Starbucks. We have an insatiable appetite to learn, create, cook and taste — on any given day, you’ll see our office abuzz with the energy of developing new ideas in our studio and new dishes in our test kitchen.

JOB DESCRIPTION

TCE’s internship program offers creative and curious minds a three-month opportunity to work alongside our team of strategists and chefs. At TCE, we like to think of our internships more like apprenticeships. We learn the most when teaching and it is our duty to ensure there is a rich transfer of knowledge and skills. 

The strategy internship is designed to cultivate a deep understanding of scalable food and beverage concepts. Our goal is to prepare our strategy interns for a career in food & beverage strategy through exposure to F&B concepting, operations, brand design, menu strategy, and product development. This strategy internship is intended for junior and senior college students, recent graduates, or those seeking to understand the ins and outs of the restaurant industry before making a career pivot.

As this position occurs during the Summer, this internship is best suited for:

• College juniors not enrolled in summer classes that are able to be present in San Francisco for the duration of the internship.
• Recent university graduates (graduated in Spring 2025 or earlier)
• Anyone looking to build their career in food & beverage creative consulting

This internship has the potential to transition into a full-time position, and, as such, preference is given to candidates who have already graduated from undergraduate university.

Due to the broad scope of our business, The Culinary Edge requires a wide-ranging skill set and professional demeanor from the strategy intern. Interns are assigned to projects alongside other members of the strategy team, and follow the project through each phase of work, from creative to development and launch. TCE interns contribute to projects at many stages, occasionally managing independent tasks and projects, making them integral members of the Strategy Team. 

Sample Responsibilities of the Strategy Intern

• Support strategy and culinary teams on client projects, including writing, copyediting, deck building, proofing deliverables, imagery collection, and providing consumer research support
• Participate in creative brainstorming sessions
• Research restaurant concepts, industry trends and periodicals, ingredients, plateware, and packaging
• Capture and disseminate notes for creative ideation sessions and meetings
• Assist in the creation of kitchen operations materials for client projects
• Coordinate reception, hospitality, and meals for client meetings, general guest hospitality, and space management
• Shop for ingredients, supplies, and materials

Your Experience and Skills

• Design-focused with advanced written and visual presentation skills
• Able to quickly adapt to new technology or programs
• Able to manage a heavy workload, prioritize well and meet deadlines
• Resourceful, flexible and able to creatively solve problems
• Systems and process-oriented
• Proactive and reliable to fellow team members and managers
• Impeccable attention to detail and minimal errors
• Passionate about food, trends, and hospitality
• Strong sense of agency and accountability

Requirements

• Undergraduate student or recent graduate (within the last 12 months)
• Strong working knowledge of Mac, Microsoft office suites, and Google suites
• Ability to work in-person 4-5x a week at our San Francisco test kitchen, located in the SOMA neighborhood.

HOURS & LOCATION

Interns work full-time normal office hours and total approximately 38 hours per week. However, hours are flexible and may differ from week to week. Please note that it is not recommended to apply for this internship as a full-time student.

Internship Term

3-4 months

Target Starting Date (flexible based on school schedule)

• Summer: mid-June through mid-August -- application due by April 28th, 2025

Compensation

$20/hour (non-negotiable)

Sample writing 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 judgment. We want to get to know you and where you like to eat! Pretend you’re writing a ~250-word review for the Eater blog about your favorite restaurant including name, location, why it’s your favorite, the must-have menu items, and any unique facts readers should know.