A job AI can’t replace: Wendy’s seeks $100,000 Chief Tasting Officer

Wendy's has launched a nationwide contest offering a $100,000 package for a role called ‘Chief Tasting Officer.' The promotion runs from March 2 through March 30 and is open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., who are at least 18 years old. The winner will be hired as an independent contractor and must meet specified social media content deliverables.

Entrants may submit a public 60-second video on Instagram or TikTok or upload a submission through the contest website. Submissions posted to Instagram or TikTok must remain public for the duration of the contest, the rules state. The job listing was posted on a dedicated site outside Wendy's corporate domain and shared on Wendy’s official social account.

The listing describes minimal physical requirements and a preference for personality, noting: ‘A human mouth. A pulse. Opinions. Creativity. Taste.' It also includes the line: ‘a job AI can’t steal because… no mouth duh.' The contest rules set out eligibility, the contractual relationship and deliverables; they refer entrants to the official entry site for full terms. The rules do not specify detailed judging criteria or the exact number of posts the winner will produce in public materials about the contest.

Wendy's framed the effort as a social-media campaign. The announcement follows a recent online moment involving a rival chain’s executive taking a small bite of a new menu item and praising it; that clip prompted other quick-response eating videos from executives at competing chains.

Separately, Wendy's has reported recent operational challenges. The company’s stock fell to $7.00 on Feb. 17, a six-year low after management issued weak guidance. In its most recent reporting, Wendy's said U.S. same-restaurant sales declined 11.3%, and company-operated margins fell from 16.5% to 12.7%, citing weaker traffic and higher food and labor costs. In the same period, a larger competitor reported stronger fourth-quarter revenue and earnings, with robust same-store sales and rising U.S. traffic tied to value promotions. Year-to-date stock performance shows Wendy's down about 10.47% while that competitor is up roughly 7.18%.

Entries for the Chief Tasting Officer contest close March 30, after which Wendy's will select a winner to receive the $100,000 package. Full contest rules and entry instructions are available on the official contest website.

Corporate culture and recruitment policies go far beyond viral marketing campaigns. For a broader perspective on leadership in the sector, we recommend our previous analysis on why Women hold 6% of fintech CEO jobs.