Summary

Research and Development Chef

At our Company, we grow People, Brands, and Businesses! We are seeking a talentedResearch and Development Chef to be in a creative culinary role that is responsible for being the lead chef on client business, while also managing and leading those clients for purposes of creating new ideas for their menu or product line. This position is responsible for idea generation during innovation/ideation sessions and managing junior culinary staff on development projects. The incumbent must know and understand current trends and apply to culinary ideation and development projects. Additionally, this role engages with the account teams to support project management for all client-driven events and special projects, including creating and maintaining the project plan timeline and budget.

Take this opportunity to join North America’s leading business solutions provider and build your career working with amazing people in a growing industry! Apply today!

What we offer:

• Full-Time Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Life)

• 401(k) with company match

• Training and Career Development

• Generous Paid Time-Off

Responsibilities:

• Create, maintain and grow client relationships, soliciting feedback and initiating new projects.

• Collaborate with team to further promote company brand and create client opportunities.

• Create, articulate and present creative culinary concepts for client presentations.

• Research and/or understand consumer trends; translate challenges/trends into an actionable culinary application.

• Offer extensive culinary skills for development projects; lead culinary development projects.

• Maintain facilities to meet safety codes and requirements.

Qualifications:

• Associate's Degree in Culinary Arts required, or equivalent job-related experience

• 8+ Years of experience in Food Service industry as an executive chef or corporate chef

• 3+ Years of experience in Culinary Research & Development, sales or corporate role

• Track Record of Building & Maintaining Customer/Client Relationships

• Understanding of current nutrition, food, and food industry

• Have an understanding of restaurant operations, manufacturing, distribution, food safety, corporate strategy, and profitability

Responsibilities

The Company is one of North America’s leading sales and marketing agencies specializing in outsourced sales, merchandising, category management and marketing services to manufacturers, suppliers and producers of food products and consumer packaged goods. The Company services a variety of trade channels including grocery, mass merchandise, specialty, convenience, drug, dollar, club, hardware, consumer electronics and home centers. We bridge the gap between manufacturers and retailers, providing consumers access to the best products available in the marketplace today.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

Client & Project Management

• Create, maintain and grow client relationships, soliciting feedback and initiating new projects

• Assist account team in management of projects, planning and executing events

• Communicate project status, progress, issues, solutions, timelines, as needed

• Collaborate with team to further promote company brand and create client opportunities

Creative Culinary Ideation & Presentations

• Create, articulate and present creative culinary concepts for client presentations

• Take an active role in agency/client ideations

• Take an active/lead role in presentations both internally and externally

Culinary Research

• Research and/or understand consumer trends

• Translate challenges/trends into actionable culinary application

Culinary Development

• Offer extensive culinary skills for development projects

• Offer experience and guidance to junior chefs and assistants for development projects

• Lead culinary development projects (i.e. recipe development, culinary presentations)

Kitchen Management

• Maintain facilities to meet safety codes and requirements

Supervisory Responsibilities

Direct Reports

• Hires, retains, trains, coaches, guides, directs, and develops direct reports using company-wide processes, tools and resources

Indirect Reports

• May delegate work of others and provide guidance, direction and mentoring to indirect reports

Travel and/or Driving Requirements

• Travel and Driving are not essential duties or functions of this job

Minimum Qualifications

The following are the minimum job-related qualifications which an individual needs in order to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the job

Education Level:

(Required) Associate's Degree or equivalent experience

Field of Study/Area of Experience: Culinary Arts

8+ Years of experience in Food Service industry as an executive chef or corporate chef

3+ Years of experience in Culinary Research & Development, sales or corporate role

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Ability to Work Independently & Prioritize with minimal supervision, in order to Meet Deadlines

• Track Record of Building & Maintaining Customer/Client Relationships

• Ability to make Oral Presentations

• Flexible & Adaptable, able to change & Alter According to changes in Projects or Business Environment

• Understanding of current nutrition, food and food industry

• Have an understanding of restaurant operations, manufacturing, distribution, food safety, corporate strategy and profitability

Environmental & Physical Requirements

Office / Non-Sedentary Requirements

Incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of the job. Work may be performed in an office or warehouse environment. Typically requires the ability to spend 66%+ hours each work day doing the following activities: stand for extended periods of time, walk, bend, stoop, or climb. May have possible exposure to dust, and may require the ability to lift and/or push up to 50 pounds 33% - 66% of the time.

Additional Information Regarding The Company Job Duties and Job Descriptions

Job duties include additional responsibilities as assigned by one’s supervisor or other manager related to the position/department. This job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position. The Company reserves the right at any time with or without notice to alter or change job responsibilities, reassign or transfer job position or assign additional job responsibilities, subject to applicable law. The Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable a qualified applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.

Any estimate, schedule, or guideline provided to associates in this job description or elsewhere in connection with their jobs is only intended to help describe job duties and for planning purposes. Regardless of any such estimate, schedule, or guideline, associates must always record all time worked for our company (which includes but is not limited to on-site work time in an assigned store, office, or other work location; required waiting time; administrative time; and work-related travel time).

Important Information

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of associates so classified.

The Company is committed to providing equal opportunity in all employment practices without regard to age, race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, physical or mental disability, or any other category protected by law. As part of this commitment, the Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable an applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.

Job Locations US-IL-Chicago

Primary Posting Location : City Chicago

Primary Posting Location : State/Province IL

Postal Code 60602

Primary Posting Location : Country US

Requisition ID 2022-425278

Position Type Full Time