Assistant Test Kitchen Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Summary
Do you love to cook but find yourself looking for a fresh environment? This role offers the perfect blend of kitchen prep, hands-on cooking, food shopping, inventory management, and tastings support!
As a Kitchen Operations Assistant within the Quality and Sustainability (QS) team, you will be the backbone of our test kitchen. You'll handle everything from sourcing ingredients and managing incoming packages to precise food preparation and data collection for product tastings. This isn't your typical restaurant line; it's a dynamic, corporate-support role that requires a proactive multitasker who can pivot quickly as priorities shift. If you are highly organized and ready to bring your culinary skills to a professional testing environment, we want to meet you.
What You'll Do
Essential Functions
• Prepare samples (layout, heating up and/or cooking) according to preparation instructions for expert, consumer and Senior Leadership tastings
• Purchase and order products for reviews on a weekly routine basis
• Execute quality control protocols for diverse product groups (e.g., meat, wine, own-brand items) to ensure all testing and development processes meet strict Quality Assurance standards.
• Maintain kitchen organization and cleanliness
• Support with product category analysis
• Provide administrative support for departmental projects, ensuring all milestones and documentation are completed on schedule and in alignment with company policy.
• Check incoming data for correctness, conduct data entry and assist in data management for various department projects and processes
• Assist with updating training materials such as manuals, handbooks, presentations, diagrams, workflows and project plans
• Participates in work processes, systems, and/or procedures to ensure efficient workflow
• Assist in monitoring, evaluating, documenting, and communicating process results in accordance with Quality Standards
• Review invoices
• Pack samples and arrange the shipping of packages
• Store samples and inform relevant stakeholders about faulty samples
• Perform other duties as assigned
What You'll Need
Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
• Basic knowledge of the retail industry and quality assurance principles
• Knowledge of Standard industry food safety guidelines
• Previous experience with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) or Google Workspace Environment
• Strong writing and communication skills
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills
• Effective time management
Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
• Knowledge of principles and methods of food science, physics, chemistry, or biology, consumer products regulations, production/manufacturing processes, and quality assurance practices, or other relevant areas of the retail industry
Required Education, Certifications/ Licenses, Related Experience
• High school diploma/GED
• Minimum 1-2 years of experience in related field
• Driver's License
Preferred Education, Certifications/ Licenses, Related Experience
• Bachelor's and/or Culinary Arts Degree
• ServSafe, PCQI, HACCP, or other industry standard certifications/licenses
Physical Job Requirements
• Ability to maneuver cases of product (lift, move, carry, slide, etc.) up to 50 lbs. and reach above head to heights greater than 10 inches frequently in accordance with safety regulations
• Ability to operate equipment that requires the constant use of hands/fingers/wrists more than half the time
• Must be able to work a variety of shifts which may include weekends as needed
• This is a non-remote position and candidate must be available to work at HQ full time.
• Ability to work in situations that involve prolonged sitting, standing, walking, squatting and/or bending more than half the time
• Ability to identify and distinguish between colors more than half the time
• Ability to work in a fast-paced working environment
• Ability to work in situations that involve prolonged sitting, standing, walking, squatting and/or bending more than half the time
What You'll Receive
At Lidl, we know that in order for our people to do their best, they must be at their best. That's why as a company, we offer one of the most generous benefits packages in the industry.
All our Lidl employees are eligible to receive the following benefits:
• Medical & Prescription | Dental | Vision coverage
• Paid Holiday & Paid Time Off (PTO) to use for sickness or vacation
• Dedicated training plans to ensure you are set up for success
• 401k Plan (+ 5% company match)
• Voluntary Term Life & AD&D Insurance
• Total Well-Being Program
• DailyPay, a voluntary benefit to offer employees access to their pay on their own schedule
Lidl US views our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) through a lens of actions that are Good for the Environment, Good for People, and Good for You.
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