ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Culinary Development Chef Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Salted

VP of Culinary

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$180K - $220K/yr

This role reports directly to our CEO and initially will manage a team of two (Culinary Director + R&D Chef). Responsibilities include: * Define and execute a cohesive culinary roadmap that aligns ...

Salted

VP of Culinary

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$180K - $220K/yr

This role reports directly to our CEO and initially will manage a team of two (Culinary Director + R&D Chef). Responsibilities include: * Define and execute a cohesive culinary roadmap that aligns ...

MOMOFUKU

CDC

Los Angeles, CA

$71K - $98K/yr

Momofuku Momofuku was founded by chef David Chang in 2004 with the opening of Momofuku Noodle Bar ... Consistently R&D menu creations and daily specials, inviting collaboration from Culinary Director ...

Compass Group

Portfolio Project Chef

Mountain View, CA · On-site

Additional Responsibilities Chef Development & Training * Design, coordinate, and deliver culinary training programs for chefs at all levels - from line cooks and sous chefs to senior executive chefs.

Compass Group

Portfolio Project Chef

Mountain View, CA · On-site

Additional Responsibilities Chef Development & Training * Design, coordinate, and deliver culinary training programs for chefs at all levels - from line cooks and sous chefs to senior executive chefs.

Bon Appetit

Portfolio Project Chef

Mountain View, CA · On-site

Additional Responsibilities Chef Development & Training * Design, coordinate, and deliver culinary training programs for chefs at all levels -- from line cooks and sous chefs to senior executive ...

Tiki Kai

Corporate Chef

Hermosa Beach, CA · On-site

$115K - $125K/yr

Paid time off Corporate Chef Multi-Concept Culinary LeaderSouth Bay Hospitality Group At South Bay ... Culinary leadership across all locations and concepts * Menu development and seasonal innovation

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsCulinary Development Chef JobsCulinary Development Chef Jobs in California

Culinary Development Chef information

How does a Culinary Development Chef typically collaborate with other departments to bring new menu items to market?

Culinary Development Chefs work closely with cross-functional teams such as marketing, procurement, and operations to ensure new menu items are both innovative and feasible. They often participate in brainstorming sessions, conduct taste tests, and adjust recipes based on feedback from stakeholders. Collaboration with supply chain teams is crucial to source ingredients that meet quality standards and fit within budget constraints. Additionally, they work with training teams to develop materials that help kitchen staff consistently execute new dishes across multiple locations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Culinary Development Chef, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Culinary Development Chef, you need advanced culinary expertise, creativity in recipe development, and a solid understanding of food safety, typically supported by a relevant culinary degree or certification. Familiarity with commercial kitchen equipment, recipe management software, and knowledge of current food trends are essential technical assets. Strong leadership, collaboration, and communication skills set top performers apart in this role. These abilities ensure the creation of innovative, high-quality dishes that meet both operational goals and customer expectations.

What is the difference between Culinary Development Chef vs Pastry Chef?

AspectCulinary Development ChefPastry Chef
CredentialsCooking certifications, culinary degreesPastry arts certifications, culinary degrees
Work EnvironmentTest kitchens, product development labsBakery, pastry shops, restaurants
Industry UsageFood manufacturing, restaurant chains, product innovationBakery, patisserie, dessert-focused establishments

The Culinary Development Chef focuses on creating new recipes, product development, and culinary innovation, often working in test kitchens or labs. In contrast, a Pastry Chef specializes in baking and pastry arts, working primarily in bakeries or pastry shops. While both roles require culinary skills and certifications, their work environments and industry applications differ significantly.

What are Culinary Development Chefs?

Culinary Development Chefs are professional chefs who specialize in creating and improving recipes, menus, and food products for restaurants, food manufacturers, or hospitality companies. They blend culinary creativity with technical knowledge to develop new dishes, enhance existing offerings, and ensure that recipes can be consistently reproduced on a large scale. Their work often involves testing ingredients, refining cooking techniques, and collaborating with other departments such as marketing and production. Culinary Development Chefs play a key role in keeping a brand’s food offerings innovative, appealing, and competitive in the marketplace.
What are popular job titles related to Culinary Development Chef jobs in California? For Culinary Development Chef jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Culinary Development Chef jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Culinary Development Chef jobs in California are:
Culinary Development Chef jobs near you
VP of Culinary

VP of Culinary

Salted

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

$180K - $220K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Posted 25 days ago

Job description


 

Join the largest delivery-first restaurant group in the United States!

At Salted, we believe the future of restaurants doesn’t look anything like what we see today. The most successful brands will focus primarily on delivery and take-out and use technology to nurture customer relationships that exist outside four walls.
We’re looking for a VP Culinary to lead our culinary strategy as we embark on our next stage of growth and expand from 35 locations to over 100+ over the next 3 years. If you think this could be you, we'd love to hear from you.
Please note that we encourage candidates who are interested in this role to email us directly at jobs@hellosalted.com with your resumé and a brief note about yourself. Please include "VP Culinary" in the subject line. We read every one of these emails.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
You will be the leader of our culinary strategy across our multi-brand portfolio (with a primary focus on our flagship brand, moonbowls). As our culinary leader, you will balance creativity with a systematic approach to creating consistent, profitable, and most importantly, uniquely positive customer experiences. This role reports directly to our CEO and initially will manage a team of two (Culinary Director + R&D Chef).
Responsibilities include:

  • Define and execute a cohesive culinary roadmap that aligns with Salted’s brand positioning (better-for-you, clean label, unique + craveable) and long-term business goals (100+ locations, highly profitable, the gold standard in digital-first)
  • Maximize the culinary offerings of our core brand menus as we turn these brands into household names
  • Lead the R&D pipeline for both new brands as well as our core brands (every month, we test 1-2 new brands out of our Test Kitchen)
  • Develop and execute an LTO strategy that balances culinary innovation with the constraints (and benefits) of our small, extremely high volume footprints
  • Use data to optimize our product mix for financial results as well as customer frequency
  • Serve as the culinary voice to our partners and executive team, presenting compelling, data-backed menu strategies that drive growth
  • Research and stay current with supplier opportunities to reduce costs and improve the quality of ingredients
  • Collaborate with Ops to establish and enforce elite standards for prep, presentation, and safety (HACCP)
  • Partner with Marketing, Ops, and Tech teams to ensure new launches are promoted effectively and executed flawlessly in every kitchen
  • Lead your team with candor and directness
  • Stay obsessed with the customer experience. Identify unmet needs and emerging trends to keep Salted ahead of the curve in a fast-changing industry.

WHO YOU ARE
The ideal candidate is extremely detail-oriented, has a deep understanding for the complexities of scaling quality and consistency across nationwide locations, and has an unquenchable thirst to create food that impacts millions of people’s lives.
  • 10+ years experience working in the QSR or fast food industry in a culinary role
  • Deep understanding for how to ensure culinary consistency at national scale
  • Able to translate customer ratings, PMIX, and COGs data into actionable menu improvements
  • Test-and-learn oriented mindset
  • Effective planner who cares deeply about the details as well as the big picture strategy
  • Knowledge of HACCP, SOP’s, and government/industry food safety and quality regulations, codes, and standards
  • Proven ability to collaborate with other departments, proactively identify problems/opportunities, and take ownership of deadlines and deliverables
  • Must be based in the Los Angeles area with some flexibility to travel to kitchens around the US
  • Passionate about building something great!


BENEFITS
Salary Range: $180,000 to $220,000
• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan (401k)
• Stock Options in Company
• Career Advancement Opportunities
• Work with a team that’s transforming the restaurant industry!
 

Responsibilities and tasks outlined in this document are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of the company. 
Salted is an equal-opportunity employer committed to building an inclusive team. If you require accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact hr@hellosalted.com.
 

Powered by JazzHR

a1ryLDtjl5