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Culinary Development Chef Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Maple

Maple & Ash Chicago - Chef De Cuisine

Chicago, IL · On-site

$135K - $150K/yr

Who You Are The R&D Chef is the culinary architect for the brand, bridging the gap between Michelin-caliber artistry and multi-unit scalability. This role demands a rare hybrid of elite creativity ...

Flik Hospitality Group

EXECUTIVE SOUS CHEF

Chicago, IL · On-site

$95K - $100K/yr

Culinary & Operational Leadership * Support menu development, daily production, and food ... Lead, coach, and mentor sous chefs and front-line associates to strengthen skills, teamwork, and ...

Compass Group

EXECUTIVE SOUS CHEF

Chicago, IL

$95K - $100K/yr

Culinary & Operational Leadership * Support menu development, daily production, and food ... Lead, coach, and mentor sous chefs and front-line associates to strengthen skills, teamwork, and ...

Compass Group

EXECUTIVE SOUS CHEF

Chicago, IL · On-site

$95K - $100K/yr

Culinary & Operational Leadership * Support menu development, daily production, and food ... Lead, coach, and mentor sous chefs and front-line associates to strengthen skills, teamwork, and ...

Compass Group

EXECUTIVE SOUS CHEF

Chicago, IL · On-site

$95K - $100K/yr

Culinary & Operational Leadership * Support menu development, daily production, and food ... Lead, coach, and mentor sous chefs and front-line associates to strengthen skills, teamwork, and ...

BLUE PLATE CATERING LTD

Chef de Cuisine

Chicago, IL

$68K - $93K/yr

Executive Chef Customary Days: Sunday - Saturday Customary Hours: Varies to include evenings ... Contribute to recipe development, menu innovations, tastings, and culinary concepts that reflect ...

Blue Plate Catering

Chef de Cuisine

Chicago, IL · On-site

$68K - $93K/yr

Executive Chef Customary Days: Sunday - Saturday Customary Hours: Varies to include evenings ... Contribute to recipe development, menu innovations, tastings, and culinary concepts that reflect ...

Blue Plate Catering

Chef de Cuisine

Chicago, IL · On-site

$68K - $93K/yr

Executive Chef Customary Days: Sunday - Saturday Customary Hours: Varies to include evenings ... Contribute to recipe development, menu innovations, tastings, and culinary concepts that reflect ...

Park Hyatt Chicago

Sous Chef

Chicago, IL · On-site

$63K - $78K/yr

Team Development : Support and develop the culinary team through hands-on training, coaching ... Collaborate with the Executive Chef, Chef de Cuisine, Food & Beverage leadership, and hotel ...

Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Sous Chef

Chicago, IL · On-site

$63K - $78K/yr

THE ROLE: As Sous Chef , you will serve as a key culinary leader and brand ambassador for Park ... Team Development : Support and develop the culinary team through hands-on training, coaching ...

QUEENSIDE HOSPITALITY LLC

Executive Chef

Matteson, IL · On-site

$70K - $97K/yr

The Executive Chef will oversee multiple Food & Beverage concepts, including the Applebee's kitchen ... The ideal candidate is a strong culinary leader with banquet expertise, menu-development experience ...

Jibek Jolu

Chef

Glenview, IL · On-site

We are seeking a talented and motivated Chef to lead our Back of House (BOH) operations and drive ... Room for professional growth and development. How to Apply: If you're passionate about culinary ...

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All JobsCulinary Development Chef JobsCulinary Development Chef Jobs in Chicago, IL

Culinary Development Chef information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$33K

$81.7K

$117.4K

How much do culinary development chef jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for culinary development chef in Chicago, IL is $81,699.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $68,500.00 and $93,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a culinary development chef?

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.

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 popular job titles related to Culinary Development Chef jobs in Chicago, IL?

For Culinary Development Chef jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Culinary Development Chef jobs in Chicago, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Culinary Development Chef jobs in Chicago, IL are:

Culinary Development Chef jobs near you
Infographic showing various Culinary Development Chef job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 90% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $81,699 per year, or $39.3 per hour.

R&D Chef Manager - Berkeley Culinary Center

Berkeley, IL

Whitsons Culinary Group
Food and Drink Manufacturing • 1 - 5K employees

6.1

Company rating: 6.1 out of 10

Based on 60 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

38th of 68 rated caterers

People enjoy working here

Recommended by parents

Respectful managers

Learn more about Whitsons Culinary Groupexternal

$75K - $90K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Posted 8 days ago

Job description

SUMMARY

The R&D Chef Manager serves as a key culinary partner and right hand to the Director of Culinary, Whitsons Culinary Group's Berkeley, IL facility. This role leads day-to-day culinary product development, operational support, and execution of customer samples. The R&D Chef Manager translates culinary vision into production-ready recipes and ensures consistent, high-quality execution from concept through manufacturing.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND DUTIES

  • Lead culinary product development - concepting, formulating, testing, and refining recipes from bench-top through kitchen trials to production-ready, scalable formulas, executing the culinary direction of Whitsons
  • Responsible for creating new meals for ALL sectors that we serve (Education, Residential/Senior, Shelters, Food Service, Retail, Transportation)
  • Own execution and quality of customer and sales sample requests, including client tastings and product presentations, as directed.
  • Provide operational support on the plant floor - troubleshooting production issues, scaling recipes, and partnering with QA and Operations to ensure formulas are manufacturable at scale.
  • Serve as a key deputy on culinary initiatives, representing culinary priorities and maintaining project momentum in the absence of their manager.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with Sales, QA, Procurement, and Production to move products from concept to launch.
  • Maintain accurate documentation and specifications for formulas, ensuring consistency across trials and production runs.
  • Develop and cost recipes to meet target food cost and margin goals, balancing quality with budget guidelines.
  • Ensure formulas comply with food safety and regulatory requirements (HACCP, FSMA, USDA/FDA), including writing product specifications and nutrition fact panels.
  • Evaluate shelf-life and packaging considerations during recipe development.
  • Source and evaluate ingredients, and build relationships with suppliers and vendors.
  • Track culinary and flavor trends and competitive products, including attending trade shows and food exhibitions, to inform development priorities.
  • Mentor and train junior culinary and kitchen staff.
  • Perform other culinary and operational duties as assigned by the Director of Culinary.

Apply today and help us power a production line that fuels excellence -Enhancing Life One Meal at a Time

This role offers a salary range of $75,000 - $90,000 annually, based on skills, experience, and location. Employees also receive a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match, and time off.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

  • 5-10 years of progressive culinary or restaurant experience.
  • Culinary degree from an accredited culinary program.
  • Experience in food manufacturing and culinary R&D/product development strongly preferred.
  • Working knowledge of recipe scaling, food safety standards, and large-scale production processes.
  • Working knowledge of food safety and regulatory frameworks (HACCP, FSMA, SQF, USDA/FDA labeling requirements).
  • ServSafe or equivalent food handler certification required; HACCP certification a plus.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and timelines concurrently.
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills across cross-functional teams.
  • Ability to work on-site at the Berkeley, IL facility; occasional travel required for trade shows, supplier visits, or customer sites.
WORK ENVIRONMENT AND OTHER DETAILS

Expected Hours of Work:

This is a full-time exempt position. Typical work hours are Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., with additional hours as needed to meet business demands and production schedules. As an exempt position, it is expected that Team Member will devote whatever time necessary to accomplish the goals and responsibilities. This will often require extended work hours, evening, and/or weekend work.

Travel Requirements:

Periodic travel to production facilities, vendor sites, and industry events may be required.

Physical Demands of the Job:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the team member is frequently required to sit, stand, walk, talk, and hear; use hands and fingers to feel, handle, or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:

The work is performed primarily in an operational or facilities-based environment, with regular presence in active areas such as kitchens, production spaces, warehouses, loading docks, or administrative areas within the facility. The noise level in the work environment may vary and can range from moderate to occasionally high, depending on location and operational activity.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the Company and employee and is subject to change by the Company as the needs of the Company and requirements of the job change. Employee's signature below constitutes an employee's understanding of the requirements, essential functions, and duties of the position.

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About Whitsons Culinary Group

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Whitsons Culinary Group, located in Islandia, NY, US, operates in the food service industry, offering a diverse range of services including school nutrition, residential and healthcare dining, prepared meals, emergency dining, and culinary education. First established in 1979, the family-owned company has built a reputation for its bespoke catering services, committed to delivering nutritionally balanced, tastefully diverse and quality assured meals. The company embraces a mission to enrich life one meal at a time, underlined by a focus on food quality, health, wellness, superior service, and social responsibility.

Industry

Food and drink manufacturing

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Islandia, NY, US

Social media

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