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Culinary Innovation Jobs in Ohio (NOW HIRING)

Jack Entertainment

Executive Chef

Cleveland, OH · On-site

$69K - $95K/yr

The Executive Chef oversees and develops culinary leaders and team members, drives innovation through menu research and development, and ensures all outlets operate efficiently while meeting guest ...

Sodexo

Director, Product Development (Food)

Cleveland, OH · On-site

$115K - $140K/yr

Drive culinary innovation by leading new recipe and product development across multiple food brands. * Collaborate directly with clients to tailor offerings that align with their brand, goals, and ...

Sodexo

Director, Product Development (Food)

Cleveland, OH · On-site

$115K - $140K/yr

Drive culinary innovation by leading new recipe and product development across multiple food brands. * Collaborate directly with clients to tailor offerings that align with their brand, goals, and ...

Sodexo

Director, Product Development (Food)

Cleveland, OH · On-site

$116 - $140/hr

Drive culinary innovation by leading new recipe and product development across multiple food brands. * Collaborate directly with clients to tailor offerings that align with their brand, goals, and ...

Akron Children's Hospital

Executive Chef - AKRON

Akron, OH · On-site

$68K - $94K/yr

... and culinary innovation required. 5. Experience in quantity or large-batch food production required. 6. Experience working effectively with stakeholders at all organizational levels required. 7. ...

Genacross

Culinary Assistant

Holland, OH · On-site

$12.50/hr

... care, innovation, and support.What will I do as a Culinary Assistant with Genacross?Culinary ... Assistants provide dietary services for the residents in Assisted Living and the Health Center.

Nestlé S.A.

Principal Innovation Quality

Solon, OH · On-site

$120 - $180/hr

Serve as the primary Quality and Food Safety contact for the Dairy Culinary Solutions category ... Identify opportunities for innovation, value creation, and continuous improvement. Lead projects ...

Nestle

Principal Innovation Quality

Solon, OH · On-site

The Principal Innovation Quality serves as the primary point of contact for Quality and Food Safety across the Dairy Culinary Solutions category, with additional oversight for frozen and chilled ...

Ditsch

Head Pretzel Pro (Store Manager)

Cincinnati, OH · On-site

$18 - $22/hr

What You'll Own Culinary Innovation * Develop new menu items and limited-time offerings * Experiment with flavors, ingredients, toppings, sauces, and presentations * Create unique experiences that ...

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Culinary Innovation information

What is culinary innovation?

Culinary innovation refers to the process of creating new food products, recipes, or dining experiences by combining creativity with culinary expertise. It often involves experimenting with flavors, techniques, and presentation to meet evolving consumer tastes and industry trends. Professionals in this field may work in restaurants, food manufacturing, or hospitality, collaborating with chefs and product developers to bring fresh ideas to the table. Culinary innovation helps businesses stay competitive by offering unique and exciting options to customers.

How does a professional in Culinary Innovation typically collaborate with other departments within a food company?

Professionals in Culinary Innovation regularly work cross-functionally with teams such as product development, marketing, quality assurance, and supply chain. They often translate culinary trends and consumer preferences into viable product concepts, collaborating with food scientists to ensure recipes are scalable and meet safety standards. Effective communication and teamwork are essential, as they participate in brainstorming sessions, attend product tastings, and provide culinary expertise during product launches. This collaborative environment allows them to influence multiple stages of the product lifecycle and see their ideas brought to market.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in Culinary Innovation, and why are they important?

To excel in Culinary Innovation, you need a strong background in culinary arts, food science, and recipe development, often supported by experience in professional kitchens or a relevant degree. Familiarity with commercial kitchen equipment, food safety certifications, and product development software is typically required. Creativity, adaptability, and strong collaboration skills help drive the creation of unique dishes and successful teamwork. These abilities are crucial for developing innovative food concepts that meet market demands and maintain high-quality standards.

What is the difference between Culinary Innovation vs Food Scientist?

AspectCulinary InnovationFood Scientist
Required CredentialsCooking certifications, culinary degrees, culinary arts experienceFood science degrees, certifications in food safety and technology
Work EnvironmentCommercial kitchens, R&D kitchens, culinary labsResearch labs, manufacturing facilities, food development centers
Employer & Industry UsageRestaurants, food companies, culinary startupsFood manufacturing, research institutions, regulatory agencies

While both roles focus on food development, Culinary Innovation emphasizes creating new recipes and culinary concepts, often in a kitchen setting. Food Scientists focus on the scientific aspects of food, including safety, preservation, and formulation, typically working in research labs. Understanding these differences helps in choosing the right career path or job search focus.

What cities in Ohio are hiring for Culinary Innovation jobs?

Cities in Ohio with the most Culinary Innovation job openings:

Culinary Innovation jobs near you
Infographic showing various Culinary Innovation job openings in Ohio as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 79% Full Time, 16% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution.

Divisional Director of Catering

AVI Foodsystems, Inc.

Warren, OH • On-site

Full-time

Posted 17 days ago

AVI Foodsystems rating

6.3

Company rating: 6.3 out of 10

Based on 172 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

34th of 68 rated caterers

Job description

Experience the Family Difference in Hospitality
About AVI Foodsystems
Founded in 1960, AVI Foodsystems has grown into one of the nation's most respected and trusted food and hospitality companies. Today, AVI serves thousands of clients and millions of guests through our contemporary cafes, restaurant concepts, premier catering, concessions, retail, fresh market and specialty beverage programs.
From modest means, AVI has grown into the largest independently owned and operated food service company in the United States by exceeding the expectations of our customers. Today, AVI is still a family company dedicated to serving our guests with the same personal relationships and integrity as we did 60 years ago. Our unprecedented growth and account retention reflect our devotion to excellence and relationships, two of the ten core values we live by every day.
About AVI Fresh
AVI Fresh , the higher education division of AVI Foodsystems, serves nearly 50 colleges and universities with a fresh culinary and family approach. Our teams deliver exceptional resident dining, innovative retail, and sophisticated catering programs designed around the unique culture of each campus.
The Opportunity
AVI Fresh is looking for an accomplished Divisional Director of Catering to help shape the future of catering across our higher education division.
This is an opportunity to provide vision, strategy, and leadership to nearly 50 university catering programs while developing a strong community of catering professionals who share ideas, best practices, resources, and a passion for hospitality.
You will elevate standards, grow revenue, develop leaders, present culinary innovation, strengthen financial performance, and help our campuses deliver exceptional experiences�from everyday campus events to presidential receptions, donor events, alumni celebrations, conferences, and large-scale university functions.
This is a builder's role for a hospitality leader who sees the bigger picture and is excited by the opportunity to make an impact across an entire organization.
What You'll Lead
Strategy & Growth
  • Communicate the divisional vision and strategy for catering excellence, revenue growth, and profitability.
  • Establish consistent service standards, best practices, and operating systems across nearly 50 campuses.
  • Identify new business opportunities and innovative ways to expand catering services.

People & Leadership
  • Coach, mentor, and develop campus catering directors and their teams.
  • Build a connected, collaborative catering community across the AVI Fresh division.
  • Develop training, tools, resources, and career pathways that strengthen catering leadership.

Hospitality & Client Experience
  • Define what exceptional higher education catering looks and feels like.
  • Build strong relationships with university leaders, development teams, alumni organizations, conference services, and campus partners.
  • Provide strategic support for high-profile and complex events.

Culinary Innovation
  • Partner with culinary leaders to develop creative, contemporary, seasonal catering menus.
  • Establish standards for food quality, presentation, service, and event execution.
  • Bring new ideas, trends, and experiences to the AVI Fresh catering program.

Financial & Operational Performance
  • Develop divisional pricing strategies, financial benchmarks, and performance expectations.
  • Drive revenue growth while maintaining disciplined food, labor, and operating costs.
  • Use data and KPIs to identify opportunities and hold programs accountable for results.

Divisional Collaboration
  • Develop a divisional catering calendar and resource network to support major events across the portfolio.
  • Connect campuses with the people, expertise, and resources needed to execute exceptional events.
  • Champion a culture of sharing, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

How You'll Make an Impact
Success in this role will be measured through:
  • Client satisfaction and retention
  • Event quality and consistency
  • Adoption of divisional standards and best practices
  • Leadership development and team retention
  • Food and labor cost management
  • Catering revenue growth
  • Catering profitability

What We're Looking For
We are seeking a strategic hospitality leader, relationship builder, and developer of people who understands that great catering is about creating experiences�not simply serving food.
The ideal candidate will bring:
  • 7�10 years of progressive leadership experience in catering, hospitality, conference services, events, or large-scale food service.
  • Experience leading complex, high-volume or multi-unit catering operations and high-profile events.
  • Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, pricing, and operational analysis.
  • A proven ability to develop leaders and build high-performing teams.
  • Exceptional communication, presentation, relationship-building, and organizational skills.
  • A passion for culinary creativity, hospitality, and delivering memorable guest experiences.
  • The ability to lead through influence, collaborate across functions, and inspire teams across multiple locations.

Preferred: Bachelor's degree and experience in higher education, cultural institutions, luxury hospitality, convention/event venues, or other complex hospitality environments.
Location & Compensation:
  • Location: Central or Northeast Ohio preferred; location is open for discussion and may be negotiable for the right candidate
  • Salary: Targeted base salary of $80,000 - $90,000
  • Travel: This is a divisional leadership role supporting nearly 50 college and university campuses and will require regular travel throughout the AVI Fresh portfolio
  • Company Vehicle and gas card will be provided for business travel

Ready to Make an Impact?
If you are an innovative catering leader who is ready to think bigger, develop great people, elevate hospitality, and influence nearly 50 college and university communities, this is your opportunity to make a significant impact.
Bring your leadership. Bring your creativity. Bring your passion for hospitality.
Experience the Family Difference in Hospitality with AVI Fresh.

What AVI Foodsystems employees say

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About AVI Foodsystems

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Founded in 1960, AVI Foodsystems has evolved into one of the most respected and trusted food service companies in the nation. Providing comprehensive food services with a focus on the highest quality and freshest ingredients, impeccable service and total value is the reputation we have earned and live up to everyday.

Industry

Food services and drinking places

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Warren, OH, US

Year founded

1960

Social media

Twitter

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