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Culinary Product Development Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Nestle

Product Development Scientist

Fremont, MI

Bachelor's degree in food science, culinary science, or a related field. Master's degree preferred. * Minimum of 3-6 years of experience in product development, preferably in the baby food industry.

Acxion Foodservice

Culinary R&D Manager

Chicago, IL

You'll lead culinary ideation and product development for key accounts, translate trends into actionable opportunities, and deliver compelling presentations that inspire restaurant partners. As a ...

Acxion

Culinary R&D Manager

Chicago, IL · On-site

$80K - $90K/yr

You'll lead culinary ideation and product development for key accounts, translate trends into actionable opportunities, and deliver compelling presentations that inspire restaurant partners. As a ...

Conagra Brands

Development Chef

Omaha, NE

$63K - $93K/yr

You will lead culinary product development from concept through execution, crafting and refining recipes while partnering closely with food scientists to develop goldstandard formulations that will ...

Farmer's Fridge

R&D Chef

Chicago, IL · On-site

$95K - $105K/yr

Who You Are... * 5+ years of experience in food R&D or culinary product development ideally in a ... RTE/fresh food manufacturing environment. * A Culinary Degree, Culinology Degree, Food Science or ...

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Culinary Product Development information

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How much do culinary product development jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 19, 2026, the average hourly pay for culinary product development in the United States is $24.93, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $20.43 and $26.20 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To succeed in Culinary Product Development, you need a strong background in food science, culinary arts, and recipe formulation, often supported by a degree in food science, culinary management, or a related field. Familiarity with product lifecycle management systems, sensory evaluation tools, and food safety certifications like HACCP is highly valued. Creativity, attention to detail, and strong collaboration skills help professionals innovate and adapt to market trends while working in cross-functional teams. These skills ensure the development of safe, appealing, and commercially viable food products that meet consumer and regulatory standards.

What is culinary product development?

Culinary product development is the process of creating new food products or improving existing ones for restaurants, food manufacturers, or retail markets. This role involves researching food trends, experimenting with recipes and ingredients, conducting taste tests, and ensuring products meet quality, safety, and cost standards. Culinary product developers often collaborate with chefs, food scientists, marketing teams, and suppliers to bring innovative and marketable food items from concept to production.

What are some common challenges faced in a Culinary Product Development role, and how can they be addressed?

Culinary Product Development professionals often encounter challenges such as balancing innovative flavors with production feasibility, meeting strict food safety regulations, and adapting recipes for large-scale manufacturing without compromising quality. To address these, it's important to work closely with cross-functional teams including food scientists, quality assurance, and production staff. Staying updated on industry trends, maintaining clear documentation, and conducting thorough product testing can also help overcome these hurdles and lead to successful product launches.

What is the difference between Culinary Product Development vs Food Scientist?

AspectCulinary Product DevelopmentFood Scientist
CredentialsCooking or culinary arts certifications, culinary degreesFood science degrees, certifications in food safety
Work EnvironmentTest kitchens, culinary labs, food companiesResearch labs, manufacturing facilities, quality control
Industry UsageFood companies, restaurants, product startupsFood manufacturing, research institutions, regulatory agencies

While Culinary Product Development focuses on creating and testing new food products through culinary techniques, Food Scientists analyze the chemical and physical properties of food to ensure safety, quality, and shelf life. Both roles collaborate closely in the food industry but serve different functions in product innovation and scientific research.

More about Culinary Product Development jobs
What cities are hiring for Culinary Product Development jobs? Cities with the most Culinary Product Development job openings:
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What job categories do people searching Culinary Product Development jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Culinary Product Development jobs are:
Culinary Product Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Culinary Product Development job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 78% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 4% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 100% Physical job distribution, with an average salary of $51,854 per year, or $24.9 per hour.
Culinary Development, Associate Manager - Jimmy John's

Culinary Development, Associate Manager - Jimmy John's

Inspire Brands

Atlanta, GA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 2 days ago

Inspire Brands rating

5.8

Company rating: 5.8 out of 10

Based on 56 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

29th of 104 rated fast food restaurants

Job description

SUMMARY

Supports the Culinary Development Team's workstreams by executing product preparation and kitchen testing. Responsible for delivery / planning of product development food showings,special events, Inspire and AFA Board meetings, CLT's, Executive Team meetings, focus group taste panels, and agency showings. Owns day-to-day product preparation, product ordering / inventory withinJimmy John'sareas of Inspire Test Kitchen. Lead execution of assigned new product development menu items, equipment /smallwares, and processes to supportJimmy John'sCulinary Teamobjectives.Culinary plays a critical rolein advancing the brand's strategy andlong termgrowth-we win through high-quality ingredientsand flawless execution thatguestscan count on every time.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide project support for Culinary Development Team

  • Conduct organoleptic evaluations of test and production samples as assigned.

  • Assistin the execution of product presentations for key stakeholders.

  • Assistin the planning and execution of food preparation for product showings.

  • Plan, execute, anddisseminateinformation from analytical studies of test products. This includes cook temperature studies, product size / weight studies, recipe portioning studies, and the measurement of other key product attributes as assigned.

  • Manage andmaintainJimmy John'stest kitchen storage areas forproduct availability,ease of access, organization, and shelf life.

Manage andfacilitateall Product Developmentspecial eventsand product showings for internalstake holdersto include but not limited to Inspire Board, executive team, agency reviews, merchandising / ops reviews, companyspecial events, pre-production showings for photo shoots and TV commercials.

  • Manage and organize labor needs for each event and manage team and the execution in the venue.

  • Manage thesetupof Test Kitchen or special facilities for foodshowings.

  • Responsible formanagement ofspecial food ordering requests for the test kitchen for product showings, taste panels, and photo shoots.

  • Train event staff and other Culinary Team members forspecial events/cuttings.

Manage and execute ProductDevelopmentexternalspecial eventsand product showings for all externalstakeholdersto include but not limited to CLT's, Focus Groups, Franchise Convention / Conference, photo shoots, TV commercials, and Agency Showings.

  • Manage and organize labor needs for each event and manage team for the execution at each facility.

  • Review Marketing team and Culinary Team prep sheet order guides and ensure correct product is being ordered for all external events.

  • Manage and train event staff and other Culinary Team members for external events / cuttings.

Culinary innovation & product development, including core menu and LTO innovation. Partner with cross-functional teams throughout the innovation process, including concept/ideation, product development, in-markettesting& commercializationfor systemlaunch.

  • Inspires the team to push boundaries and strives to create thefirst in class, best in class and/or only products of target category offered inQSR.

  • Responsible for translating culinary briefs into product innovation that drives new guest acquisition and industry-leading guestsatisfaction.

  • Work withInsightsTeam to conduct consumer/guest research to understand consumer needs & product optimization, including execution/preparation ofproduct fortesting.

  • Work with vendor partners to develop new products from concept to prototype, prototype tocostedcommerciallyviablesample, and through system commercialization process.

  • Research culinary trends and competitive innovation

  • Includes 20% travel for Supplier visits, Industry Events, Research & Culinary Tours, Brand Events

EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS

  • Minimum: Bachelor's Degree with Concentration in Culinary Arts or Food Science / Food Technology / closely related scientific discipline

EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS

  • 1 to 3 years experience preferred in restaurant culinary, restaurant operations, food manufacturing, food laboratory

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE,SKILLSor ABILITIES

  • Passion for Food & Culinary Arts - deep interest in food and flavors

  • Collaboration - ability to work collaboratively across teams of varying backgrounds

  • Strategy & program development - ability to take idea to execution, while managing multiple priorities

  • Strong organization - balance multiple priorities, keep timelines & records, clear written & verbal communication

  • Thrives in ambiguity - ability to multi-task and move quickly on tight timelines whilemaintainingstrong work product & quality standards.

  • Proficientin Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)


Inspire is a multi-brand restaurant company whose portfolio includes more than 33,000 Arby's, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin', Jimmy John's, and SONIC restaurants worldwide.
We're made up of some of the world's most iconic restaurant brands, but we're much more than just a restaurant company. We're a team of hundreds of thousands who individually and collectively are changing the way people eat, drink, and gather around the table. We know that food is much more than a staple-it's an experience. At Inspire, that's our purpose: to ignite and nourish flavorful experiences.

What Inspire Brands employees say

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Hours and flexibility

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About Inspire Brands

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Inspire Brands Inc., located in Atlanta, GA, United States, operates in the foodservice industry as a multi-brand restaurant company, making it among the biggest restaurant companies globally. Their portfolio includes well-known restaurant brands such as Arby's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Sonic, and Jimmy John's, reflecting their commitment to innovation and quality. Founded in 2018 as a result of a consolidation of various restaurant brands under one corporate umbrella, Inspire Brands was formed with a vision to invigorate excellent brands and supercharge their long-term growth.

Industry

Food services and drinking places

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Atlanta, GA, US

Year founded

2018

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