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Culinary Research Development Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Baker

Lexington, VA

$11.50 - $15/hr

This culinary experience is uniquely and authentically Parkhurst. If you've been searching for a ... Access to continuous development with Smile Universe * Eligibility for 401k, vision, dental and ...

... Culinary Manager or Chef looking for career development opportunities? Join Sysco's World Class ... Research customer business needs and develops a mix of products and service to meet needs.

... Culinary Manager or Chef looking for career development opportunities? Join Sysco's World Class ... Research customer business needs and develops a mix of products and service to meet needs.

... Culinary Manager or Chef looking for career development opportunities? Join Sysco's World Class ... Research customer business needs and develops a mix of products and service to meet needs.

Sales & Catering Manager

Richmond, VA · On-site

$48K - $62K/yr

Research and analyze market trends, competitor activity, and customer preferences to identify ... Proposal Development and Pricing: Prepare and present customized catering proposals, menus, and ...

Sales & Catering Manager

Richmond, VA · On-site

$48K - $62K/yr

Research and analyze market trends, competitor activity, and customer preferences to identify ... Proposal Development and Pricing: Prepare and present customized catering proposals, menus, and ...

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Culinary Arts or related field; at least 5 years of ... R&D capabilities. * Qualify and develop relationships with key decision makers * Provide general ...

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Culinary Research Development information

See Virginia salary details

$13

$25

$39

How much do culinary research development jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average hourly pay for culinary research development in Virginia is $25.83, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.09 and $30.53 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are culinary research development jobs?

Culinary research and development jobs focus on using food science and the culinary arts to create new food and drink options for a menu. Common job titles include research chef, culinary research and development specialist, and culinary research and development chef. In any of these roles, you may select the ingredients for each recipe, help determine whether or not a dish should go on the menu, and focus on using innovation during the R&D process to meet the company's goals. This job has two major components. First, on the culinary side, your job is to create the best dishes you can. On the other hand, employers also expect you to consider the practical and business aspects of a dish. This includes how costly the ingredients are, how easy the ingredients are to get, whether or not it's possible to work the ingredients into a supply chain, and how easy it is for another chef to replicate the dish in a timely manner.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in culinary research development, and why are they important?

Culinary Research and Development (R&D) is a specialized field that focuses on creating, testing, and improving food products, recipes, and cooking techniques. Professionals in this area work in various settings, such as food manufacturing companies, restaurants, and test kitchens, to innovate and develop new menu items or packaged foods. They blend culinary creativity with scientific principles to ensure products are safe, tasty, and marketable. Culinary R&D often involves collaborating with chefs, food scientists, and marketing teams to bring new food concepts to life.

What are some common challenges faced in a culinary research development role and how can they be overcome?

Professionals in Culinary Research Development often encounter challenges such as balancing creativity with cost-effectiveness, adapting recipes for large-scale production, and meeting diverse dietary requirements. Collaboration with cross-functional teams—like marketing, nutrition, and manufacturing—is essential to ensure that products are innovative yet feasible. Staying up-to-date with food trends and consumer preferences also requires ongoing research and flexibility. Success in this role often depends on strong project management skills and open communication within the team.

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

AspectCulinary Research DevelopmentFood Scientist
CredentialsCooking and culinary certifications, culinary degreesFood science degrees, certifications in food safety
Work EnvironmentTest kitchens, culinary labs, product development kitchensLaboratories, manufacturing facilities, research centers
Industry UsageFood companies, restaurants, product development firmsFood manufacturing, research institutions, quality control

While Culinary Research Development focuses on creating and testing new recipes and culinary concepts, Food Scientists analyze food properties, safety, and quality. Both roles often collaborate but serve different primary functions within the food industry.

What are the most commonly searched types of Culinary Research Development jobs in Virginia?

The most popular types of Culinary Research Development jobs in Virginia are:

What are popular job titles related to Culinary Research Development jobs in Virginia?

For Culinary Research Development jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Culinary Research Development jobs in Virginia look for?

The top searched job categories for Culinary Research Development jobs in Virginia are:

Infographic showing various Culinary Research Development job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 76% Full Time, 21% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $53,728 per year, or $25.8 per hour.

$11.50 - $15/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted yesterday


Parkhurst Dining rating

5.9

Company rating: 5.9 out of 10

Based on 91 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

43rd of 68 rated caterers


Job description

Parkhurst Dining is a family-owned and operated company that provides culinary, dining and catering services to over 80 organizations and universities. We believe that food is best when made from scratch with locally sourced ingredients, prepared with heart, & served with a smile. This culinary experience is uniquely and authentically Parkhurst. If you’ve been searching for a place where you can do what you love, love what you do and have room to grow, consider joining our team! Parkhurst Dining is part of Eat’n Park Hospitality Group, a regional portfolio of foodservice concepts serving 50 million guests annually in its restaurants, on college and corporate campuses and in every state through our online store. 


JOB SUMMARY

Responsible for the quality, quantity, and timeliness of bakery production, preparing baked goods

in accordance with Parkhurst recipes, standards, and procedures under strict sanitary conditions.


ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

· Prepare all baked goods daily according to Parkhurst recipes, maintaining correct portion sizes.

· Ensure the quality and freshness of all baked goods, producing them to meet specifications.

· Determine the quantity of all baked goods to be produced, utilizing production sheets.

· Maintain standards for baked goods presentation.

· Distribute all products to proper areas of service.

· Complete daily production sheets.

· Store and date all food items.

· Research and test new recipes and bring them to management’s attention.

· Follow cleaning schedule as provided by management, using “clean as you go” techniques.

· Maintain an open line of communication with management, informing them of products and supplies needed.

· Follow the uniform dress code and maintain proper personal hygiene.

· Follow all Parkhurst Gold Standards. Uses Smile Plus hospitality imperatives.

· Assist fellow team members at every opportunity.

· Perform any other duties as assigned by management.


QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.


PHYSICAL DEMANDS

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

§ Standing and/or walking - 100% of time.

§ Occasionally lifting up to 50 lbs


BENEFITS

  • FREE meal during your shift
  • 20% discount on any food purchase at Eat’n Park, Hello Bistro, The Porch, and Parkhurst Dining.
  • Paid time off
  • Management career advancement opportunities
  • Access to continuous development with Smile Universe
  • Eligibility for 401k, vision, dental and medical plans


Eat’n Park Hospitality Group provides equal employment opportunities to all team members and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.


This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.


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