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Development Chef Jobs in Ohio (NOW HIRING)

Field Sous Chef

Columbus, OH · On-site

$48K - $65K/yr

The Field Sous Chef is a campus-wide culinary role designed to provide agile daily coverage across ... Development & Promotion Readiness * Participate in semi-annual development reviews with the Area ...

Sous Chef

Columbus, OH · On-site

$60K - $70K/yr

Our Sous Chefs must be able to remain calm and composed in high pressure situations ... Responsible for team development by interviewing and hiring back of house team members to maintain ...

Sous Chef

Columbus, OH · On-site

$60K - $70K/yr

Our Sous Chefs must be able to remain calm and composed in high pressure situations ... Responsible for team development by interviewing and hiring back of house team members to maintain ...

Sous Chef

Columbus, OH

$60K - $70K/yr

Our Sous Chefs are responsible for creating a positive environment that sets the expectations for ... Responsible for team development by interviewing and hiring back of house team members to maintain ...

Sous Chef

Columbus, OH · On-site

$48K - $65K/yr

Executive Chef Position Description: Amazing Benefits! 401K, 100% Company Paid Health Insurance ... Strong coaching and development skills * Ability to produce a high volume of work in a timely ...

Sous Chef

Cincinnati, OH · On-site

$55K - $60K/yr

Support menu development, seasonal features, and special events * Manage kitchen operations and staffing in the Executive Chef's absence What We Offer * Competitive salary of $55,000-$60,000 annually

Sous Chef

Cincinnati, OH · On-site

$55K - $60K/yr

Support menu development, seasonal features, and special events * Manage kitchen operations and staffing in the Executive Chef's absence What We Offer * Competitive salary of $55,000-$60,000 annually

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Sous Chef

Columbus, OH · On-site

$60K - $70K/yr

Our Sous Chefs partner with the Executive Chef to provide direction and training to team members by ... Responsible for team development by interviewing and hiring back of house team members to maintain ...

Sous Chef

Montgomery, OH

$48K - $64K/yr

Sous Chef: Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment If you truly want to elevate yourself, we have an ... Strong coaching and development skills * Ability to produce a high volume of work in a timely ...

Sous Chef

Cincinnati, OH · On-site

$48K - $64K/yr

Sous Chef Location: Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment, Inc. Reports to: Executive Chef Job Overview ... Strong coaching and development skills * Ability to produce a high volume of work in a timely ...

Sous Chef

Cincinnati, OH

$48K - $65K/yr

Sous Chef: Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment If you truly want to elevate yourself, we have an ... Strong coaching and development skills * Ability to produce a high volume of work in a timely ...

Sous Chef

Columbus, OH · On-site

$60K - $70K/yr

Our Sous Chefs must be able to remain calm and composed in high pressure situations ... Responsible for team development by interviewing and hiring back of house team members to maintain ...

Executive Chef

Powell, OH · On-site

$68K - $93K/yr

Executive Chef StoryPoint Powell North Position Summary: The Executive Chef is responsible for the ... Must have previous experience and proficient with menu development and pricing. * Must have ...

Sous Chef

Silver Lake, OH

$45K - $61K/yr

Menu development for the ala carte and banquet menus, and any other special request by a Member or the Executive Chef. * Responsible for the expediting at any meal period and ensuring proper quality ...

Executive Chef

Powell, OH · On-site

$68K - $93K/yr

Executive Chef StoryPoint Powell North Position Summary: The Executive Chef is responsible for the ... Must have previous experience and proficient with menu development and pricing. * Must have ...

Sous Chef

Pemberville, OH · On-site

$47K - $63K/yr

Menu development. * Oversight of the dining experience of the Long-Term Care Neighborhood. * Work side-by-side and hands on experience with the Executive Chef. * Recipe development. * Scheduling.

Chef

Loveland, OH · On-site

$50K - $71K/yr

The Executive Chef oversees the dietary department to provide efficient and effective culinary ... Works with Dietitian in menu planning and development. * Participates in QAPI and promotes ...

Showing results 21-40

Development Chef information

See Ohio salary details

$31.4K

$73.6K

$126.4K

How much do development chef jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for development chef in Ohio is $73,620.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $55,600.00 and $86,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a development chef?

A Development Chef is a culinary professional who specializes in creating and testing new recipes, food products, and menu items for restaurants, food manufacturers, or catering businesses. They blend creativity with technical expertise to innovate dishes that meet specific market trends, dietary requirements, and brand standards. Development Chefs often work closely with food technologists, marketing teams, and suppliers to ensure new products are both delicious and commercially viable. Their work may involve research, taste testing, and refining recipes to achieve the best possible result for consumers.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a development chef?

To thrive as a Development Chef, you need strong culinary expertise, creativity in recipe development, and a solid understanding of food safety regulations, often supported by formal culinary training and relevant certifications. Familiarity with kitchen equipment, food production management systems, and nutritional analysis software is typically expected. Strong project management, collaboration, and communication skills set outstanding Development Chefs apart. These abilities ensure innovative yet practical menu concepts that meet business goals and delight customers.

How does a development chef collaborate with other departments to create new menu items?

A Development Chef works closely with cross-functional teams, including marketing, procurement, and operations, to develop innovative menu items that align with brand objectives and operational capabilities. This often involves conducting taste panels, sourcing new ingredients, and ensuring recipes are scalable for production. Regular communication and collaboration with these departments are essential to ensure that new dishes meet cost, quality, and consistency standards before being rolled out to restaurants or retail outlets.

What is the difference between Development Chef vs Sous Chef?

AspectDevelopment ChefSous Chef
CredentialsCulinary degree, culinary certificationsCulinary degree, culinary certifications
Work EnvironmentResearch and development kitchens, innovation labsRestaurant kitchens, food service establishments
Employer & IndustryFood companies, product development firmsHotels, restaurants, catering services
Primary FocusCreating new recipes, product developmentManaging kitchen operations, preparing dishes

The main difference between a Development Chef and a Sous Chef lies in their focus and work environment. Development Chefs primarily work in research and development settings, creating new recipes and food products, while Sous Chefs are hands-on kitchen leaders managing daily kitchen operations in restaurants or hotels. Both roles require culinary credentials, but their responsibilities and workplaces differ significantly.

What do development chefs do?

Development chefs create and test new recipes, menu items, and food products for restaurants, food companies, or manufacturers. They often work in test kitchens, collaborate with culinary teams, and use their knowledge of ingredients, food trends, and food safety standards to innovate and improve offerings.

What is a typical day for a development chef?

A development chef's day involves creating and testing new recipes, developing product concepts, and collaborating with cross-functional teams such as marketing and production. They often work in a kitchen or laboratory environment, utilizing culinary skills, food science knowledge, and sometimes specialized tools or software to refine products and ensure quality standards.

What job categories do people searching Development Chef jobs in Ohio look for?

The top searched job categories for Development Chef jobs in Ohio are:

What cities in Ohio are hiring for Development Chef jobs?

Cities in Ohio with the most Development Chef job openings:

Infographic showing various Development Chef job openings in Ohio as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 86% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $73,620 per year, or $35.4 per hour.

$48K - $65K/yr

Full-time

Posted 5 days ago


Upper Crust Food Service rating

7.0

Company rating: 7.0 out of 10

Based on 13 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

18th of 68 rated caterers


Job description

At Upper Crust Food Service we believe great food does more than fill plates, it creates connection, strengthens communities, and transforms everyday experiences. Across college campuses, K-12 schools, camps, and Greek housing, our teams bring hospitality to life through fresh food, meaningful relationships, and service people can count on. While we began serving fraternity and sorority communities more than 15 years ago, we've grown into a national hospitality partner supporting a wide range of dining programs across the country. No matter the setting, our purpose remains the same: to show up for the people we serve and for one another.
If you're looking for meaningful work, real ownership, and a team that believes hospitality can make a difference, we'd love to meet you.
The Field Sous Chef is a campus-wide culinary role designed to provide agile daily coverage across all houses on a qualifying campus and to serve as the on-campus bench for permanent Chef openings. Rather than being assigned to a single house, the Field Sous Chef rotates across every house in the campus portfolio - stepping in to cover chef absences, support high-volume service, assist with special events, and partner with senior chefs on structured development.
Key Responsibilities:
Daily Coverage & Service Execution
  • Receive daily assignments from the Area Manager or Operations Specialist and report to the assigned house ready to lead service.
  • When covering an absent Chef, execute the house's planned menu to the standard expected by the house's clients - preserving continuity during the absence.
  • Manage back-of-house operations for the day including prep coordination, station setup, food safety compliance, and service execution.
  • Partner with the house's front-of-house team and house leadership on day-of logistics, dietary accommodations, and guest needs.

Cross-House Rotation & Campus Familiarity
  • Rotate across all houses served on campus, building working relationships with each house's team, clients, and leadership.
  • Learn each kitchen's equipment, inventory systems, vendor relationships, and service cadence.
  • Document insights, standards, and opportunities observed across houses to inform campus-wide best practices.

Prep, Events & Onboarding Support (coverage-light days)
  • Provide pre-service prep assistance at houses with high-volume meal periods.
  • Support new house onboarding during the first weeks of service on a new campus contract.
  • Execute special events including philanthropies, recruitment events, and formal dinners.
  • Complete structured shadow time with senior chefs as part of a documented development plan.

Development & Promotion Readiness
  • Participate in semi-annual development reviews with the Area Manager covering culinary skills, leadership, client management, and business acumen.
  • Build a portfolio of menu concepts, costed recipes, and service plans in preparation for independent menu ownership.
  • Maintain a professional, coachable posture across every rotation - the role's success depends on being welcomed into every kitchen on campus.

Qualifications:
Required
  • Culinary degree or equivalent professional kitchen experience.
  • 3+ years in a professional kitchen, with at least 1 year at the Sous Chef level or equivalent.
  • Demonstrated ability to execute a menu designed by another chef to that chef's standard.
  • Strong food safety knowledge; ServSafe certification or ability to obtain within 60 days of hire.
  • Flexibility and mobility - willingness to work across multiple kitchens on short notice, including early mornings, evenings, and occasional weekends.
  • Strong interpersonal skills; ability to integrate quickly into established kitchen teams.

Preferred
  • Prior experience in high-volume residential, hospitality, or institutional food service.
  • Experience with menu design, recipe costing, and inventory management.
  • Exposure to dietary accommodation programs (allergen management, religious and lifestyle diets).

Special Demands:
  • The work environment can be loud and busy. There are many kitchen hazards such as hot surfaces and liquids, sharp knives, and slippery floors.
  • Capability to work in a kitchen environment that may involve exposure to extreme heat or cold.
  • Required to stand for long periods, up to 8+ hours, as well as walk, bend and stoop.
  • Must be able to lift and/or move objects up to 50 pounds.
  • Exposure to cleaning chemicals.

Upper Crust Food Service provides equal employment opportunities to all employees 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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