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Development Chef Jobs in Leeds, AL (NOW HIRING)

Gecko Hospitality

Sous Chef

Birmingham, AL

$46K - $63K/yr

Sous Chef The Sous Chef will work closely with the Culinary Development Team and Executive Chef to ensure menu items are executed with excellence 100% of the time. The Sous Chef will contribute to ...

Troon

Sous Chef

Vestavia Hills, AL · On-site

$50K/yr

Sous Chef experience, and will assist in training, and leading kitchen staff. Qualified candidates ... Assists in the development of new food concepts. * Assists in the achievement of budgetary ...

Ruth's Chris Steak House

Executive Chef

Birmingham, AL · On-site

$67K - $92K/yr

Executive Chef Ruth's Chris Steak House Where legendary flavor meets refined leadership. Ruth ... development and seasonal features • Maintain the integrity of the Ruth's Chris brand in every ...

Troon Golf

Sous Chef

Vestavia Hills, AL · On-site

$42K - $57K/yr

Sous Chef experience, and will assist in training, and leading kitchen staff. Qualified candidates ... Assists in the development of new food concepts. * Assists in the achievement of budgetary ...

Ruth's Chris Steak House

Sous Chef

Birmingham, AL · On-site

$65K/yr

... development, inventory control, and cost management. What We're Looking For: • 3+ years of ... Previous sous chef experience required Additional Info: We are an equal opportunity employer/ E ...

Ruth's Chris Sizzling Steak Concepts

Sous Chef

Birmingham, AL · On-site

$46K - $63K/yr

Join Our Team as a Sous Chef at Ruth's Chris Steak House At Ruth's Chris Steak House, we believe in ... Assist in menu development, inventory control, and cost management.What We're Looking For:3+ years ...

COUNTRY CLUB OF BIRMINGHAM

Tourant Chef

Birmingham, AL · On-site

Support the head chef in overseeing kitchen operations, including inventory management and ordering ... Strong knowledge of culinary techniques, food preparation, and menu development. * Exceptional ...

Perry's Restaurants

Sous Chef

Birmingham, AL · On-site

$65K/yr

Outstanding training and development programs * Advancement and growth opportunities * Insurance ... A dynamic work environment based upon professionalism, respect and teamwork The Sous Chef position ...

Perry's Steakhouse and Grille

Sous Chef

Birmingham, AL · On-site

$65K/yr

Outstanding training and development programs * Advancement and growth opportunities * Insurance ... A dynamic work environment based upon professionalism, respect and teamwork The Sous Chef position ...

Life Care Services

Executive Chef

Hoover, AL

$80K - $83K/yr

You will also play a key role in team development, kitchen operations, and resident engagement ... Chef or Sous Chef in a restaurant, hotel, or similar environment * Strong knowledge of current ...

Life Care Services

Executive Chef

Hoover, AL

$80K - $83K/yr

You will also play a key role in team development, kitchen operations, and resident engagement ... Chef or Sous Chef in a restaurant, hotel, or similar environment * Strong knowledge of current ...

Life Care Companies, LLC

Executive Chef

Hoover, AL · On-site

$80K - $83K/yr

You will also play a key role in team development, kitchen operations, and resident engagement ... Chef or Sous Chef in a restaurant, hotel, or similar environment * Strong knowledge of current ...

The Arlington of Naples

Executive Chef

Hoover, AL · On-site

$80K - $83K/yr

You will also play a key role in team development, kitchen operations, and resident engagement ... Chef or Sous Chef in a restaurant, hotel, or similar environment * Strong knowledge of current ...

Asbury Village

Executive Chef

Hoover, AL

$80K - $83K/yr

You will also play a key role in team development, kitchen operations, and resident engagement ... Chef or Sous Chef in a restaurant, hotel, or similar environment * Strong knowledge of current ...

Heritage at Irene Woods

Executive Chef

Hoover, AL

$80K - $83K/yr

You will also play a key role in team development, kitchen operations, and resident engagement ... Chef or Sous Chef in a restaurant, hotel, or similar environment * Strong knowledge of current ...

Highlands College

Executive Chef

Birmingham, AL

$67K - $92K/yr

The Executive Chef oversees menu development, culinary standards, financial performance, team leadership, compliance, and innovation across all dining locations. As a senior culinary leader, this ...

Highlands College

Executive Chef

Birmingham, AL · On-site

$67K - $92K/yr

The Executive Chef oversees menu development, culinary standards, financial performance, team leadership, compliance, and innovation across all dining locations. As a senior culinary leader, this ...

Compass Group

Executive Chef

Birmingham, AL · On-site

$75K - $85K/yr

Participates and attends departmental meetings, staff development, and professional programs, as ... Hands-on chef experience a must * Comprehensive knowledge of food and catering trends with a focus ...

Morrison Healthcare

Executive Chef

Birmingham, AL · On-site

$75K - $85K/yr

Participates and attends departmental meetings, staff development, and professional programs, as ... Hands-on chef experience a must * Comprehensive knowledge of food and catering trends with a focus ...

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Showing results 1-20

All JobsDevelopment Chef JobsDevelopment Chef Jobs in Leeds, AL

Development Chef information

See Leeds, AL salary details

$30.1K

$70.6K

$121.3K

How much do development chef jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for development chef in Leeds, AL is $70,629.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $53,400.00 and $82,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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.

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 are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Development Chef, and why are they important?

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.

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.
Development Chef jobs near you
Infographic showing various Development Chef job openings in Leeds, AL as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $70,629 per year, or $34 per hour.
Sous Chef

Sous Chef

Gecko Hospitality

Birmingham, AL

$46K - $63K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 18 days ago

Job description

Sous Chef

Upscale Casual-Culinary Leader

If you are a Sous Chef looking to join an award winning team, who enjoys living life and enjoys living an active life style, this is the company for you! Apply Today for an opportunity to become our Sous Chef in Birmingham, AL. Our menu is seasonally-inspired with the fresh appeal of a farmer’s market. The menu represents a unique blend of art and science, with the creative offerings designed to excite and surprise the palate. We use natural cooking techniques that we execute with precision and care to ensure just the right amount of fresh ingredients are used in each delicious dish. These practices have earned us an award for “Best Fresh Menu”. Along with the sophisticated approach to our cuisine is our extensive wine lists featuring many of the best wines throughout the world. Don’t miss this fresh and exciting career opportunity as a Sous Chef in Birmingham, AL.

Title of Position: Sous Chef

Job Description: The Sous Chef will work closely with the Culinary Development Team and Executive Chef to ensure menu items are executed with excellence 100% of the time. The Sous Chef will contribute to building top line sales and guest counts through the delivery of a competitively superior team member and guest experience. The Sous Chef is responsible for leading their team of culinary professionals to deliver high-quality, great tasting food, proper food safety procedures and profitability. The Sous Chef will be responsible for all equipment sanitation and maintenance, and must be able to communicate effectively to delegate such duties appropriately, diligently following the strictest standards and procedures set in place.

Benefits:

·        Very Competitive Compensation ($65,000 - $72,000)

·        Quarterly Performance Bonus

·        Day One Medical/Dental/Vision Coverage

·        Immediate 401(K) with Company Match after 1 Year of Service

·        Company Paid Retirement Plan (at 1 year of service)

·        Complimentary Life Insurance

·        Paid Vacations

 

Qualifications:

·        The Sous Chef must have high volume restaurant management experience of at least 3 years

·        A passion for mentoring and developing others is a must for the Sous Chef

·        As solid track record in achieving financial results is a must for the Sous Chef

·        The Sous Chef must be extremely guest orientated with the highest degree of honesty and integrity

·        The Sous Chef should make themselves available to the restaurant at all times

Apply Now- Sous Chef located in Birmingham, AL.

If you would like to be considered for this position, email your resume for review.

#ZRMDT


Company Description

Since 2000, Gecko Hospitality and its dedicated Franchise Partners and Recruiters throughout the United States have been pioneers in the hospitality recruiting industry. The value that Gecko Hospitality provides to its Clientele is evident in the advanced networking and technology skills our professional recruiters possess in identifying qualified restaurant professionals.
Our national network consists of 37 regional offices that are driven to meet the needs of the hospitality industry. In addition, Gecko Hospitality offers the largest selection of hospitality jobs, restaurant jobs, hotel jobs, resort jobs and club management jobs online. Our specialized, hospitality-focused team covers all 50 states and Canada with over 80 Franchise Partners and recruiters. Gecko Hospitality was founded on providing the finest restaurant jobs nationwide to the highest performing candidates. More importantly, our Franchise Partners and recruiters began their careers in hospitality and there is no finer training ground for recruiting than real life experience.
At Gecko Hospitality, we are passionate about making sure that every member of our recruiting team is familiar with our philosophies. In the same way that we learn about people when developing relationships and friendships, we want our people to have a sense of Gecko Hospitality's values and insight into our company's "personality." With this insight comes a greater understanding of how values "fit" with Gecko Hospitality's values, why we do things the way we do as well as providing a basis for making decisions that are appropriate to those values. We all play a part in keeping these traditions and philosophies alive.
We want every member of our recruiting team to understand that we are only as good as how well we follow these philosophies on an every day basis. Gecko Hospitality is all about achieving results by being motivated. This motivation to achieve results comes from within. No one can motivate us, nor can we motivate anyone else. As leaders, all that we can do is provide an environment where people motivate themselves to achieve mutually beneficial goals. Along with this philosophy, each team member possesses the following traits for which we are proud: honesty, integrity, desire, determination, listening skills, rapid learning, responding in a timely manner, effective communication skills, thoroughness, empathy, compassion, and most of all we want every team member to have a strong work ethic that motivates them to produce superior results both for our candidates and for our Clients.
At Gecko Hospitality, you certainly have... more choices