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Development Chef Jobs in Leeds, MA (NOW HIRING)

Dishwasher

Springfield, MA ยท On-site

$13 - $16.75/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... Development Program. Let us help you reach your full potential at The Nines! At The Ninety Nine ... chef, saute cook or grill cook kitchen experience in a high volume restaurant environment.

Dishwasher

Chicopee, MA

$13 - $16.75/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... Development Program. Let us help you reach your full potential at The Nines! At The Ninety Nine ... chef, saute cook or grill cook kitchen experience in a high volume restaurant environment.

Line Cook

Greenfield, MA ยท On-site

$14.50 - $18.25/hr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... Development Program. Let us help you reach your full potential at The Nines! At The Ninety Nine ... chef, saute cook or grill cook kitchen experience in a high volume restaurant environment.

Dishwasher

Westfield, MA ยท On-site

$13.50 - $17.50/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... Development Program. Let us help you reach your full potential at The Nines! At The Ninety Nine ... chef, saute cook or grill cook kitchen experience in a high volume restaurant environment.

Buyer

Springfield, MA ยท On-site

$55K - $75K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

A team of sales reps, chefs, consultants, and other experts builds close relationships with customers - providing advice on improving operations, menu development, product selection, and operational ...

Supv, Procurement

Springfield, MA ยท On-site

$75K - $85K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

A team of sales reps, chefs, consultants, and other experts builds close relationships with customers - providing advice on improving operations, menu development, product selection, and operational ...

Produce Buyer

Springfield, MA ยท On-site

$65K - $85K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

A team of sales reps, chefs, consultants, and other experts builds close relationships with customers - providing advice on improving operations, menu development, product selection, and operational ...

Director of Operations

Springfield, MA ยท On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • PTO

Supervise and support Housing Staff, including Behavioral Health Technicians (BHTs), Chefs ... Professional development opportunities * Supportive and mission-driven work environment * The ...

Director of Operations

Springfield, MA ยท On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • PTO

Supervise and support Housing Staff, including Behavioral Health Technicians (BHTs), Chefs ... Professional development opportunities * Supportive and mission-driven work environment * The ...

Showing results 21-40

Development Chef information

See Leeds, MA salary details

$33.6K

$78.8K

$135.4K

How much do development chef jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for development chef in Leeds, MA is $78,830.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $59,600.00 and $92,100.00 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?

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.

What are popular job titles related to Development Chef jobs in Leeds, MA?

For Development Chef jobs in Leeds, MA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Development Chef job openings in Leeds, MA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 79% Full Time, 16% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $78,830 per year, or $37.9 per hour.

Specialist, Brands Seafood

Performance Food Group

Springfield, MA โ€ข On-site

$75K - $95K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 5 days ago


Job description


We Deliver the Goods:
  • Competitive pay and benefits, including Day 1 Health & Wellness Benefits, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, 401K Employer Matching, Education Assistance, Paid Time Off, and much more
  • Growth opportunities performing essential work to support America's food distribution system
  • Safe and inclusive working environment, including culture of rewards, recognition, and respect
Position Summary:
Responsible for building customer loyalty and trust by becoming a true partner in their business. Partner through menu redesign, employee training and development of promotion and merchandising programs. Responsible for all seafood sales including controlled brand sales, customer training, advertising, promotions, participation in food shows, brand product selection, customer events and brand profitability. Functions as a team member within the department and organization, as required, and performs any duty assigned to best serve the company.
Position Responsibilities:
  • Successfully implement brand marketing programs as measured by favorable company financial performance. Attain targeted sales as determined by business goals. Serve as business consultant for customers in an effort to build customer loyalty and promote sales.
  • Perform competitive brand product cuttings.
  • Guide local supplier and broker support in joint and independent sales calls. Gather competitive product feedback from sales and operators and communicate to PFG headquarters.
  • Identify potential significant users of brand items and conduct presentations to the customers.
  • Work with sales, marketing and purchasing to maintain proper Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) balance of products while focusing efforts to grow branded sales. Communicate quality issues and/or competitive product information.
  • May design customer menus. Develop new ideas for customers. May cook for special customer events. Evaluate food and labor costs savings through observation.
  • Conduct in-house training seminars for Area Managers (AM) and sales management. Provide training for customers, as needed.
  • Performs other duties as assigned
  • Complies with all policies and standards

EEO Statement
Performance Food Group and/or its subsidiaries (individually or collectively, the "Company") provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all applicants and employees, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations. Please click on the following links to review: (1) our EEO Policy; (2) the "EEO is the Law" poster and supplement; and (3) the Pay Transparency Policy Statement.
Required Qualifications
High School Diploma/GED
Culinary Arts, Hotel/Restaurant Management, sales/marketing or related experience.
3-5 years of seafood selling, buying or processing experience.
Company Description
Performance Foodservice, PFG's broadline distributor, maintains a unique relationship with a variety of local customers, including independent restaurants and hotels, healthcare facilities, schools, and quick-service eateries. A team of sales reps, chefs, consultants, and other experts builds close relationships with customers - providing advice on improving operations, menu development, product selection, and operational strategies. The Performance team delivers delicious food but also goes above and beyond to help independent restaurant owners achieve their dreams.