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Development Chef Jobs (NOW HIRING)

... chef creativity with storytelling as you bring culinary inspiration to life for our leadership, customers and at events. You will coordinate research and development cuttings, drive flavor and ...

Under the direction of the Director of Research & Development the R&D Chef will execute daily tasks meant to elevate current recipes or bring new concepts to life as well as any projects needed to ...

R&D Chef Factor _ a brand of HelloFresh is seeking an R&D Chef. As an R&D Chef, you will be at the forefront of our culinary innovation, responsible for conceiving and developing cutting-edge food ...

Under the direction of the Director of Research & Development the R&D Chef will execute daily tasks meant to elevate current recipes or bring new concepts to life as well as any projects needed to ...

Under the direction of the Director of Research & Development the R&D Chef will execute daily tasks meant to elevate current recipes or bring new concepts to life as well as any projects needed to ...

R&D Chef

Chicago, IL · On-site

$95K - $105K/yr

As the R&D Chef at Farmer's Fridge, you will be the creative engine behind our ever-evolving menu. You'll create delicious and scalable recipes to fill our core menu as well as building velocity and ...

R&D Chef

Chicago, IL · On-site

$95K - $105K/yr

As the R&D Chef at Farmer's Fridge, you will be the creative engine behind our ever-evolving menu. You'll create delicious and scalable recipes to fill our core menu as well as building velocity and ...

Chef de Cuisine

Schofield, WI

$66K - $90K/yr

We offer exceptional pay, a beautiful work environment, and numerous opportunities for growth and development. Chef de Cuisine Responsibilities: * Ensuring that all food meets the highest quality ...

Chef de Cuisine

Schofield, WI · On-site

$66K - $90K/yr

We offer exceptional pay, a beautiful work environment, and numerous opportunities for growth and development. Chef de Cuisine Responsibilities: * Ensuring that all food meets the highest quality ...

Executive Chef, Production (Contract)

Atlanta, GA · On-site

$68K - $94K/yr

Attend weekly meetings with R&D chefs in order to give feedback on recipes or ingredient specifications * Review meal ratings weekly and assess areas for performance improvement Documentation and ...

Develop training programs and provide professional development opportunities for all kitchen staff Work with Corporate R&D chefs on ingredient and menu continuous improvement opportunities * Ensure ...

Who You Are The R&D Chef is the culinary architect for the brand, bridging the gap between Michelin-caliber artistry and multi-unit scalability. This role demands a rare hybrid of elite creativity ...

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Development Chef information

See salary details

$33K

$77.4K

$133K

How much do development chef jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for development chef in the United States is $77,438.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $58,500.00 and $90,500.00 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.
More about Development Chef jobs
What cities are hiring for Development Chef jobs? Cities with the most Development Chef job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Development Chef jobs? The most popular types of Development Chef jobs are:
What states have the most Development Chef jobs? States with the most job openings for Development Chef jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Development Chef jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Development Chef jobs are:
Infographic showing various Development Chef job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 77% Full Time, 22% Part Time, and 1% Temporary. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $77,438 per year, or $37.2 per hour.
Associate Development Chef

$59K - $78K/yr

Full-time

Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 23 days ago


Conagra Brands rating

7.1

Company rating: 7.1 out of 10

Based on 132 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

196th of 395 rated food and drinks producers


Job description

Reporting to the Culinary Director, you will cook, create, and innovate in our research & development kitchen where food is the star. 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 be commercialized at our plants. This role is deeply handson and highly visible, blending chef creativity with storytelling as you bring culinary inspiration to life for our leadership, customers and at events. You will coordinate research and development cuttings, drive flavor and technique, and serve as a culinary ambassador who translates trends and inspiration into compelling, customerready products.

A Taste of Your Responsibilities

  • Coordinate and execute innovation tastings, customer meetings, and culinaryfocused events.

  • Collaborate with members of the culinary team and crossfunctional partners to arrange culinarycentric business functions such as taste treks and culinary inspiration days.

  • Assist with customer meetings featuring foodfocused discussions led by the culinary team.

  • Maintain inventory of ingredients used in the development process and proactively stage ingredients for development sessions, focusing on culinary innovation.

  • Input and maintain recipes on interdepartment shared drives and actively update records for future reference.

  • Maintain kitchen operations, including sanitation, maintenance, and organization.

Ingredients Required for Your Success

  • Associate degree in culinary arts or a related discipline.

  • Two years of experience in a culinaryfocused role.

  • Previous experience with handson cooking responsibility and accountability for purchasing, sanitation, inventory management, and ordering processes.
  • Strong culinary skills with an emphasis on savory cooking and current food trends.

  • Sanitation training and certification.

  • Strong verbal and written communication skills.

  • Analytical and logical problemsolving skills.

  • Collaborative approach with the ability to work effectively across all levels of the organization.

  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

#LI-Onsite
#LI-MH1
#LI-Associate

Compensation

Pay Range:$59,000-$78,000

The annual salary listed above is the expected offering for this position. An employee's actual annual salary will be based on but not limited to: location, relevant experience/level and skillset, while balancing internal Conagra employees' equity.Conagra Brands will comply with applicable law regarding minimum salaries for exempt employees.

Our Benefits

We care about your total well-being and will support you with the following, subject to your location and role:

  • Health: Comprehensive healthcare plans, wellness incentive program, mental wellbeing support and fitness reimbursement

  • Wealth: Great pay, bonus incentive opportunity, matching 401(k) and stock purchase plan

  • Growth: Career development opportunities, employee resource groups, on-demand learning and tuition reimbursement

  • Balance: Paid-time off, parental leave, flexible work-schedules (subject to your location and role) and volunteer opportunities

Our Company

At Conagra Brands, we have a rich heritage of making great food. We aspire to have the most impactful, energized and inclusive culture in food. As a member of our 18,000+ person team across 40+ locations, you are empowered to reach your potential, make an impact and own your career. We're in the business of building champions - within our people and our iconic brands like Birds Eye, Slim Jim and Reddi-Wip.

Our focus on innovation extends beyond making great food, it also reflects our commitment to embracing new solutions that positively impact our team, the communities we serve and the health of our planet. Foodies Welcome.

Conagra Brands is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, pregnancy, leave status, disability, veteran status, genetic information and/or any other characteristic or status protected by national, federal, state or local law. Reasonable accommodation may be made upon request.


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About Conagra Brands

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Conagra Brands (NYSE: CAG) is an approximately $11 billion company that combines a rich heritage of making great food with a sharpened focus and entrepreneurial spirit. We're transforming the way we operate to fulfill what consumers and customers want, in a smart, simple way. We're modernizing our iconic food brands, leveraging fresh opportunities and adapting to a changing landscape - all with a culture that's ready to capture growth and drive shareholder value.

Industry

Food services and drinking places

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Chicago, IL, US

Year founded

1919

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