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Menu Development Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Market and Main Local Eatery

Sous Chef

Troy, IL · On-site

$20 - $25/hr

Menu Development: Assist with creating new menu items, seasonal specials, and improving existing dishes * Line Cooking & Expedite Service: Step in as needed during busy service periods, including ...

Home Chef

Menu Strategy Analyst

Chicago, IL · On-site

... R&D and various Menu Strategy team tools within Google Workspace • Lead the meal selection process including preparing the data, leading the meeting, and allocating meals to menus • Support ...

Khepri Kitchen

Lead Baker

Mount Prospect, IL · On-site

$26 - $29/hr

You'll lead daily bakery production, collaborate on menu development, oversee one baker, and play an important role in catering and special events. We're looking for someone who takes pride in ...

SSP Group

Kitchen Manager

Chicago, IL · On-site

Bring your creative touch to menu development, maintaining our commitment to quality, presentation, and guest satisfaction. * Drive Financial Success : Manage budgets, control costs, and maximize ...

SSP Group

Kitchen Manager

Chicago, IL · On-site

Bring your creative touch to menu development, maintaining our commitment to quality, presentation, and guest satisfaction. * Drive Financial Success : Manage budgets, control costs, and maximize ...

SSP America

Kitchen Manager

Chicago, IL · On-site

Bring your creative touch to menu development, maintaining our commitment to quality, presentation, and guest satisfaction. * Drive Financial Success : Manage budgets, control costs, and maximize ...

SSP Group

Kitchen Manager

Chicago, IL

Bring your creative touch to menu development, maintaining our commitment to quality, presentation, and guest satisfaction. * Drive Financial Success : Manage budgets, control costs, and maximize ...

Boar's Head Brand

Culinary Development Manager

Chicago, IL · On-site

$147K/yr

Understand the benefit of additional sales opportunities and secondary opportunities for selling products, reducing overall shrink risk. * Assist in menu development for retail and restaurant ...

East Bank Club

Executive Chef

Chicago, IL · On-site

$135K - $145K/yr

Menu Development & Culinary Innovation: * Lead the creation, development, execution, and ongoing evolution of menus across all Club dining outlets. * Balance innovation, seasonality, wellness, member ...

East Bank Club

Executive Chef

Chicago, IL · On-site

$135K - $145K/yr

Menu Development & Culinary Innovation: * Lead the creation, development, execution, and ongoing evolution of menus across all Club dining outlets. * Balance innovation, seasonality, wellness, member ...

East Bank Club

Executive Chef

Chicago, IL

$135K - $145K/yr

Menu Development & Culinary Innovation: * Lead the creation, development, execution, and ongoing evolution of menus across all Club dining outlets. * Balance innovation, seasonality, wellness, member ...

QUEENSIDE HOSPITALITY LLC

Executive Chef

Matteson, IL · On-site

$60K - $80K/yr

The ideal candidate is a strong culinary leader with banquet expertise, menu-development experience, financial knowledge, and the ability to manage multiple kitchen operations in a fast-paced ...

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All JobsMenu Development JobsMenu Development Jobs in Illinois

Menu Development information

See Illinois salary details

$48.5K

$104.4K

$168.1K

How much do menu development jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for menu development in Illinois is $104,361.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $85,300.00 and $117,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is menu development?

A Menu Development job involves creating, testing, and refining food and beverage menus for restaurants, cafes, or catering businesses. Professionals in this role research food trends, balance flavors, and ensure profitability while maintaining brand identity. They collaborate with chefs, suppliers, and marketing teams to design appealing and cost-effective menu items. Additionally, they may consider dietary restrictions, sustainability, and customer preferences to enhance the dining experience.

What does someone in menu development do?

In a Menu Development role, daily tasks often include researching food trends, developing and testing new recipes, analyzing menu performance data, and collaborating with chefs, nutritionists, and procurement teams. Menu developers may also be responsible for adjusting existing menus to optimize profitability and catering to customer preferences while ensuring quality and consistency. Regular meetings and tastings are part of the job, as is working closely with marketing teams to create visually appealing menu descriptions. This collaborative environment allows you to have a direct impact on both culinary creativity and the business success of the organization.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in menu development?

Excelling in Menu Development requires a strong understanding of culinary trends, nutrition, recipe costing, and food safety, often backed by experience in culinary arts or hospitality management. Familiarity with menu engineering software, inventory systems, and culinary certifications such as ServSafe are commonly beneficial. Creativity, collaboration, and attention to detail help professionals design attractive and cost-effective menus that align with brand standards. These skills ensure menus are innovative, profitable, and meet customer and operational needs.

What are the most commonly searched types of Menu Development jobs in Illinois?

The most popular types of Menu Development jobs in Illinois are:

What are popular job titles related to Menu Development jobs in Illinois?

For Menu Development jobs in Illinois, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Menu Development jobs in Illinois look for?

The top searched job categories for Menu Development jobs in Illinois are:

What cities in Illinois are hiring for Menu Development jobs?

Cities in Illinois with the most Menu Development job openings:

Menu Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Menu Development job openings in Illinois 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 $104,361 per year, or $50.2 per hour.

Manager - Menu Scheduling & Planning

United Airlines, Inc.

Chicago, IL • On-site

Full-time

Posted 5 days ago

United Airlines rating

7.9

Company rating: 7.9 out of 10

Based on 342 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 26 rated airlines

Job description

Description
Find your future at United! We're reinventing what our industry looks like, and what an airline can be - from the planes we fly to the people who fly them. When you join us, you're joining a global team of 100,000+ connected by a shared passion with a wide spectrum of experience and skills to lead the way forward.
Achieving our ambitions starts with supporting yours. Evolve your career and find your next opportunity. Get the care you need with industry-leading health plans and best-in-class programs to support your emotional, physical, and financial wellness. Expand your horizons with travel across the world's biggest route network. Connect outside your team through employee-led Business Resource Groups.
Create what's next with us. Let's define tomorrow together.
Key Responsibilities:
The Menu Design team is responsible for shaping the food and beverage experience across United's onboard operation and lounge portfolio. From the earliest stages of menu development through implementation and launch, the team ensures every offering balances customer expectations, culinary quality, operational execution, and business performance.
This individual will oversee assigned areas within the Food & Beverage portfolio, including but not limited to onboard complimentary programs (Polaris, Domestic First Class, United Premium Plus, Premium Transcontinental, Economy, Special Meals, Crew Meals, and Beverages), onboard retail offerings, United Clubs, and Polaris Lounges. This manager will also oversee the passenger meal schedule and optimization.
The Manager will be responsible for working cross-functionally among internal and external stakeholder groups to develop, implement, and monitor menu development. The manager and their direct report will also serve as the strategy owners and subject matter experts on meal scheduling rules, exceptions and optimization within the Catering Systems.
Success depends on building strong partnerships across the organization. The Manager will work closely with Culinary, Procurement, Catering Operations, Digital Technology, Finance, Marketing, Creative Services, suppliers, and catering partners to ensure programs are developed, communicated, and implemented successfully. Balancing competing priorities, managing timelines, and keeping multiple initiatives moving simultaneously are essential to the role as well
This role is equal parts planner, collaborator, and problem-solver. It requires someone who enjoys bringing structure to complex projects, can see around corners, and understands that great menu experiences are built long before the meal is ever served. The right person will help ensure our products launch on time, our teams stay aligned, and our menu strategy continues to evolve with the needs of both our customers and our operation.
  • Manage the planning, design, and implementation process for menu offerings within United's Food & Beverage portfolio. Partner with Internal Stakeholders (Digital Technology, Inflight, Onboard Experience, Procurement, Insights & Analytics) and External Stakeholders (Third-Party Vendors, Distribution Centers, Culinary Experts) to ensure successful end-to-end design, delivery and implementation of menu initiatives, inclusive of supporting the development of measurement plans for all tests and process efficiencies for ongoing projects.
  • Oversee meal scheduling optimization and service level strategy including capacity publications, custom reports, and rule management within the catering technology system.
  • Act as internal subject matter expert for service changes/enhancements of onboard menus including opportunities to represent corporate catering with the frontline to educate and/or gather feedback from flight attendants on new menu concepts to ensure successful integration with onboard service delivery.
  • Oversee technology and back-end systems including but not limited to AirVision and Food Service Message (FSM) updates.
  • Responsible for supporting leadership updates and executive-level presentations to keep sponsors/key stakeholders informed of progress, and for leading internal education sessions to keep Catering Operations (corporate and field) aligned on all onboard menu initiatives.
  • Act as primary contact for key vendors; support accurate tracking and reporting of initiative milestones and spend against budget.

Note: This is a Chicago-based hybrid role, with in-office requirements 50% of the time. This position will also travel up to 10% of the time (domestic & international).
Qualifications
What's needed to succeed (Minimum Qualifications):
  • Bachelors degree in Business, Hospitality, Catering/Culinary or related field
  • 3+ years of relevant experience
  • Strategic planning and decision making
  • Highly organized and communicative
  • Ability to work with cross functional groups
  • Strong relationship building skills
  • Ability to motivate, drive vision and provide leadership required
  • The ability to lead stakeholders through complex planning and implementation of initiative
  • Must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship
  • Successful completion of interview required to meet job qualification
  • Reliable, punctual attendance is an essential function of the position

What will help you propel from the pack (Preferred Qualifications):
  • MBA/Masters degree
  • 3+ years of operational experience
  • Experience leading teams and driving complex change
  • Knowledge of airline catering (business and operations)
  • Experience working with menu management systems, specification databases and enterprise planning tools
  • Familiarity with airline systems such as AirVision or equivalent menu specification platforms
  • Ability to interpret customer feedback, operation metrics, and performance trends
  • Working knowledge of culinary techniques, recipe development, ingredient functionality and menu composition
  • Familiarity with food production methods
  • Working knowledge of food safety principles, HACCP, and allergen management
  • Demonstrates an understanding of the capabilities and limitations of generative AI tools and effectively leverages them to support research, analysis, content creation, and problem-solving. Apply critical thinking to validate AI-generated outputs while adhering to organizational policies for responsible AI use, data privacy, and security.

United Airlines is an equal opportunity employer. United Airlines recruits, employs, trains, compensates and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical ability, age, veteran status and other protected status as required by applicable law. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions. Please contact JobAccommodations@united.com to request accommodation.

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About United Airlines

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

United Airlines is embarking on an exciting journey to become the best airline in aviation history. Our purpose, "Connecting People, Uniting the World," extends beyond transportation, emphasizing our commitment to uplift and create opportunities in the places we serve. With a global presence and diverse workforce, we value inclusivity and are dedicated to hiring tens of thousands of individuals across various roles. Our comprehensive benefits package, including perks like space available travel, parental leave, and 401k, aims to support your well-being and growth.

Industry

Aviation

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Chicago, IL, US

Year founded

1926

Social media

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