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Menu Development Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

The Menu Strategy Analyst will assist with planning the Home Chef Ecommerce menus, involving meal R&D process, supporting menu development, and maintaining menu planning tools and KPI tracking.

This requires involvement in the meal R&D process/planning, supporting the menu development, execution process, and maintenance of menu planning tools and KPI tracking. Detailed Responsibilities Menu ...

This requires involvement in the meal R&D process/planning, supporting the menu development, execution process, and maintenance of menu planning tools and KPI tracking. Detailed Responsibilities Menu ...

This requires involvement in the meal R&D process/planning, supporting the menu development, execution process, and maintenance of menu planning tools and KPI tracking. Detailed Responsibilities Menu ...

Culinary R&D Manager

Chicago, IL · On-site

$80K - $90K/yr

Translate emerging culinary, consumer, and menu trends into relevant, on-brand concepts for clients ... Deep knowledge of food trends, menu development, and operational execution. * Strong presentation ...

... driving menu adoption.RESPONSIBILITIESClient Leadership & Business DevelopmentLead culinary ... development for assigned client accounts, aligning innovation with operator needs and client ...

Chef

Chicago, IL · On-site

$60K - $72K/yr

This includes menu development and execution, food quality, staffing, scheduling, ordering, inventory management, food cost control, sanitation, and team development. This role is ideal for a ...

New

Chef

Evanston, IL · On-site

$65K - $75K/yr

... a high functioning kitchen including menu development/refinement, ordering, food costing, scheduling, hiring and training of kitchen staff and other operational components. $69,000 or higher ...

... 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 ...

Chef de Cuisine

Chicago, IL · On-site

$36 - $42/hr

The ideal candidate will oversee kitchen management, inventory and ordering, while driving seasonal menu development that aligns with our commitment to Michelin-level culinary excellence. Key ...

New

Sous Chef

Chicago, IL · On-site

$67K - $77K/yr

Maintain strict food safety, hygiene, and compliance standards * Assist with menu development and seasonal culinary innovation * Ensure smooth kitchen execution during high-volume service periods

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Menu Development information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$51.5K

$110.9K

$178.7K

How much do menu development jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for menu development in Chicago, IL is $110,944.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $90,700.00 and $125,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Menu Development job?

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 are typical daily responsibilities for someone working in Menu Development?

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 the Menu Development position, and why are they important?

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 Chicago, IL? The most popular types of Menu Development jobs in Chicago, IL are:
What are popular job titles related to Menu Development jobs in Chicago, IL? For Menu Development jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Menu Development jobs in Chicago, IL look for? The top searched job categories for Menu Development jobs in Chicago, IL are:
Menu Strategy Analyst

Menu Strategy Analyst

Home Chef

Chicago, IL • On-site

Full-time

Posted 6 days ago


Job description

Job Summary:
Home Chef is the leading meal solutions company committed to inspiring and enabling more people to cook simple, delicious meals. The Menu Strategy Analyst will assist with planning the Home Chef Ecommerce menus, involving meal R&D process, supporting menu development, and maintaining menu planning tools and KPI tracking.
Responsibilities:
• Support the balancing and publishing process with tactical inputs in Home Chef systems (e.g. Admin) for Core, Family, and Extras menus
• Perform ad-hoc analysis requests to identify and implement actionable takeaways for future menus
• Collect cross-functional menu requests and ensure execution including but not limited to aging inventory depletions, partnership requests, etc.
• Work collaboratively with both menu team and cross functional partners on strategic recommendations for solving menu issues (e.g. over/under food cost, cross functional meeting representative)
• Execute weekly and monthly KPI tracking and analysis of menus - including financial (revenue, food, and margin) metrics and other quantitative (rating) or qualitative (reviews) metrics; this can also include helping track acquisition or marketing promotions
• Track competitor product offerings and promotions
• Support development and maintenance of 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 weekly recipe ideation process identifying redundancies in concepts and aggregating feedback for discussion
• Taste and provide feedback on new meals
• Lead sampling for Extras program - preparing items, tracking results, and communicating next steps with cross-functional partners
• Review weekly menus to ensure all products (e.g. meal kits, extras) are merchandised / assigned accurately and meet production guardrails
• Execute any ad-hoc menu changes and communicate changes to cross-functional partners
• Review bank of successful recipes for future menu uses including reviewing ongoing weekly meal performance for bank consideration
Qualifications:
Required:
• Completion of a four-year degree program in a related field
• 2+ years of experience in a rigorous fast-paced work environment
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects and initiatives simultaneously with a results-oriented approach
• Strong Excel/Google sheets experience
• Independent self-starter inclined towards finding solutions without significant oversight
• Passion for food and must be able to taste and provide thorough feedback on every meal and ingredient sample test in the kitchen (includes vegetarian, pork, chicken, steak, and seafood)
Company:
Home Chef is a provider of subscription-based meal kit delivery services to help people to save time while enjoying home cooking. Founded in 2013, the company is headquartered in Chicago, USA, with a team of 1001-5000 employees. The company is currently Late Stage.