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Product Development Chef Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Boar's Head Brand

Culinary Development Manager

Chicago, IL · On-site

$147K/yr

Additionally, the Culinary Development Chef will be responsible for developing and implementing new food products and foodservice concepts in both manufacturing and retail environments, enabling the ...

Maple

Maple & Ash Chicago - Chef De Cuisine

Chicago, IL · On-site

$135K - $150K/yr

Who You Are The R&D Chef is the culinary architect for the brand, bridging the gap between Michelin ... Identify bottlenecks in production and re-engineer workflows to improve speed without sacrificing ...

Kraft Heinz Company

Corporate Chef

Glenview, IL · On-site

$104K - $130K/yr

As the Corporate Chef- Non-Commercial Accounts, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and ... Collaborate on developing unique selling propositions (USPs) for new product development (NPD ...

Barry Callebaut

Head Chef, Chicago Academy

Chicago, IL · Hybrid

$110K - $125K/yr

About the Role The Head Chef directs and drives the successful operations of the Chocolate Academy ... product development applications * Supports Sales and Marketing through strategic campaigns and ...

UNION LEAGUE CLUB OF CHICAGO

Sous Chef

Chicago, IL · On-site

$65K/yr

Supervise food production personnel, assist with food production tasks as needed and assure that ... Assists in the development of training and the provision of professional development opportunities ...

Asador Bastian

Pastry Sous Chef

Chicago, IL

$65K - $68K/yr

Pastry Sous Chef Position: Pastry Sous Chef Reports To: Executive Pastry Chef / Executive Chef ... production efficiency. * Assist with menu development, seasonal dessert creation, and recipe ...

Soho House Chicago

Sous Chef

Chicago, IL

$51K - $69K/yr

Manage staff schedules, payroll, kitchen set up / break down, production, prep is completed and ... Career Development: Soho House can progress your career domestically or internationally as well as ...

Soho House Chicago

Sous Chef

Chicago, IL

$69K - $74K/yr

Manage staff schedules, payroll, kitchen set up / break down, production, prep is completed and ... Career Development: Soho House can progress your career domestically or internationally as well as ...

Swift & Sons

Sous Chef

Chicago, IL · On-site

$68K - $73K/yr

Assisting in ordering all products based on par systems and inventory management. Overseeing all ... Continually working through R&D process with the Executive Chef to further dishes on the menu ...

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All JobsProduct Development Chef JobsProduct Development Chef Jobs in Chicago, IL

Product Development Chef information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$43.8K

$130.8K

$148.9K

How much do product development chef jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for product development chef in Chicago, IL is $130,816.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $118,000.00 and $147,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a product development chef do?

A Product Development Chef creates and tests new food products for restaurants, food manufacturers, or retail brands. They blend culinary creativity with market trends, ensuring products are innovative, scalable, and cost-effective. Their work involves recipe development, ingredient sourcing, and collaboration with food scientists and marketing teams. Ultimately, they help bring new and exciting food concepts from the kitchen to consumers.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a product development chef?

To excel as a Product Development Chef, you need extensive culinary expertise, menu innovation experience, and knowledge of food science or nutrition, often supported by a culinary degree or relevant certifications. Familiarity with recipe development software, product testing equipment, and compliance with food safety regulations like HACCP is valuable. Strong creativity, collaboration, and project management skills help you work effectively with cross-functional teams and adapt to market trends. These competencies are critical to creating successful new food products that align with business goals and consumer demands.

What does a typical day look like for a product development chef?

A Product Development Chef’s typical day involves collaborating with R&D, marketing, and production teams to brainstorm and refine new recipes or food products. You'll spend time in both the test kitchen, experimenting with ingredients and techniques, and in meetings to discuss market trends, feasibility, and scalability. The role often requires tasting, adjusting recipes, ensuring compliance with food safety standards, and documenting formulations for commercialization. It’s a dynamic environment that combines creativity with technical precision, making each day varied and engaging.

What are the most commonly searched types of Product Development Chef jobs in Chicago, IL? The most popular types of Product Development Chef jobs in Chicago, IL are:
What are popular job titles related to Product Development Chef jobs in Chicago, IL? For Product Development Chef jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Product Development Chef jobs in Chicago, IL look for? The top searched job categories for Product Development Chef jobs in Chicago, IL are:
Product Development Chef jobs near you
Infographic showing various Product Development Chef job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $130,816 per year, or $62.9 per hour.

Culinary Development Manager

Boar's Head Brand

Chicago, IL • On-site

$147K/yr

Full-time

Posted 9 days ago

Boar's Head rating

7.5

Company rating: 7.5 out of 10

Based on 36 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

153rd of 435 rated food and drinks producers

Job description

Hiring Company:
Delicatessen Services Co., LLC
Overview:
Boar's Head Brand is seeking dynamic professional candidate with good knowledge and passion for food and foodservice industry. In this role, the candidate will be a dedicated resource to building and maintaining positive recognition of the Boar's Head Brand across all industry segments and be a resource to internal and external customers; both Purveyors, Channel Business Development Managers (CBDM) and Operators. Additionally, the Culinary Development Chef will be responsible for developing and implementing new food products and foodservice concepts in both manufacturing and retail environments, enabling the Boar's Head Brand to bring fresh, innovative, and trendsetting products and concepts to support our penetration in the Prepared Foods industry.
Reporting to the Sr. Culinary Development Manager, the candidate will collaborate with his/her supervisor, the CBDM team and be tasked with relationship development and product marketing to increase the quantity of new business opportunities and ultimately the foodservice division's success.
Job Description:
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
  • Represent, protect, and grow our Brand across all retail and foodservice channels.
  • Collaborate under the direction of the Sr. Manager of Culinary Development/Executive Chef with various business channels to move prepared foods programs and recipes from concept stage to an executable operational reality and scalability.
  • Maintain strategic accountability for all product development and research, including management and scheduling of test kitchen facilities in collaboration with PF Operations Managers.
  • Develop in collaboration with PF Operations Managers effective build sheets and training materials to ensure the ability to execute at both store level and at central manufacturing facility (FFM).
  • Actively support a culture of safety which includes, but it not limited to, food safety, employee safety and customer safety.
  • Design and implement new products in high volume facilities. When possible be on-site for initial product runs to ensure first runs meet documented organoleptic measures.
  • Adhere to federal, state and county or local regulations and existing laws regarding food safety. Work with food scientists on nutritional and ingredient statements while constantly championing nutritionally responsible foods.
  • Maintain awareness of competitive activity and new trends in the business, communicating ideas for improvement.
  • Maintain awareness of optimizing ingredient usage, production capabilities and production requirements.
  • Determine how to get the most utility across product lines. 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 concepts, including on-site training and evaluation of operations.
  • Review and evaluate retail execution of designed programs, including initial training, profitability review and on-site audits.
  • Analyses customer menus to create and communicate Boar's Head products into unique, versatile and operational concepts.
  • Organize, schedule and conduct off-site demonstrations with clients to illustrate the benefits of various BH products and their potential applications.
  • Research, create, and write recipes that are scalable in retail and commissary environments.
  • Actively supports training and development team in Sarasota and New York with Best-Practices and trainer leadership. Routinely shares relevant best-practices with internal network.
  • Engage with professional affiliations (ACF, WCR, Catersource) to showcase Boar's Head commitment to Culinary Arts while networking for business development.
  • Assist clients and Local Purveyors in development of new culinary and Grab & Go programs
  • Maintain current and up to date on evolving all food and culinary trends with focus on global and domestic influences.
  • Possess well-developed ability to taste and evaluate food with a strong ability to accurately communicate findings using sensory-based language
  • Support the Culinary Development Team with the operations for the Foodservice Culinary Lab including but not exclusive to the following: Maintenance & Cleaning, Supplies and Inventory Control, Operations & Security.
  • Coordinate - work cross-functionally with supply chain, culinary, marketing, operations, training, and sales to integrate recipe development plans and new product roll outs throughout the company in a collaborative, efficient and profitable manner.
  • Coordination and attendance at regional, national food shows and association specific shows.
  • Maintain an active, up-to-date calendar of events and activities (training dates, events, tradeshows)
  • Other duties and responsibilities as assigned

Education and Experience
  • Culinary or Hospitality (BA/BS) Degree or related discipline
  • ACF Certification or similar preferred
  • 5-7 years of culinary experience in the hospitality or restaurant industry
  • Knows the difference with premium brands vs. value drivers

Skills / Abilities
  • Passionate about food, flavors, and the prepared foods industry
  • Technical competency in deli meats, cheeses & innovation, trends, ingredient functionality, and commercialization.
  • Adept understanding of sensory, consumer, analytical
  • Ability to multi-task and work agilely across different product types and categories.
  • Strong commercial acumen, technical development skills, judgment and understanding of the business and industry.
  • Experience and understanding of food forward consumer trends, including culinary as well as technical/regulatory experience with non-gmo, organic, and/or clean-label food design.
  • Demonstrated leadership strength in capability development and stakeholder management and supplier relationships. Excellent communications skills to interact with general management at a senior level.
  • Strong project management skills and proven ability to work with cross-functional teams.
  • Experience and passion for the intersection of creativity and innovation, including consumer-centric approaches.

Language Skills
  • Must be fluent in English (oral and written)

Mathematical Skills
  • Intermediate to Advanced math skills required - ability to convert grams to lbs, oz to kg, and be able to properly quantify recipes, formulas, etc.

Reasoning Ability
  • Self-starter that does not need to be micro-managed and comfortable with navigating ambiguity. The candidate must also maintain confidentiality to ensure the integrity of the department is not jeopardized.

Work Environment
  • This position involves up to approximately 25% travel utilizing commercial flights, automobile and other forms of transportation. The remainder of time is spend in an office or commercial kitchen environment.

Location:
Chicago, IL
Time Type:
Full time
Department:
Foodservice

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