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Product Development Chef Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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 ...

Ventura Foods

Food Product Development Manager, DSM

Fort Worth, TX · Hybrid

$109K - $137K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Work with and manage the team collaboration with Ventura chefs in the development of new menu concepts and value added finished products. * Review project request for both operational and economical ...

Ventura Foods

Food Product Development Manager, DSM

Fort Worth, TX · Hybrid

$109K - $136K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Work with and manage the team collaboration with Ventura chefs in the development of new menu concepts and value added finished products. * Review project request for both operational and economical ...

Ventura Foods

Food Product Development Manager, DSM

Fort Worth, TX · Hybrid

$109K - $136K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Work with and manage the team collaboration with Ventura chefs in the development of new menu concepts and value added finished products. * Review project request for both operational and economical ...

Ventura Foods

Food Product Development Manager, DSM

Fort Worth, TX · On-site

$109K - $136K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Work with and manage the team collaboration with Ventura chefs in the development of new menu concepts and value added finished products. * Review project request for both operational and economical ...

Ventura Foods

Food Product Development Manager, DSM

Fort Worth, TX · Hybrid

$109K - $136K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Work with and manage the team collaboration with Ventura chefs in the development of new menu concepts and value added finished products. * Review project request for both operational and economical ...

Pizza 4p's

Chef Manager

New York, NY · On-site

$85K - $100K/yr

S. store. As the Operation Chef, you will elevate kitchen craftsmanship, oversee daily BOH ... development * Own production management across the kitchen: batch planning, yield and waste ...

New

KAGOME, Inc.

Business Development Manager

Los Banos, CA · On-site

$77K - $127K/yr

... Development Chef, to conceptualize and develop on-trend, scalable sauce solutions tailored to ... In production facilities, will be exposed to food processing environment with changes in ...

Chattahoochee Food Works

Pastry Chef

Atlanta, GA · On-site

We are seeking a talented and motivated Pastry Chef or Pastry Lead to help with production, recipe ... Support product development and testing of new menu items. * Maintain cleanliness, organization ...

Mendocino Farms

DIRECTOR OF CULINARY OPERATIONS

El Segundo, CA · On-site +1

$140K - $180K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

The Director of Culinary R&D will be responsible for leading menu innovation and product ... Collaborate with our R&D Chef to refine recipes, ensuring they are operationally executable at ...

Simmons Foods

Innovation Chef

Siloam Springs, AR · On-site

Purpose of the Position Ensures that R&D projects involving product development are delivered in ... Collaborates with other Chef(s), R&D, Marketing and Consumer Insights with internal and external ...

Haliburton International

Culinary Chef

Ontario, CA · On-site

The Corporate Chef's position combines food and menu research, hands-on cooking and product development with live customer cooking presentations and demonstrations. Haliburton Corporate Chef's must ...

Crumbl

R&D Assistant Chef

Provo, UT · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

R&D Assistant Chef supports the development, testing, production, and presentation of innovative dessert concepts. This role collaborates closely with senior culinary leadership to execute product ...

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Product Development Chef information

See salary details

$42.5K

$127K

$144.5K

How much do product development chef jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for product development chef in the United States is $126,987.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $114,500.00 and $143,000.00 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.

More about Product Development Chef jobs
What cities are hiring for Product Development Chef jobs? Cities with the most Product Development Chef job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Product Development Chef jobs? The most popular types of Product Development Chef jobs are:
What states have the most Product Development Chef jobs? States with the most job openings for Product Development Chef jobs include:
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Product Development Chef jobs near you
Infographic showing various Product Development Chef job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $126,987 per year, or $61.1 per hour.

Maple & Ash Chicago - Chef De Cuisine

MAPLE HOSPITALITY GROUP

Chicago, IL • On-site

$68K - $93K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 19 days ago

Job description

Join Maple Hospitality Group, where culinary excellence meets unparalleled service. Led by renowned restaurateur Jim Lasky and two-Michelin-starred Chef Danny Grant, known for his innovative approach to fine dining, we're building a team of passionate food lovers dedicated to creating iconic destinations.

We believe success hinges on impeccable food, world-class service, and one-of-a-kind dining experiences. As we expand across Chicago, Scottsdale, Dallas, Santa Barbara, Miami, Boston and New York, you'll find endless opportunities for growth, travel, and continuing education.

Our culture is built on four core principles:

  • Generosity: Always give more, exceed expectations.
  • Excellence: Deliver exceptional work with unmatched expertise.
  • Fun: Love what you do, laugh often, and enjoy the journey.
  • Fail Fast: Learn from mistakes, adapt, and keep improving.

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 and industrial-grade operational discipline. You will transform abstract inspiration into scalable, profitable, and breathtaking culinary reality, ensuring the brand’s North Star remains elite as it expands.

We are seeking a chef who views operations not as a constraint on creativity, but as the vehicle that allows world-class food to reach thousands of guests daily. You must possess the artistic ego to create something beautiful and the professional humility to ensure it can be executed perfectly by others. 

Culinary Innovation and Michelin-Caliber Excellence

  • Creative R&D: Drive the evolution of the brand through constant experimentation, pushing the boundaries of technique and flavor to maintain a best-in-class reputation.
  • High-End Execution: Ensure every new dish meets the aesthetic and technical rigor of James Beard/Michelin-caliber dining.
  • Menu Engineering: Optimize menus for profitability and guest experience, ensuring innovation is balanced with strict $P&L$ and food cost targets.

Systems and Scalability

  • SOP Architecture: Translate complex, high-end dishes into precise, scalable Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for multi-unit consistency.
  • Operational Flow: Identify bottlenecks in production and re-engineer workflows to improve speed without sacrificing artistry.
  • Strategic Sourcing: Vet elite suppliers to secure ingredients that meet the brand’s uncompromising standards for quality, sustainability, and cost.

Leadership and Flagship Oversight

  • Flagship Stewardship: Maintain a strong, hands-on presence at Maple & Ash Chicago to ensure the core brand identity is consistently executed.
  • Global Implementation: Lead the rollout of new concepts across all markets, personally training kitchen leadership to ensure flawless execution.
  • Quality Audits: Conduct rigorous inspections across all locations to enforce food safety, sanitation, and brand integrity.

Collaboration and Performance

  • Direct Partnership: Work closely with Chef Danny Grant and the Culinary Director to align vision with execution.
  • Financial Performance: Drive improvements in food cost and labor efficiency, aligning culinary decisions with organizational financial goals.
  • Cross-Functional Communication: Partner with marketing on launches and maintain clear lines of communication with Executive Chefs across all locations.
 

Who We Are Looking For

The Pedigree

  • Elite Experience: 4+ years of senior culinary leadership. Prior experience in Michelin-starred or James Beard-awarded kitchens is essential.

  • Visionary Thinking: A deep passion for culinary trends, food science, and high-end plate composition.
  • Systems Mindset: The ability to move fluidly between the lab (creativity) and the office (data, costing, and logistics).

The Skills

  • Technical Mastery: Exceptional butchery, saucier, and modern technique skills.
  • Financial Acumen: Advanced knowledge of menu costing, inventory management, and labor optimization.
  • Leadership: Highly organized and disciplined, with the ability to thrive in a high-accountability environment.
  • Mobility: Willingness to travel as needed to support openings and ongoing operations.

Apply