ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Senior Development Chef Jobs in Chicago, IL (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 ... Elite Experience: 4+ years of senior culinary leadership. Prior experience in Michelin-starred or ...

Ecentria

Senior Dev Ops Engineer

Northbrook, IL · On-site

$100K - $125K/yr

Description Ecentria is looking to add a Senior Dev Ops Engineer to our team! This hybrid role ... Experience with provisioning and configuration management tools such as Puppet, Chef, Ansible, or ...

Ecentria

Senior Dev Ops Engineer

Northbrook, IL · On-site

$100K - $125K/yr

Ecentria is looking to add a Senior Dev Ops Engineer to our team! This hybrid role requires ... Experience with provisioning and configuration management tools such as Puppet, Chef, Ansible, or ...

TZUCO

Executive Chef

Chicago, IL

$75K - $90K/yr

... Chef de Cuisine, or senior Sous Chef - ideally in an upscale, chef-driven, or fine-dining ... Excellent leadership, communication, and team-development skills. * Illinois Food Service ...

New

StoryPoint

Sous Chef

Valparaiso, IN · On-site

$42K - $57K/yr

Assists with menu planning and development and ordering of food supplies * Prepare and cook meals ... Supports the mission, values, and vision of Senior Village Management Connecting Seniors, Families ...

Adalina Prime

Sous Chef

Chicago, IL · On-site

$51K - $69K/yr

Team Development * Train, mentor, and develop cooks at all levels. * Lead by example with ... Qualifications * Minimum 3-5 years of experience in a Sous Chef or senior line leadership role.

HDG Workforce Solution

Executive Chef

Burr Ridge, IL · On-site

$90 - $120/hr

The Executive Chef will serve as the senior culinary and operational leader for the community, setting the vision for food quality, hospitality, menus, service standards, team development, financial ...

HDG Workforce Solution

Executive Chef

Burr Ridge, IL · On-site

$110K - $115K/yr

The Executive Chef will serve as the senior culinary and operational leader for the community, setting the vision for food quality, hospitality, menus, service standards, team development, financial ...

Gecko Hospitality

Hotel Sous Chef

Lake Forest, IL

$70K - $75K/yr

This individual should be passionate about hospitality, food presentation, team development, and ... Previous experience as a Sous Chef, Executive Sous Chef, or Senior Culinary Leader , preferably ...

Stantec

Senior Application Architect

Chicago, IL · On-site

... development teams throughout the software development lifecycle. • Lead architecture review ... Chef) and with containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes) is expected. • The candidate ...

Hawksmoor - Chicago

Sous Chef

Chicago, IL · On-site

$75K - $80K/yr

Taking part in menu development and tastings * Efficiency of services/kitchen * Product and service ... Giving support to senior staff within the team FOH/BOH * To support the Executive Chef and manage ...

Hawksmoor

Sous Chef

Chicago, IL · On-site

$75K - $80K/yr

Taking part in menu development and tastings * Efficiency of services/kitchen * Product and service ... Giving support to senior staff within the team FOH/BOH * To support the Executive Chef and manage ...

Belmont-Village-Buffalo-Grove

Sous Chef

Buffalo Grove, IL · On-site

$52 - $72/hr

Sunday - Thursday 9:30am - 6pm ABOUT THE ROLE As a Sous Chef at Belmont Village Senior Living, you ... With a strong strategic development plan in place, Belmont Village is proud to provide a wide range ...

Belmont Village

Sous Chef

Buffalo Grove, IL · On-site

$23/hr

Sunday - Thursday 9:30am - 6pm ABOUT THE ROLE As a Sous Chef at Belmont Village Senior Living, you ... With a strong strategic development plan in place, Belmont Village is proud to provide a wide range ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsDevelopment Chef JobsSenior Development Chef JobsSenior Development Chef Jobs in Chicago, IL

Senior Development Chef information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$46.9K

$149.3K

$229.2K

How much do senior development chef jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior development chef in Chicago, IL is $149,313.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $115,900.00 and $177,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a senior development chef?

A Senior Development Chef is responsible for creating and developing new food products, improving existing recipes, and ensuring they meet market trends, customer preferences, and business objectives. They work closely with food manufacturers, restaurant chains, and suppliers to innovate and refine products. This role involves researching ingredients, testing recipes, and collaborating with teams to bring concepts from ideas to production while ensuring quality, cost-effectiveness, and compliance with food safety standards.

What are typical daily responsibilities for a senior development chef?

As a Senior Development Chef, your typical day involves creating and testing new recipes, working with product development teams, and collaborating closely with marketing, procurement, and production departments. You will oversee kitchen operations during trials, ensure compliance with food safety standards, and fine-tune recipes for large-scale production. The role frequently requires presenting concepts to clients or internal stakeholders and staying ahead of culinary trends to maintain a competitive edge. Balancing hands-on kitchen innovation with project management and cross-departmental communication is a key part of this position.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the senior development chef position?

A Senior Development Chef needs advanced culinary skills, significant experience in menu development, and a strong understanding of food trends and manufacturing processes, often supported by a relevant culinary qualification. Familiarity with recipe management software, food safety certifications, and product development systems is frequently required. Leadership, creativity, and excellent project management abilities are essential soft skills for success in this collaborative and innovative environment. These capabilities ensure the creation of commercially viable, high-quality products that meet client needs and industry standards.

What are popular job titles related to Senior Development Chef jobs in Chicago, IL?

For Senior Development Chef jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Senior Development Chef jobs in Chicago, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Senior Development Chef jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What cities near Chicago, IL are hiring for Senior Development Chef jobs?

Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Senior Development Chef job openings:

Senior Development Chef jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Development Chef job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $149,313 per year, or $71.8 per hour.

R&D Chef Manager - Berkeley Culinary Center

Whitsons Culinary Group

Berkeley, IL • On-site

$75K - $90K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Posted 17 days ago

Whitsons Culinary Group rating

6.1

Company rating: 6.1 out of 10

Based on 60 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

37th of 68 rated caterers

Job description

SUMMARY

The R&D Chef Manager serves as a key culinary partner and right hand to the Director of Culinary, Whitsons Culinary Group's Berkeley, IL facility. This role leads day-to-day culinary product development, operational support, and execution of customer samples. The R&D Chef Manager translates culinary vision into production-ready recipes and ensures consistent, high-quality execution from concept through manufacturing.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND DUTIES

  • Lead culinary product development - concepting, formulating, testing, and refining recipes from bench-top through kitchen trials to production-ready, scalable formulas, executing the culinary direction of Whitsons
  • Responsible for creating new meals for ALL sectors that we serve (Education, Residential/Senior, Shelters, Food Service, Retail, Transportation)
  • Own execution and quality of customer and sales sample requests, including client tastings and product presentations, as directed.
  • Provide operational support on the plant floor - troubleshooting production issues, scaling recipes, and partnering with QA and Operations to ensure formulas are manufacturable at scale.
  • Serve as a key deputy on culinary initiatives, representing culinary priorities and maintaining project momentum in the absence of their manager.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with Sales, QA, Procurement, and Production to move products from concept to launch.
  • Maintain accurate documentation and specifications for formulas, ensuring consistency across trials and production runs.
  • Develop and cost recipes to meet target food cost and margin goals, balancing quality with budget guidelines.
  • Ensure formulas comply with food safety and regulatory requirements (HACCP, FSMA, USDA/FDA), including writing product specifications and nutrition fact panels.
  • Evaluate shelf-life and packaging considerations during recipe development.
  • Source and evaluate ingredients, and build relationships with suppliers and vendors.
  • Track culinary and flavor trends and competitive products, including attending trade shows and food exhibitions, to inform development priorities.
  • Mentor and train junior culinary and kitchen staff.
  • Perform other culinary and operational duties as assigned by the Director of Culinary.

Apply today and help us power a production line that fuels excellence -Enhancing Life One Meal at a Time

This role offers a salary range of $75,000 - $90,000 annually, based on skills, experience, and location. Employees also receive a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match, and time off.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

  • 5-10 years of progressive culinary or restaurant experience.
  • Culinary degree from an accredited culinary program.
  • Experience in food manufacturing and culinary R&D/product development strongly preferred.
  • Working knowledge of recipe scaling, food safety standards, and large-scale production processes.
  • Working knowledge of food safety and regulatory frameworks (HACCP, FSMA, SQF, USDA/FDA labeling requirements).
  • ServSafe or equivalent food handler certification required; HACCP certification a plus.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and timelines concurrently.
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills across cross-functional teams.
  • Ability to work on-site at the Berkeley, IL facility; occasional travel required for trade shows, supplier visits, or customer sites.
WORK ENVIRONMENT AND OTHER DETAILS

Expected Hours of Work:

This is a full-time exempt position. Typical work hours are Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., with additional hours as needed to meet business demands and production schedules. As an exempt position, it is expected that Team Member will devote whatever time necessary to accomplish the goals and responsibilities. This will often require extended work hours, evening, and/or weekend work.

Travel Requirements:

Periodic travel to production facilities, vendor sites, and industry events may be required.

Physical Demands of the Job:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the team member is frequently required to sit, stand, walk, talk, and hear; use hands and fingers to feel, handle, or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:

The work is performed primarily in an operational or facilities-based environment, with regular presence in active areas such as kitchens, production spaces, warehouses, loading docks, or administrative areas within the facility. The noise level in the work environment may vary and can range from moderate to occasionally high, depending on location and operational activity.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the Company and employee and is subject to change by the Company as the needs of the Company and requirements of the job change. Employee's signature below constitutes an employee's understanding of the requirements, essential functions, and duties of the position.

What Whitsons Culinary Group employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Whitsons Culinary Group logo

About Whitsons Culinary Group

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Whitsons Culinary Group, located in Islandia, NY, US, operates in the food service industry, offering a diverse range of services including school nutrition, residential and healthcare dining, prepared meals, emergency dining, and culinary education. First established in 1979, the family-owned company has built a reputation for its bespoke catering services, committed to delivering nutritionally balanced, tastefully diverse and quality assured meals. The company embraces a mission to enrich life one meal at a time, underlined by a focus on food quality, health, wellness, superior service, and social responsibility.

Industry

Food and drink manufacturing

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Islandia, NY, US

Social media

FacebookTwitter

View All Whitsons Culinary Group Jobs

Apply