Culinary Development Chef; Baking​/Pastry

Culinary Development Chef (Dessert/Pastry) – 6-month contract

Dessert Holdings is the leading premium dessert company in the world. We craft artisanal, scratch-made desserts at scale, combining culinary innovation with the finest real ingredients. With a rich heritage spanning seven distinctive brands, we bring unmatched expertise and tailored solutions to our Retail and Food service partners.

Dessert Holdings is looking for a Culinary Development Chef at our facility in Aurora, CO
. This position is expected to last six months and will support prototype to plant floor commercialization of new and existing bakery projects with a focus on meeting taste, functionality, quality, and cost expectations.

• Research, formulate, and develop new products within time, cost and processing requirements, making design, ingredient, and packaging recommendations.
• Work with Culinary Director, Sales team, and customers to develop innovative products, drive and support current sales, and fill pipeline for future sales.
• Manage ingredient functionality and recipe formulation within processing parameters, supporting product quality at all times.
• Improve product quality through on-going review of formulation and process parameters
• Provide technical support and expertise to external and internal customers (Procurement, Customers, Sales, Commercialization, QA and Ops)
• Support review of food specifications ensuring data is current, accurate and compliant including allergen identification
• Stay current on trending desserts and baked goods and works toward implementing those trends into manufactured sellable goods
• Support other development chefs where needed

• Associate's Degree in Pastry Arts / Baking
• Exceptional palate and sensory skills
• Prior experience with taking new bakery products through concept, prototyping, trialing, and commercialization within an automated high-speed bakery environment (frozen bakery experience preferred but not essential)
• Recipe formulation and raw material knowledge/experience
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Working knowledge of MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel), SharePoint, ERP systems / Power Point
• Working knowledge of Canadian and US food standards and regulations
• Strong bench work skills with the ability to execute solutions rapidly
• Detail oriented
• Ability to meet physical requirements, including standing and working for up to 10 hours per day, ability to lift up to 50 pounds, ability to use hands and fingers and reach with hands and arms, and to work in an environment with a variety of temperatures and humidities and with food allergens

Dessert Holdings is a collection of premium dessert companies and brands:
The Original Cakerie, Lawler's Desserts, Atlanta Cheesecake Company, Steven Charles, Dianne's Fine Desserts, Kenny's Great Pies, and Willamette Valley Pie Company. Dessert Holdings is owned by Bain Capital, is headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, employs more than 3,500 people across ten manufacturing facilities, and is continuing its journey of rapid growth.

Dessert Holdings and its related entities provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or any other characteristics protected by law.