Research & Development Executive Chef

Overview

We capture creativity from the field through our "lifecycle of an idea," creating a pathway from field to test kitchen, fueling our Foodlab programs and branded concept modules. Guckenheimer is a chef-driven organization focused on what we call "Food Obsessed." We are committed to ongoing health and wellness and partnering with clients to help employees make balanced and healthier options when eating at work.

Executive Chef, Research & Development – Key Purpose

We aim to update, create, and maintain a pipeline of chef-created and Guckenheimer "f.i.t. Kitchen" Certified recipes that support a balanced café dining approach.

Success Criteria – Role

The R&D Chef serves as the interface between the Director of Culinary Innovation and hourly employees (R&D Chefs reporting to this role) to ensure that all projects for the f.i.t. Kitchen are completed with quality and within timelines. The role ensures recipe testing and development promote the integrity and quality of Guckenheimer food programs and food quality. The role embodies Culinary Leader traits: passionate, dedicated, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, with excellent communication, project management, and mentoring skills;

a strong drive to lead in Culinary Innovation.

Key Accountabilities

• Accurately plan and execute projects handed to the f.i.t. Kitchen to ensure timely delivery and adherence to specifications.
• Ensure staff reporting to this position accurately formulate, test, and document all recipes using standard forms and procedures.
• Ensure recipes are prepared and presented on time and at high quality by standard recipes and requirements established by the Director of Culinary Innovation.
• Provide functional management support with mentoring and coaching to hourly employees, serving as a go-to resource.
• Work collaboratively with all kitchen staff and supervisors.
• Demonstrate superior communication and interface with staff outside the f.i.t. Kitchen (e.g., commissary, business development).
• Demonstrate recipes developed in the f.i.t. Kitchen to senior leadership and other stakeholders.
• Direct partnership with the Director of Culinary Innovation and hourly R&D Chefs for ongoing support.
• Collaborate on special projects, communicating needs, timelines, and details to hourly R&D Chefs.
• Create and maintain testing schedules and timelines with support from R&D Chefs.
• Assign goals weekly and monthly to meet deliverables for R&D Chefs.
• Ensure f.i.t. Kitchen has proper par stocks and supplies according to daily recipes, menus, and events.
• Maintain a clean, sanitary, and safe culinary environment, following best practices, standards, and policies.
• Identify and report safety concerns immediately.
• Support supervision of the kitchen when the Director of Culinary Innovation is offsite.
• Demonstrate leadership in team meetings; guide the team through upcoming deliverables.
• Show capability to juggle multiple deliverables and assign tasks to hourly R&D Chefs, tracking progress and reporting at meetings.
• Partner with Executive Chef, GM, and Area Manager to define shared space parameters for ordering, receiving, testing, cleaning, etc.
• Create, test, and edit recipes as needed.
• Coordinate large-scale testing with the Commissary team to ensure batch feasibility, transportation, and production.
• Finalize and sign off for f.i.t. Kitchen certification.
• Certify new products by conducting testing, observing market trends, and modifying recipes.
• Train R&D Chefs reporting to this position on proper recipe testing procedures to capture the best field recipes.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Position Requirements And Competencies

• Must be 18 years of age or older; culinary background with passion for creating and developing recipes with integrity in taste and process; strong aptitude for recipe development and testing.
• Strong project management skills with ability to break large projects into components and translate to timelines and budgets.
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and adapt to changing needs; juggle multiple tasks for self and hourly R&D Chefs.
• Functional management experience to mentor staff and provide clear direction.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to interface…