R&D Chef

SUMMARY :

The position supports the organization in the identification, ideation, development and implementation of New Product initiatives and Innovation pipelines in support of the Brand vision and growth strategies, bringing Core Menu brand positioning to life through the optimization, benchmarking, testing and validation of current menu offerings under the direction of the Head of Culinary. Skills required include a blend of highly developed culinary creativity with a demonstrated knowledge of food (a well-developed understanding of Tex-Mex / Mexican / Latin inspired food is greatly preferred). Practical operational capabilities must include : food costing and related financial skills, practical experience with both quantitative and qualitative evaluation of foods and food equipment / procedures, effective utilization of vendor / supplier assets against strategic goals and a demonstrated ability to effectively train peers and unit-level internal partners in support of new product roll-outs.

Key responsibilities include : concept ideation; prototype development; manufacturer scale up, operational viability optimization, training and presentation of concepts and products, analytical evaluation of products, maintenance of the internal recipe and costing database and the efficient sourcing and management of the Test Kitchen product inventory.

Must demonstrate the ability to successfully manage multiple projects concurrently in a lean, dynamic and fast-paced culture.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES :

• Identification and presentation of opportunities to optimize Core Menu products, procedures or workflow.
• Function as a liaison with Operations and various departments to provide culinary / R&D solutions and improvements to in-restaurant performance.
• Support training department with the development and execution of operations procedure, job aids and in-field training.
• Regularly audit unit-level execution of food and beverage initiatives, providing feedback and solutions for improvement.
• Maintain and regularly update the internal recipe and recipe costing databases, yield calculations and vendor portfolio.
• Partner with Purchasing and other departments on the development of packaging and procedural solutions for all products.
• Prepare appropriate documentation and materials to insure a seamless transition from Research and Development to key departments, including cost analysis.
• Interact in partnership with Operations / Purchasing / QA to refine product specifications to deliver executional consistency, viability and recipe yields
• Take on additional projects as required by department or concept. Partner with Purchasing on an as-needed basis to validate cost savings opportunities.
• Support Marketing on projects requiring a culinary resource such as photo shoots

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES :

NA

QUALIFICATIONS :

EDUCATION and / or EXPERIENCE :

LANGUAGE SKILLS :

COMPUTER SKILLS :

Good computer skills with advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word and Power Point.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS :

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 accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk, or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to handle or feel, and also to reach with hands and arms. The employee is regularly required to stand and / or walk for extended periods of the workday.

Must be able to lift up to 40 lbs.

WORK ENVIRONMENT :

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EQUIPMENT USED :

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