Product Development Chef - Plated | Foodservice Made Easy : Job Details

About Us:

Plated - Foodservice Made Easy is a fast-growing startup dedicated to improving foodservice operations in a variety of residential settings. We are passionate about innovation, creativity, and making a positive impact.

We are seeking an innovative and experienced Product Development Chef to lead the development of new frozen ready-to-eat meals. The ideal candidate will have a strong culinary background combined with expertise in food science, recipe development, and cold/frozen meal production. As our product development leader, you will play a critical role in creating a portfolio of meals that align with consumer trends and brand standards. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams, including plant operations, software product development, marketing, sales/customer success, and supply chain, to bring innovative products from concept to commercialization.

Key Responsibilities:

• Recipe Development: Create, test, and optimize recipes for frozen ready-to-eat meals, focusing on flavor, texture, nutritional value, and visual appeal.
• Innovation: Stay ahead of culinary trends, ingredients, and technologies to introduce innovative meal solutions and concepts that align with market demands.
• Product Testing: Conduct trials in the kitchen and work with production teams to scale recipes for mass production while maintaining product integrity and quality.
• Frozen Technology Expertise: Apply knowledge of freezing techniques and processes to ensure meals retain taste, texture, and nutritional value after freezing, storage, and reheating.
• Nutritional Optimization: Work closely with nutritionists to ensure meals meet dietary guidelines, health claims, and nutritional requirements while maintaining a balance of taste and quality.
• Cross-Department Collaboration: Partner with other departments including marketing, sales, quality assurance, and supply chain to ensure smooth transitions from kitchen trials to commercial production.
• Vendor Relationships: Work with suppliers to source high-quality ingredients, ensuring they meet the requirements for flavor, texture, and freezing capabilities.
• Compliance & Safety: Ensure all product development complies with food safety standards, labeling regulations, and company quality guidelines.
• Documentation: Maintain thorough records of recipes, production processes, ingredient specifications, and product testing.

To be successful in this role, you'll need to have:

• Minimum 5 years of experience as a Chef, with at least 2 years in an R&D role, preferably in frozen meals or packaged food products.
• Bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts, Food Science, or related field. Additional certifications in food science, nutrition, or related areas are a plus.
• Strong understanding of food science, preservation methods, and the freezing process.
• Creative culinary skills with the ability to innovate while adhering to cost and production constraints.
• Knowledge of large-scale food production, commercial equipment, and ingredient sourcing.
• Excellent project management skills with attention to detail and the ability to meet deadlines.
• Strong communication skills to collaborate effectively with internal teams and external partners.
• Passion for health-conscious, high-quality, and flavorful meals.
• Interest and ability to work well with others

Benefits

- Competitive salary and performance-based incentives.

- Health, dental, and vision insurance.

- Opportunities for career growth within a fast-growing company.

Plated Foodservice Made Easy is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.