Starting pay for this job is $110,630.
Employee pay will vary based on factors such as qualifications, experience, skill level, competencies, and work location. We will meet minimum wage or minimum of the pay range (whichever is higher) based on city, county and state requirements.
Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.
FreshRealm
FreshRealm is currently in a high-growth state, and our culture of ACTIONS drives our team members forward to maximize their potential. We are a team of hardworking, passionate leaders who persevere through challenges, collaborate with one another to problem solve and achieve desired outcomes, and work to bring out the best in our employees as we service our customers. At FreshRealm, we welcome individuals from all backgrounds and abilities to apply and make employment decisions based on merit.
Job Overview
The Senior Corporate Development Chef will be integral in the building of culinary relationships with both our customer and supplier base to enable continued growth of the FreshRealm business. They will be responsible for assisting the New Product Development Director in executing and interpreting product briefs, exploring new opportunities and innovations, recipe development to set cost parameters, material sourcing, and preparation and presentation of meal samples in support of culinary/sales efforts and customer relationships. Responsible for training of junior culinary team members and continual process improvements. In addition, this position works with the culinary and development team to manage and maintain critical kitchen operations and coordinate functions within the kitchen facility.
Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop products that meet customer and FreshRealm brand expectations and cost price points based on sales briefs
• Build relationships with customers and assist in road map planning for new product implementation
• Will have a focussed, hardworking and entrepreneurial attitude to business and come from a food background with a passion for NPD
• Selects correct design concepts and fundamental technology used for new products or improvements for existing ones
• Development of ingredient pantry to encompass needs for future development,ensuring new ingredients are beneficial for long term addition to ingredient pantry
• Supplier partnership & development of new ingredients
• Costings and costing summaries
• Development of meals to meet specific dietary requirements
• Supervision and development of junior team members
• Deputize for NPD director when requested
• Coordinate and execute internal and external customer product presentations and cuttings with all supporting documentation including customer facing presentations
• Cost rationalization and assortment improvement projects
• Strategic NPD / Culinary process improvement projects
• Preliminary organoleptic shelf-life evaluation and data capture required for preliminary costings
• Manage projects through the critical path stage process working closely with cross functional teams
• Maintain kitchen operations (sanitation, maintenance, & organization)
• Secure and maintain inventory of ingredients used in the development process
• Prepare meal samples in support of sales and customer relationships
• Recipe innovation - design and create recipes within partner guidelines to excite and attract customer focus
• Continuous product improvement projects
• Assist in compilation of SOPs and continuous NPD systems improvements
• Work with cross functional departments during the development process
• Support factory operations in an advisory capacity during product launch
• Maintain all relevant documentation requirements for FreshRealm and customers
• Other duties as required

Qualifications for the Job
Skills and Requirements

• Creative individual with a passion, affinity, and love of food underpinned by a strong commercial acumen
• Thrive in a demanding manufacturing environment and be driven to see your concepts succeed in the marketplace
• Excellent project management skills and a creative driver for the business
• Experience in working with chilled / frozen products is essential ideally in the ready meal sector
• Market and product research, identifying range architecture and opportunities
• Analyzing and staying current with the latest food trends, changes in market and suppliers
• Previous positions with direct accountability for sanitation and inventory. Sanitation training and certification (Food Handlers' Card minimally required).
• Must understand product development cycle from concept to commercialization including cost parameters and shelf life implications
• Ability to work in a fast-growing environment is a must as is the ability to work under own initiative, comfortable setting goals, analyzing performance, and course corrections as needed
• Sound culinary skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to collaborate with all levels of the organization and customer base. Must have strong presentation skills.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to work independently or within a team on multiple projects at one time
• Analytical and logical problem-solving abilities
• Sound understanding of ordering, inventory
• Ability to assess / embrace new software solutions that benefit the organization
• Proficient in Google applications
• Ability to travel up to 35% of the time. Must be able to travel independently and as a responsible company representative.
• Ability to carry out culinary costs
• Support marketing and sales teams as and when required
• Experienced at presenting to retail customers
• Knowledge of upcoming trends and evaluation of competitor products
• Support supply chain in their search for relevant new product ingredients
• Some experience in nutritional software would be preferred but not required
• Basic knowledge of food microbiology

Experience / Education

• Associate degree in a related discipline (preferred)
• 5 years of food service experience required (high-level restaurant preferred)
• 3 to 5 years of retail recipe development required in chilled/frozen ready meal sector
• Experience in the direct-to-consumer business model for fresh prepared meals and meal kits preferred but not required
• Experience in medical meal development a plus
• Management experience
• Experience with creative, business-driven project management
• Experience working with chilled products is essential
• Experienced at compiling presentations and presenting to customers
• Experience with data and trend reports

What We Offer

• Comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees including medical, dental, vision, pet insurance and legal insurance
• 401(k) with company match that is immediately vested
• Life and ADD insurance
• Opportunities for career growth with a dynamic company
• Unlimited paid time off

Our Values at Work
We believe that ACTIONS speak louder than words and our company values align to those ACTIONS.
In Our Daily Work, This Looks Like

• ACCOUNTABILITY: Set clear objectives and prioritize your tasks Hold yourself and your teams accountable for meeting deadlines Learn from your mistakes and use it as a learning opportunity to improve next time
• CHALLENGE WITH CURIOSITY : We challenge and engage with each other through curiosity and a drive to innovate and transform. This encourages us to learn from one another, be open-minded to other perspectives and possibilities, and continuously improve and problem-solve with intensity. We persevere through challenges, observe patterns, and pay attention to the details to make connections others may overlook, allowing us to exceed expectations.
• TRANSPARENCY & HONESTY: Maintain open and consistent communication. Admit mistakes and take ownership Document decisions to help avoid misunderstandings
• INNOVATION : Work with the end-user in mind and create solutions that will add value Question existing norms, assumptions, and best practices Experiment and take calculated, data-driven risks
• OBJECTIVITY : Utilize data and make data-driven decisions at every opportunity
• NIMBLENESS : Utilize time management to help stay focused and on task with urgency es and make adjustments accordingly Delegate and trust others to handle specific responsibilities with resources and support
• SUCCESS THROUGH OUR CUSTOMERS : Know your audience and the type of work they expect to receive as the end-result of a project, initiative, or task Seek feedback at different stages to ensure you're on the right track Foster collaboration among cross-functional teams to ensure you're providing the best experience and service to our consumers

Work Authorization: Must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident and/or alien authorized to work in the US on an unlimited basis
FreshRealm, LLC does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firm recruiters. Fees will not be paid in the event a candidate submitted by a recruiter without an agreement in place is hired; such resumes will be deemed the sole property of FreshRealm, LLC.
#LI-Onsite