Culinary and R&D Specialist

We are seeking a detail-oriented and analytical Culinary and R&D Menu and Pricing Specialist to our growing team! This role plays an important part in optimizing our menu pricing strategy to balance profitability, customer satisfaction, and market competitiveness. The ideal candidate will leverage industry insights, pricing trends, and operational feedback to develop pricing models, manage menu updates, and support product launches across our 240 locations. This position requires strong analytical skills, a keen understanding of food cost and recipe management, and the ability to collaborate cross-functionally with operations, marketing, and sales teams to ensure consistency and profitability throughout the brand.

Major Responsibilities

Menu Recipe Ownership (40%)

• Manage menu ingredients, menu item builds, and catering items on our in-house recipe keeper to ensure recipe and cost accuracy
• Ensure all recipes sync up with our IT systems
• Audit our system for discrepancies
• Know the ins and outs of our Food Cost modeling tool as it relates to building recipes
• Help with food cost projects from a menu perspective on an as-needed basis

Pricing Strategy (40%)

• Own pricing strategy and analysis for the entire corporation
• Conduct monthly pricing competitive analysis
• Participate in any pricing discussions for the company
• Provide delis, sales strategists, and franchisees with pricing information as needed
• Update menu pricing documents on an as-needed basis
• Be the keeper and point of contact for all company pricing information
• Conduct yearly Competitive Benchmarking analysis

Other Culinary Support (20%)

• Maintaining the test kitchen by keeping the supplies stocked and the equipment in good repair
• This person will help support the Manager of Culinary and R&D with Quality Assurance evaluations
• Manage our internal idea generation tool for the Culinary team, the Idea Garden
• Participate in Culinary Team product evaluations and tastings
• Participate in quarterly Product Approval Meetings
• This person will support Core Values workshops from a food and menu perspective, leading the ordering and serving of meals
• This person will take on additional projects as needed within the department

Job Qualifications

• You must love food!
• 1–2 years of experience supporting pricing strategy or product cost analysis within the food service Industry or similar preferred
• Background in business or hospitality preferred
• The ideal candidate will be able to learn new software systems quickly
• Must be able to maintain good working relationships with peers
• Must be self motivated and an independent thinker
• Must have excellent organizational and time management skills
• Must be easy to work with and display a professional mentality with strong interpersonal skills.
• Must be able to independently handle the coordination of a wide range of activities and recommend appropriate solutions

Other Information

• Some travel required (5%)
• Included in this role is a monthly cell phone stipend and lunch provided Monday-Thursday while in the office.
• As a member of the Culinary and R&D Team, you will be expected to maintain a clean and safe test kitchen environment
• As a member of the Culinary and R&D Team, you will be expected to obtain and maintain a Texas State Food Safety Certification

For more information, visit our website at jasonsdeli.com!

EOE