Corporate Development Chef

Elephants Food Group Inc • Portland, OR

82d • $75,000 - $80,000

About The Position

As a Corporate Development Chef, you will lead recipe development and product innovation across our production kitchens, catering operations, and retail stores. This role bridges culinary creativity with technical know-how, ensuring recipes are not only delicious and on-brand, but also scalable, cost-effective, compliant, and production-ready. You’ll combine a chef’s passion for food with a product developer’s discipline to support menu growth, enhance customer satisfaction, and strengthen Elephants’ reputation for culinary excellence. This position is a great fit for someone who thrives on creativity, collaboration, and continuous improvement—balancing artistry with science to deliver high-quality food at scale.

Requirements

• Culinary degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Proven experience as a Corporate Chef, R&D Chef, or Product Development Chef in restaurants, catering, or consumer packaged goods.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, preservation, allergen management, and regulatory compliance.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook); recipe management or ERP systems preferred.
• Ability to calculate recipe scaling, yields, percentages, and cost modeling.
• Advanced problem-solving and communication skills, with the ability to work cross-functionally.
• ServSafe or Oregon Food Handler’s Certification required; HACCP certification preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in English, both verbal and written.

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual ability (Spanish or other language) to support diverse staff.

Responsibilities

• Developing and testing new recipes that align with brand standards and customer preferences.
• Translating culinary ideas into scalable, production-ready recipes using batch-sizing tools and food science principles.
• Collaborating with business leaders on seasonal menu planning and new product launches.
• Leading and supporting plated catering event food preparation when needed.
• Ensuring compliance with FDA, USDA, and local health regulations; maintaining allergen and labeling protocols.
• Training production staff on recipes, processes, and food safety standards.
• Optimizing production processes for efficiency, yield, and waste reduction.
• Conducting product reviews, taste panels, and audits to ensure quality standards are met.
• Partnering with procurement, operations, finance, and marketing to align recipe development with company goals.

Benefits

• Paid vacation and sick time
• Kaiser Medical coverage, with alternative care as a bonus (acupuncture, chiropractic, massage therapy, etc.)
• Mental Health Services
• Dental, FSA (Flexible Spending Accounts), and 401(k) with 4% company match
• Training that will fast-track your culinary/hospitality career
• Free counseling and financial services
• Opportunities for advancement
• Discounts on our delicious made-from-scratch food
• Pet insurance
• Chance to win employee raffles
• Discounts at Sketchers, Shoes for Crews, Verizon, Sprint, select B Corporations, and many more
• A commitment to inclusion, diversity, community involvement, employee well-being, and environmental protection

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree