Lead Culinary Food Development Specialist

Univar Solutions•Summit, IL

1d•$121,340 - $151,670•Onsite

About The Position

A Place Where People Matter. Start your career journey with Univar Solutions! Here you can make an impact on the world around you and accelerate your career in areas that energize and excite you. As the Lead Culinary Food Development Specialist, you will drive innovation across Univar Solutions’ food ingredient portfolio, leading both people and projects to translate emerging food trends into scalable, manufacturable solutions. Blending culinary creativity with food science expertise, you will partner directly with customers, suppliers, and internal commercial teams to develop differentiated concepts, solve formulation challenges, and accelerate commercialization. Based in our Innovation & Development Kitchen at The Hatchery in Downtown Chicago, this role serves as a visible technical leader, championing innovation, mentoring team members, and elevating Foodology by Univar Solutions as a strategic partner in the food industry.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Culinary Science, or a related scientific field
5+ years of experience in food product development or culinary innovation
Demonstrated experience leading projects and/or mentoring team members
Strong knowledge of ingredient functionality, formulation, and commercialization processes
Experience with product scale-up, plant trials, and market launch readiness
Proven ability to translate trends into viable food products
Strong customer-facing presence with the ability to influence and inspire
Excellent presentation and storytelling skills
Business acumen across manufacturers, distributors, and end-use markets
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce)
Ability to stand for extended periods of time (up to 6–8 hours) while working in a commercial kitchen or lab environment
Ability to lift, carry, and move materials and equipment up to 50 lbs
Frequent bending, reaching, kneeling, and manual dexterity required for food preparation and equipment operation
Ability to work safely with commercial kitchen equipment (e.g., ovens, mixers, slicers)
Tolerance for working in environments with varying temperatures (e.g., hot cooking areas, refrigerated storage)
Ability to travel (up to 25%) and transport materials or demo kits as needed for customer visits, trainings, and tradeshows

Nice To Haves

Culinary certification preferred

Responsibilities

Lead and mentor culinary and technical team members, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous development
Serve as a key technical interface with customers and supplier partners, building strong, trust-based relationships
Partner cross-functionally with Sales, Marketing, and Product Management to align innovation efforts with business strategy
Lead end-to-end product development—from concept through prototype, validation, and customer presentation
Translate consumer trends and market insights into relevant, scalable product concepts
Solve complex formulation challenges using supplier ingredient portfolios
Develop prototypes that demonstrate ingredient functionality and support commercialization efforts
Deliver compelling customer presentations, culinary trainings, and product demonstrations (in-person and virtual)
Represent Univar Solutions at industry trade shows and events, showcasing innovation and capabilities
Partner with marketing to create digital content, webinars, and promotional materials
Manage and prioritize a pipeline of innovation projects to accelerate customer adoption and revenue growth
Ensure accurate documentation, technical rigor, and timely, high-quality deliverables
Maintain a safe, clean, and compliant culinary lab environment
Operate commercial kitchen equipment and support scale-up considerations