Research and Development Chef

Kahala Management LLC•Scottsdale, AZ

9d•Hybrid

About The Position

Serve as an R&D Chef for Kahala Brands. Develop new products, procedures and processes for various savory brands. Work with internal teams and suppliers to make improvements to existing products. Work closely with Operations and Purchasing to procure products as needed. Mentor R&D Manager to promote knowledge, skills, and growth. Monitor current industry trends, consumer insights and competitive restaurant/menu strategies. Assist with the setup, execution and breakdown of headquarters meetings, events and employee activities.

Requirements

Culinary Arts degree; preferred Bachelor’s in culinary, foodservice, food science or hospitality
Minimum 1-3 years of experience in restaurant back of house
Basic knowledge of food production and processing
Basic culinary knowledge, technical skills and understanding of restaurant equipment and services
Thorough knowledge of food products, recipes and procedural writing, and food costing
Thorough knowledge of food safety standards, HAACP and Serve Safe Certification
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Strong skills in Microsoft (e.g., Word, Publisher, PowerPoint and Excel)
Ability to handle a variety of different tasks at once, prioritizing and sequencing actions/decisions to move tasks toward execution
Organized, detail-oriented and able to work independently, as well as part of a team
Enthusiastic, optimistic and service-minded team player
Demonstrated desire for continuous learning and improvement

Responsibilities

Create and develop new products, menu items and product lines for a variety of savory brands
Lead product development ideation process and create LTO/promotional menu items
Develop and refine specifications for new and/or existing products
Conduct product evaluations while maintaining food safety and regulatory requirements specific to the menu development
Provide technical expertise and resolve any technical, operational and performance issues that arise during product development
Analyze feedback and results from product cuttings
Complete accurate food costing and ingredients for developed products
Work with multiple departments on all aspects of test programs and product rollouts, including Purchasing, Distribution, Marketing, Operations and Training
Conduct equipment testing
Meet with suppliers for prospective new products, ideations for new items and improvements for existing items
Develop new menus for emerging brands
Assist with product photoshoots and pre-shoot preparation of products
Mentor R&D Manager to promote knowledge, skills, and growth
Share responsibilities for nutritional analysis using ESHA Genesis nutrition software
Monitor current industry trends, consumer insights and competitive restaurant/menu strategies
Support various Ops Services team responsibilities and assist with headquarters events such as dry run fundraisers, employee lunches and employee activities (e.g., planning/setting up/hosting/breaking down headquarters events)