Product Development Chef (Mat Leave Coverage)

Position Overview

Scarlett House Food Group is seeking a highly motivated and innovative Product Development Chef to support the development, improvement, and commercialization of food products across our manufacturing and food service operations. This position is ideal for someone with a passion for culinary innovation, food science, market trends, and product optimization.

The successful candidate will work closely with Operations, Purchasing, FSQA, and Sales teams to develop high-quality products that meet customer expectations, regulatory requirements, and company objectives.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for ensuring regular reformulation of products for improvement, enhancement
• and/or cost reduction.
• Perform nutritional analysis for the product developed to ensure that it meets all the required
• specifications.
• Aid in sourcing new product from various suppliers and evaluate the newly sourced product.
• Coordinate and execute product tastings, recipe re-evaluations, client sampling.
• Monitor opportunities and competition to identify and enhance our competitive advantage
• Organize and maintain proper condition of development department equipment kitchen, office
• and storage areas.
• Innovates, develops and proposes new, trend-driven menu items.
• Maintains detailed, accurate cost worksheets.
• Researches and utilizes new and trending packaging products.
• Works with the Purchasing Team to maintain detailed product specifications for all
• manufactured items.
• Develop and maintain label templates for all manufactured items.
• Conducts shelf life testing in conjunction with FSQA Manager.
• Participates in site visits and compliance audits to evaluate products during manufacture and
• after delivery
• Develops recipes, formulas, procedures, step-by-step assembly instructions and CCP
• requirements.
• Continually research new products, methods and trends; attend industry events and trade
• shows.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in Food Science, Nutrition, Culinary Arts, Product Development, or a related field.
• Minimum 2-3 years of experience in food product development, food manufacturing, food service, or a related industry.
• Strong understanding of food formulation, ingredient functionality, nutritional analysis, and labeling requirements.
• Knowledge of food safety, HACCP, GMPs, and quality assurance principles.
• Strong organizational, project management, and analytical skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Working Condition/Physical Requirements

• Able to work in hot and humid kitchen environment
• Long periods of standing, bending, reaching, stooping
• Lifting, pushing, and pulling weight up to 30 or more pounds

Pay: $65,000.00-$70,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental care
• Employee assistance program
• Extended health care
• Life insurance
• Vision care

Experience:

• Chef: 3 years (required)
• Culinary Product Development: 3 years (required)

Work Location: In person