Corporate Chef, Innovation – Away From Home

Job Description

As a Corporate Chef, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and executing the culinary strategy for both the market and key customers for Kraft Heinz’s Away From Home (AFH) business. Your contributions will directly support the annual operating plan by collaborating with the Sales team to develop key accounts and channels through innovative culinary solutions. Through strategic engagement with food professionals, category managers, and head chefs at key accounts, you will create initiatives that drive business growth for Kraft Heinz. This role also includes leading culinary customer engagement and product testing specifically for Kraft Heinz Ingredients (KHI).

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Create product formulas leveraging Kraft Heinz Away From Home and Kraft Heinz Ingredients (KHI) products, aligning with customer manufacturing and back-of-house capabilities.
• Translate and present global and local market food trends into relevant food concepts and recipes to optimize the Kraft Heinz product portfolio.
• Partner with cross-functional teams, including Sales, Marketing, and R&D, to prioritize new product offerings and improvements aligned with business objectives.
• Lead professional culinary sessions with regional and global customers to showcase new products, demonstrate product versatility, and address customer needs.
• Manage and grow culinary business relationships with key accounts in specific channels.
• Provide on-site consultations, engaging in menu concept development, tastings, and culinary training to meet customer objectives.
• Contribute innovative concepts supported by market data to R&D and Innovation chefs to align with the company’s NPD/Innovation strategy.
• Collaborate on developing unique selling propositions (USPs) for new product development (NPD) launches.
• Develop and deliver culinary training programs focused on product USPs for local sales, marketing teams, and customers.
• Act as a culinary mentor to junior chefs, providing guidance and professional development opportunities.
• Support the elevation of Kraft Heinz brands through engaging culinary experiences and storytelling.
• Drive culinary activation materials for local portfolios through PR events, trade shows, demos, and recipe development.
• Manage internal or external kitchens with professionalism and efficiency.
• Actively participate in the KHC Chefs Network, sharing insights, recipes, growth opportunities, and market trends.

Expected Experience & Required Skills

• Culinary or Culinary Food Science degree preferred (i.e., a culinary or hospitality school certificate, apprenticeship, or bachelor’s degree in a related field) or equivalent corporate chef, Culinologist, sous chef, or higher experience.

• 5 to 7 years of commercial or corporate culinary experience or extensive food service experience with a proven background in various food service channels such as hotels, FSR, QSR management, bar and grills, catering, B&I, or institutional dining.
• Experience with product development, including sauces, dips, dressing, baked goods, and soups.
• A continuous learner passionate about tackling challenges, anticipating consumer needs, and leveraging insights to drive product development.
• A strong interest in food trends, flavor profiles, and culinary innovation to inspire new product development and stay ahead of market demands.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with a proven ability to build and maintain effective business relationships. Capable of influencing and coaching cross-functional teams without direct authority.
• Adept at working with live customer interactions, providing culinary demonstrations, and engaging in presentations with confidence and professionalism.
• Possess a deep understanding of commercial restaurant cooking equipment, cooking techniques, and principles.
• Extensive familiarity with food ingredients, including their origin, handling, cooking applications, flavor pairings, and sensory attributes.
• Basic knowledge of food manufacturing processes and how they impact product development.            
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), able to create clear reports and presentations.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and meet MVR requirements.  
• Ability to travel up to 30% of the time.

Work Environment & Schedule

This position operates primarily in an office environment, traveling to customer locations, stores, and manufacturing facilities as needed. We offer a hybrid work model that provides flexibility based on business needs, allowing employees to work virtually up to two days per week. Employees are expected to work in person at least three days per week, with primary offices in Chicago and a secondary location in Glenview, IL. Project demands and customer engagements will determine travel and on-site visits.

Physical Requirements 

Physical demands include but are not limited to:

• Ability to stand for extended periods during food demonstrations, product testing, or culinary presentations.
• Frequent walking, bending, and reaching required during food preparation and kitchen activities.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds, including food supplies, equipment, and ingredients.
• Prolonged periods of sitting and working at a computer for tasks such as creating reports, marketing materials, and product testing documentation.
• Occasional travel to customer locations, stores, or manufacturing facilities, which may involve extended periods of sitting or standing.

Ability to handle commercial kitchen equipment safely and efficiently, including cutting, chopping, and other repetitive motions during food preparation tasks.

Location(s)

Employee’s Home – National

Base Salary Range: $99,100.00 – $123,900.00

Target Total Cash Range: $133,785.00 – $167,265.00

Target total cash represents this role’s annualized cash earning potential at target (base salary + target bonus). Target total cash is contingent on targeted company performance achievement and individual attainment of performance goals. Therefore, target total cash is not guaranteed earnings.

The compensation offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors.

Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer that prohibits discrimination or harassment of any type. All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Applicants who require an accommodation to participate in the job application or hiring process should contact NAZTAOps@kraftheinz.com.