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Title
Text copied to clipboard!Kitchen Development Specialist
Description
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We are looking for a Kitchen Development Specialist who will improve kitchen efficiency, lead product and menu development initiatives, and strengthen quality, hygiene, and cost standards in a sustainable way. This role combines creative culinary thinking with strong operational execution and is ideal for someone who can turn ideas into scalable kitchen practices. The successful candidate will evaluate existing kitchen workflows, identify improvement opportunities, develop new food concepts, standardize recipes, and work closely with kitchen teams to ensure successful implementation.
In this position, the Kitchen Development Specialist is expected to stay informed about culinary trends, understand customer expectations, and translate those expectations into practical and profitable kitchen solutions. The role includes planning research and testing processes for new menu items, conducting cost analyses, evaluating target profitability, and recommending recipe adjustments when necessary. The specialist will also contribute to better use of kitchen equipment, optimization of production flow, and stronger coordination across culinary teams.
This position is not limited to creating new dishes. It also plays a key role in operational sustainability, standardization, and training. For that reason, the ideal candidate should be able to guide kitchen staff on recipe execution, presentation standards, hygiene rules, and production planning. In businesses with multiple branches or production sites, the role may also involve monitoring and reporting to ensure consistent product quality across all locations. Using a data-driven approach, the Kitchen Development Specialist will review sales performance, customer feedback, waste ratios, and production costs to recommend continuous improvements.
The ideal candidate is disciplined, solution-oriented, creative, and highly attentive to detail. They should be comfortable working in fast-paced environments, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and responding quickly to changing operational needs. Knowledge of food safety regulations, recipe standardization, and menu engineering will be strong advantages in this role. If you are passionate about improving kitchen systems, creating innovative food products, and contributing to a high-standard culinary operation, this position offers an excellent career opportunity.
Responsibilities
Text copied to clipboard!- Analyze kitchen operations and recommend efficiency improvements
- Lead research, testing, and implementation of new products and menu items
- Standardize recipes to ensure consistent quality and portion control
- Monitor food costs and suggest actions to improve profitability
- Oversee compliance with hygiene, sanitation, and food safety standards
- Improve inventory, procurement, and waste management processes
- Train kitchen staff on preparation methods, presentation, and operational standards
- Review customer feedback and use insights to improve menus and processes
Requirements
Text copied to clipboard!- Education in gastronomy, culinary arts, food and beverage management, or a related field
- Experience in kitchen operations, menu development, or product development
- Knowledge of food safety, hygiene, and sanitation standards
- Ability to perform cost analysis, recipe standardization, and portion control
- Strong creative thinking and problem-solving skills
- Effective communication and team coordination abilities
- Ability to adapt to a fast-paced working environment
- Proficiency in MS Office and basic reporting tools
Potential interview questions
Text copied to clipboard!- How many years of experience do you have in kitchen development or menu planning?
- Have you previously led a new product or menu development process?
- What experience do you have with recipe standardization and cost control?
- Which food safety and hygiene practices are you most familiar with?
- How do you coordinate with teams in high-pressure operational environments?
- How do you incorporate customer feedback into product development?
