Corporate Innovation Chef

Job Description

As a Corporate Innovation Chef, you will support Away From Home (AFH) innovation and renovation by building culinary prototypes, partnering with R&D on technical feasibility and functional performance, and enabling the business through strong lab operations, inventory management, and sample execution. In addition, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping and executing the culinary strategy for both the market and key customers for Kraft Heinz’s AFH and Kraft Heinz Ingredients (KHI) business.

• Create bench prototypes and collaborate with R&D scientists to ensure technical feasibility.
• Provide technical expertise and culinary insights to meet regional and channel‑specific taste and quality standards for innovation and renovation projects.
• Collaborate with product developers to address functional product aspects during development (e.g., stability, viscosity/texture, hold time, reheat performance, sensory targets).
• Test product performance in applications and document findings clearly for R&D and commercial teams.
• Conduct competitive reviews of product portfolios and summarize key learnings.
• Create product formulas leveraging Kraft Heinz AFH and KHI products, aligning with customer manufacturing and back‑of‑house capabilities.
• Translate 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.
• Support industry trade shows and activations.
• 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.
• Engage in ingredient sourcing and supplier qualification processes; communicate with vendors to obtain materials urgently when needed.
• Manage lab material inventory proactively (ingredients, disposables, smallwares); maintain tracking, reorder points, and inventory accuracy.
• Organize and clean the lab/kitchen in partnership with other R&D team members to ensure readiness and standards.
• Ensure compliance with safety and hygiene policies.
• Operate the lab and kitchen efficiently, maintaining a focus on safety, operations, and finances.
• Prepare and ship samples/products as needed, including time‑sensitive customer sample orders.
• Maintain lab and sample inventories with R&D and technical services teams.
• Conduct professional and engaging presentations with confidence, ensuring seamless execution through advance planning, organization, detailed communications, and appropriate time management.
• Works on a variety of projects, including menu concept development, product development, customer work sessions, tasting, product cuttings & testing, culinary product training and other company and customer related projects as needed.

• Possess a degree in Culinary Science, Culinology, or a combined field of Culinary Arts and Food Science. Candidates with a degree in a related field or a relevant professional background will also be considered.
• 3+ years of product development experience, including sauce, dip, condiment, and soup formulations.
• 5+ 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.
• A passion for learning, solving challenges, and leveraging insights for product innovation.
• Strong interest in food trends, flavor profiles, and culinary innovation to inspire new product development and stay ahead of market demands.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to build and…