Commercialization Chef
Founded in 2013, Home Chef is the leading meal solutions company with both a retail and online presence. Available online at homechef.com and in retail at more than 2,100 Kroger grocery stores, Home Chef is committed to inspiring and enabling more people to cook simple, delicious meals, no matter how busy they are.
In 2023, Home Chef introduced a new brand, Tempo! Tempo features a rotating selection of ready-to-heat meals delivered directly to your door. These meals are better-for-you versions of familiar favorites, designed to save you time and reduce stress while maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Our Tempo menu includes options that are protein-packed, fiber-rich, calorie and carb conscious, keto-friendly, and dietitian-approved.
Similar to our recipes, we recognize that variety is the spice of life, and therefore, our employees also bring their uniqueness and color to our fantastic team. We’re eager to work with humble team players and pragmatic next-level thinkers to innovate on Home Chef’s offerings.
The Commercialization Chef for Tempo plays a key role in bridging the gap between culinary innovation and operational execution. This role ensures that recipes developed by our corporate R&D chefs can be successfully and consistently produced at scale within our manufacturing facilities. You’ll work closely with both Production Executive Chefs and R&D teams to troubleshoot, refine, and support the commercialization of new Tempo recipes.
Detailed Responsibilities
Collaborate with R&D to ensure successful recipe execution and culinary quality across Tempo facilities
- Collaborate closely with R&D chefs to understand recipe concepts and requirements for scaling while maintaining taste, quality, and consistency
- Participate in R&D samplings, selection committee, and performance board and provide feedback to both R&D and production about improvement opportunities
- Identify and communicate opportunities to improve the commercialization and output quality of new and existing recipes
- Ensure premium quality, consistency, and execution across facilities
Partner with plant chefs and production teams for ongoing support and improvement
- Train and guide plant kitchen teams during new recipe implementation
- Provide ongoing support and guidance to production teams to facilitate continuous improvement in recipe execution and process efficiency
- Facilitate discussions with plant Executive Chefs to troubleshoot top Problem Ingredients and align on standardized procedures
- Travel to sites regularly and provide vacation and leave coverage for Executive Chefs
- Monitor recipe adherence and troubleshoot issues in real time
- Align with Production Executive Chefs to adapt SOPs and process flows as needed
- Build strong relationships with plant stakeholders to drive collaboration and accountability
Support Training and Continuous Improvement initiatives
- Review meal ratings weekly and assess areas for performance improvement
- Proactively identify opportunities for innovation and optimization to enhance product quality, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.
- Collaborate with cross-functional partners to share updates and ensure alignment
- Develop SOPs, training guides, and visual aids for new recipe rollouts
- Develop training plans based on new R&D techniques that will be rolled out to production teams
This position requires 50% travel.
Qualifications
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability needed for this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities.
- Culinary associate’s degree required
- 6+ years’ experience in a commissary kitchen and high-volume food preparation with 2+ years leadership experience
- Fluent in Microsoft Office and Google Suite applications
- Familiarity with USDA/FDA guidelines
- Skills in planning, organizing, prioritizing, and executing projects and activities
- Passion for helping people achieve their goals and improve themselves
- Knowledge of HACCP, FSMA, SQF, and USDA regulations
More About Us
Perks and Benefits
- Candidates can experience Home Chef as a customer - enter promo code PEOPLE30 for $30 off your first order!
- Medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance available
- Paid holidays, sick time and vacation time
- 401k program
- Flexible spending accounts for qualified medical, dependent care, parking, or transit expenses
How We Work Together
We are humble team players.
We are warm and gracious with team members and customers. We seek feedback to improve ourselves - and respectfully listen to and accept input.
We are pragmatic next-level thinkers.
We come up with novel and unique ideas. We explore new strategies to avoid being constrained by conventional thinking.
We take ownership.
We approach ambiguous problems, prepared to dive in, get curious, and learn more. We are results-driven, always challenging ourselves to exceed goals.
Be at Home at Home Chef
We all show up authentically at Home Chef. Our team includes individuals with a variety of identities, backgrounds, and perspectives. You can trust that you’ll be able to bring your whole self to an inclusive and enjoyable workplace.
We welcome people of all races, colors, religions, national origin or ancestry, sex (including sexual identity), age, physical or mental disabilities, pregnancy, veteran or military status, unfavorable discharge from military service, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, order of protection status, citizenship status, arrest record or expunged/sealed convictions, or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state, or local law.
Home Chef is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Home Chef will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact our People team at hr@homechef.com.
Home Chef offers the base salary range as posted below, with the exact offer depending on factors such as geographic location, experience, skills, and internal equity. While compensation is within the provided range, it is not typical for offers to be made at the upper end. In addition to base salary, Home Chef provides a comprehensive benefits package, including healthcare coverage, 401k match, and paid time off.
Illinois Pay Range
$85,000 - $95,000 USD
To view the California Applicant Notice click here
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