Product Development & Culinary Innovation Chef - SE Portland
17 days ago
Portland
Job DescriptionDescription: Salary: $75,000 - $80,000/year FLSA Status: Exempt Schedule: Full-Time, Monday–Friday (with occasional evenings, weekends, or holidays for menu launches or catering events) Requirements: Current Oregon Food Handler's card Location & Transportation: Elephants Central Kitchen is located at 1611 SE 7th Ave. Reliable transportation is required. Due to our location, dependable transportation to and from our store is essential. About Elephants A locally owned company since 1979, Elephants Delicatessen pioneered the gourmet food industry in the Pacific Northwest and now has seven Portland-metro area retail locations and a busy catering company, all serving great local foods prepared from scratch. A certified B Corporation, Elephants Delicatessen prides itself on sustainable practices and voluntarily meets a higher standard of transparency and accountability, using the power of business as a force for good. Elephants Delicatessen is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity and inclusion. What we offer: • Employer contributed vacation and sick time, • Kaiser Medical coverage, with alternative care as a bonus (acupuncture, chiropractic, massage therapy, etc.), • Mental Health Services, • Dental, FSA (Flexible Spending Accounts), and 401(k) with 4% company match, • Training that will fast-track your culinary/hospitality career, • Free counseling and financial services, • Opportunities for advancement, • Discounts on our delicious made-from-scratch food, • Pet insurance, • Chance to win employee raffles, • Discounts at Sketchers, Shoes for Crews, Verizon, Sprint, select B Corporations, and many more Elephants Delicatessen participates in the E- Verify program to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Please see the following notices for more information: E-Verify Participation Poster (English/Spanish) Right to Work Poster (English/Spanish) Requirements: About the Role As a Product Development & Culinary Innovation Chef, you will lead recipe development and product innovation across our production kitchens, catering operations, and retail stores. This role bridges culinary creativity with technical know-how, ensuring recipes are not only delicious and on-brand, but also scalable, cost-effective, compliant, and production-ready. You’ll combine a chef’s passion for food with a product developer’s discipline to support menu growth, enhance customer satisfaction, and strengthen Elephants’ reputation for culinary excellence. This position is a great fit for someone who thrives on creativity, collaboration, and continuous improvement—balancing artistry with science to deliver high-quality food at scale. The ideal candidate is a strong communicator who can balance hospitality with accountability in a fast-paced environment. What You’ll Do • Developing and testing new recipes that align with brand standards and customer preferences., • Translating culinary ideas into scalable, production-ready recipes using batch-sizing tools and food science principles., • Collaborating with business leaders on seasonal menu planning and new product launches., • Leading and supporting plated catering event food preparation when needed., • Ensuring compliance with FDA, USDA, and local health regulations; maintaining allergen and labeling protocols., • Training production staff on recipes, processes, and food safety standards., • Optimizing production processes for efficiency, yield, and waste reduction., • Conducting product reviews, taste panels, and audits to ensure quality standards are met., • Partnering with procurement, operations, finance, and marketing to align recipe development with company goals. What We’re Looking For • Culinary degree or equivalent professional experience., • Proven experience as a Corporate Chef, R&D Chef, or Product Development Chef in restaurants, catering, or consumer packaged goods., • Strong knowledge of food safety, preservation, allergen management, and regulatory compliance., • Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook); recipe management or ERP systems preferred., • Ability to calculate recipe scaling, yields, percentages, and cost modeling., • Advanced problem-solving and communication skills, with the ability to work cross-functionally., • ServSafe or Oregon Food Handler’s Certification required; HACCP certification preferred., • Advanced proficiency in English, both verbal and written., • Preferred: Bilingual ability (Spanish or other language) to support diverse staff. If you love building strong teams, holding high standards, and creating memorable guest experiences, we’d love to meet you!