Lead Culinary Food Development Specialist (Food Science)

TL;DR

Lead Culinary Food Development Specialist (Food Science): Driving innovation across a food ingredient portfolio by translating emerging trends into scalable, manufacturable solutions with an accent on culinary creativity and food science. Focus on leading end-to-end product development, solving complex formulation challenges, and accelerating commercialization for customers.

Location: On-site in Downtown Chicago, IL

Salary: $121,340–$151,670

Company

hirify.global is a leading global distributor of chemicals and ingredients essential to the safety, health, and wellbeing of daily life.

What you will do

• Lead and mentor culinary and technical team members to foster a culture of innovation and accountability.
• Drive end-to-end product development from concept through prototype, validation, and customer presentation.
• Solve complex formulation challenges using supplier ingredient portfolios to create scalable concepts.
• Deliver compelling customer presentations, culinary trainings, and represent the company at industry trade shows.
• Partner with Sales, Marketing, and Product Management to align innovation efforts with business strategy.
• Manage the innovation project pipeline and ensure technical rigor and high-quality documentation.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Culinary Science, or a related scientific field.
• 5+ years of experience in food product development or culinary innovation.
• Proven experience leading projects and mentoring team members.
• Strong knowledge of ingredient functionality, formulation, and commercialization processes.
• Ability to work on-site in a commercial kitchen and stand for extended periods (6–8 hours).
• Ability to travel up to 25% for customer visits, trainings, and trade shows.

Nice to have

• Culinary certification.
• Proficiency in CRM platforms such as Salesforce.

Culture & Benefits

• Comprehensive health, vision, and dental insurance.
• 401k matching for retirement.
• Paid time off.
• Opportunity to work in a state-of-the-art Innovation & Development Kitchen.
• Inclusive culture committed to diversity and professional growth.