Culinary Specialist

Gordon Food Service; Ajax; On-site; CAD 69,000 - 103,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

EFAP benefits

Full flex benefits

RRSP matching

Profit sharing

Advancement opportunities

Family culture

Company history

Job summary

Gordon Food Service is seeking a senior culinary strategist to leverage industry trends and our product resources to deliver profit-maximizing culinary solutions for divisional customers.

You will lead culinary initiatives, collaborate with Sales and Marketing, and tailor menu engineering to client needs while driving growth and regional brand value. This role emphasizes hands-on leadership, travel, and strong communication.

Qualifications

• Six years culinary or restaurant leadership experience, with front/back of house knowledge.
• Education: high school diploma or equivalent; a bachelor’s in Culinary, Sales, Marketing, or Business is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Collaborates with Business Solutions Specialist to plan and execute customer visits to the Concept Kitchen, showcasing front and back of house strategies.
• Leverages Home Office content to support division, guides customers, and promotes tool adoption (ATR, Customer Success).
• Replicates and localizes research tours to explore trends and menu ideas for local markets.
• Provide culinary solutions to support Sales and Marketing initiatives and grow market share.
• Consults with key customers for menu analysis and development.
• Develops and tests recipes for customers and tailors existing Gordon Food Service deck recipes.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Front and back of house

Team leadership

Customer service

Business acumen

Education

Highschool Diploma or Equivalent

Bachelor Degree in Culinary, Sales, Marketing, or Business (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Apps

Kitchen equipment knowledge

Job description

Welcome to Gordon Food Service! We are excited that you are thinking about opportunities with us, and we have an amazing story to share. Here’s a quick glance of who we are and the impact you could have on the food service industry. There’s a seat at our table for you...

Position Summary:

Strategically utilizes knowledge and expertise, in combination with food and beverage industry trends and Gordon Food Service products, services and resources, to provide profit maximizing solutions in the areas of culinary application, front and back of the house operations, and overall business planning, to our divisional customers. Develop relationships with and provide value-added services to select current and potential customers.

What We Offer:

• Annual Salary: $68,668 to $103,002

• Medical, Dental, Prescription Drug, and EFAP Benefits after 30 days of employment

• FULL flex benefits program

• Company matching RRSP

• Family culture

• Advancement opportunities

• Profit Sharing

• 125 year, family owned and operated company history

• Family culture and advancement opportunities

Essential Functions:

• Collaborates with Business Solutions Specialist to plan and provide effective customer visits to the Concept Kitchen, demonstrating front and back of house strategies for improved business results.

• Leverages Home Office content and insights to be used in the Division and to direct customers, support adoption and leverage of tools (ATR, Customer Success); Researches local trends to complement emerging culinary trends.

• Replicates and localizes research tours to help our customers explore new trends and menu ideas that strengthen their brand in the local market, with an aim to grow Gordon Food Service’s value to these and potential customers.

• Provide relevant culinary solutions to complement the initiatives of our Sales and Marketing teams, with an ultimate goal of increasing the overall market share of Gordon Food Service.

• Consults with key customers to provide menu analysis and development.

• Supports customer menu engineering by developing and testing recipes for customers as requested by Divisional Leadership and customizes existing Gordon Food Service deck recipes to specific customer needs.

• Provides culinary insights to divisional Customer Management Teams, and ensures the success of customer events and activities result in business metric improvement for both customer and company.

• Ensures consistent and relevant product and culinary insight training for customers and sales teams, in collaboration with other divisional marketing team members.

• Participates in the execution of food shows, other related shows and activities in support of strategic divisional events.

• Participates in Culinary organizations in order to represent Gordon Food Service and to represent our company brand initiatives relevant to the organization.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities Required:

• Experience: Six years culinary experience or restaurant experience (similar to an executive chef or restaurant manager), with knowledge of front/back of house and culinary. Must have past experience leading and directing others. In lieu of the specified education and experience requirements, a proven capability to perform the essential functions of the job, as demonstrated by an equivalent combination of education, training and/or relevant work experience may be considered

• Education: Highschool Diploma or Equivalent, Bachelor Degree i Culinary, Sales, Marketing, or Business is preferred

• Must maintain a valid, unrestricted state driver’s license and safe driving record per GFS policy

• 30% Travel will be required when needed as per business needs

• Culinary certification (such as Certified Culinary Professional (CCP) or Certified Executive Chef (CEC) is preferred

• Strong culinary knowledge and skill; safe food handling practices

• Ability to develop creative food solutions

• Exceptional customer service skills

• Ability to communicate in writing and verbally; and skill in presentation creation and delivery

• Time management and organizational skills to manage multiple projects

• Strong business acumen and understanding of restaurant operations

• Proven ability to deliver results and facilitate a collaborative environment

Equipment / Tools / Technology:

• Microsoft office suite, google applications

• Commercial kitchen equipment

• Desktop or Laptop computer

• Networked printer/copier/facsimile machine

• Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Internet Explorer)

• Google Apps (Gmail, Calendar, Docs, Drive, Sites, Groups)

• Gordon Food Service Systems

All qualified applicants and employees will receive consideration for employment, or in terms or conditions of employment, without regard to any enumerated or analogous grounds of discrimination, including race, religious beliefs, colour, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical disability, mental disability, age, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, source of income, family status, sexual orientation or status as a qualified individual with disability.

If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, please submit your request to [e-mail] and use the words “Accommodation Request” in your subject line.