Culinary R&D and Production Chef

Wow Bao; Forest City (IA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance (medical, dental, vIs

401(k) Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off & Holidays

Job Training Opportunities

Employee Discount Programs

We foster a culture of CARE

Job summary

Wow Bao in Forest City, NC, seeks a Culinary R&D/Production Chef to bridge culinary innovation with manufacturing execution. You will lead development of new recipes, refine existing products for taste, quality, safety and scalability, and collaborate with operations to optimize production workflows.

The role blends creative menu development with hands-on production leadership in a fast-paced, on-site facility with some travel to co-packers.

Qualifications

• 5+ years minimum in culinary R&D or large-scale food service/ manufacturing.
• Bachelor's degree in food science, culinary arts or equivalent.
• Strong knowledge of food science, flavor development, and manufacturing processes.
• Proven ability to work cross-functionally with operations, quality assurance, and supply chain teams.
• Proven ability in plant operations, including budgeting, cost control, and resource management.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily culinary production operations with focus on process improvements and product quality.
• Partner with QA to meet food safety, regulatory, and quality standards.
• Lead new menu product development and cost optimization.
• Translate culinary concepts into scalable manufacturing processes while maintaining flavor integrity.
• Analyze cost structures and optimize recipes to meet budget and margin targets.
• Manage kitchen trials, pilot runs, and product scale‑ups.

Skills

Culinary R&D

Food manufacturing

Cross-functional collaboration

Budgeting/cost control

Operational excellence

Education

Bachelor's degree in food science or culinary arts

Job description

Join Wow Bao in this newly created role as the Culinary R&D/Production Chef in our brand-new food manufacturing plant in Forest City, North Carolina. In this dynamic role, you’ll split your time between culinary creativity and operational excellence.

• On the R&D side, you’ll work closely with the VP of Culinary to test and perfect new menu items while refining existing products to meet our high standards for taste, quality, safety, and scalability.
• On the production side, you’ll partner with our manufacturing team to ensure smooth day-to-day operations, aligning innovation, efficiency and execution.

The Culinary R&D/Production Chef will report to the Vice President of Culinary. The position is on-site five days a week, based in our facility, with some travel to our co-packer facilities. If you strive in a fast-paced environment, love bringing ideas to life, and want to make an impact on a growing brand, this is a unique opportunity to lead and create!

Innovative. Fast Pace. Growth.

At Wow Bao, we believe food should be bold, exciting, and anything but ordinary. We're on a mission to reinvent the Asian Street Food experience—bringing inventive flavors and high-quality ingredients to every bite.

As the fastest-growing Frozen Asian Snack brand in the U.S., Wow Bao achieved over 370% retail sales growth in 2024, and our products are now available in 15,000+ grocery stores nationwide thanks to strong partnerships with leading retailers.

Our journey began in 2003 with the opening of our first restaurant, and today Wow Bao is a thriving omni-channel brand with a presence in Chicago restaurants, airports, virtual kitchens, and universities. We continue to expand across all verticals—including foodservice, retail, and corporate operations.

Wow Bao is proud to be the only brand recognized three times by Fast Casual magazine as a Top 100 Movers & Shakers—earning the #1 spot in both 2019 and 2022, and #4 in 2023. This recognition reflects our commitment to innovation, growth, and excellence in what we do.

Join us and be part of a team that’s transforming the way the world experiences Asian cuisine—one bao at a time.

We foster a culture of caring.

Whether it’s our guests or our employees, we put people first. We strive to inspire, to motivate, and to appreciate one another every day. We live by the golden rule and treat everyone with kindness, empathy, respect, and a healthy dose of humor. We take our work, not ourselves, seriously.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: (Other duties will be assigned as needed)

CULINARY PRODUCTION

• Oversee daily operations focused on process improvements, while approving the taste, texture, size, and shape of all products to ensure quality and consistency.
• Partner with Quality Assurance to ensure all products meet food safety, regulatory, and company quality standards.
• Work with team to address product defects, implement corrective actions, and ensuring continuous improvement in product quality.
• Partner with Operations to optimize production workflow, and capacity planning to optimize efficiency and meet demand.
• Maintain accurate records of recipes, formulations, and testing results for compliance and reproducibility.
• Provide culinary guidance and training to the production team on existing and new product launches.
• Promote a positive work culture, providing guidance and motivation to employees while ensuring that they understand and follow goals and standards.
• Ensure all products are manufactured in accordance with company specifications, quality standards, and food safety regulations (UDSA, FDA, HACCP, and GMP).
• Champion plant safety efforts, ensuring that all safety policies and procedures are followed to maintain a safe working environment.
• Collaborate with the Plant Manager for continuous improvements in lean manufacturing practices to increase plant efficiency and reduce waste.

CULINARY RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

• Participate in R&D projects in collaboration with the Vice President of Culinary to design, develop and test new recipes and food products that align with Wow Bao’s brand identity.
• Lead new menu product development, cost optimization, and creation of formulas, recipes, and applications.
• Translate culinary concepts into scalable manufacturing processes while maintaining flavor integrity.
• Analyze cost structures and optimize recipes to meet budget and margin targets.
• Manage kitchen trails, pilot runs, and product scale‑up activities.
• Monitor food industry trends and consumer preferences to inform product pipeline.

• 5+ years minimum in culinary R&D, food manufacturing, corporate chef or large‑scale food service operations.

• Bachelor's degree in food science, culinary arts or equivalent professional training required.
• Strong knowledge of food science, flavor development, and manufacturing processes.
• Proven ability to work cross‑functionally with operations, quality assurance, and supply chain teams.
• Proven ability in plant operations, including budgeting, cost control, and resource management.
• Passion for culinary innovation and ability to balance creativity with operational feasibility.
• Strong understanding of food safety regulations (USDA, FDA), quality standards (HACCP, GMP) and manufacturing processes.
• Ability to generate and implement creative culinary solutions.
• Ensures accuracy in recipes, processes, and documentation.
• Clear and effective collaboration across teams.
• Some travel required
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines in a fast‑paced environment.

WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Must be able to navigate all areas of the production facility
• Frequent standing, walking, bending, and lifting to 50 pounds at a time.
• Ability to work in various environments including cold environments for extended periods.
• Use of protective equipment such as gloves and safety glasses.
• Tolerance for exposure to kitchen conditions, including heat, noise, and sharp equipment.

Wow Bao is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Wow Bao participates in E-Verify

• Competitive salary

• Health Insurance (medical, dental, vision)

• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Voluntary Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability
• Paid Time Off & Holidays
• Job Training Opportunities
• Employee Discount Programs
• We foster a culture of CARE