Research Chef

Bell Flavors & Fragrances LATAM; Northbrook (IL); On-site; USD 50,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full‑time benefits package

Job summary

Bell Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. in Northbrook, IL, is seeking a creative and hands-on Research Chef to join our Research & Development team to drive culinary innovation through concept development, prototypes, and testing of formulas and recipes.

The ideal candidate will have strong cooking skills, food science knowledge, and experience taking products from raw ingredients to consumer-packaged goods while collaborating with Sales, Marketing, Finance, and R&D. Travel up to 20% may be required.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in Culinary Arts or equivalent restaurant industry experience required.
• Bachelor’s degree in culinary science, Food Science, Culinology, or related field required.
• 3–6 years of experience in food manufacturer environment preferred.
• Minimum of one year of food product development experience in multi-project environment.
• Strong cooking skills and experience developing manufactured food products.

Responsibilities

• Research, source, and prepare high-quality food concepts and prototypes for appropriate business channels.
• Support day-to-day test kitchen operations, including inventory and kitchen readiness.
• Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, Finance, and R&D to deliver innovative product concepts.
• Write, test, edit, and improve proprietary formulas and recipes while maintaining integrity.
• Demonstrate cooking methods, train others, and showcase Bell products.
• Coordinate food products and presentation materials for meetings and events.
• Maintain notebooks and data records to support reliable decisions.
• Travel up to 20% for customer presentations and trade shows.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Team-building

Presentation skills

Interpersonal skills

Passion for food and productinnovation

Education

Associate degree in Culinary Arts

Bachelor’s degree in culinary science / Food Science / Culinology

Tools

Microsoft Outlook

Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Job description

Job Title

Research Chef

Location

Bell Northbrook, 500 Academy Dr, Northbrook, IL 60062, USA

Contract

Full-Time

Workplace

On-site

Description

Bell Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. is seeking a creative and hands‑on Research Chef to join our Research & Development team in Northbrook, IL. This role supports culinary innovation through concept development, prototype creation, recipe and formula testing, product demonstrations, and collaboration with cross‑functional teams. The ideal candidate is passionate about food, skilled in culinary execution, and excited to apply food science principles in a product development environment.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Research, source, and prepare high‑quality food concepts and prototypes for appropriate business channels.
• Support day‑to‑day test kitchen operations, including inventory, organization, cleaning materials, and kitchen readiness.
• Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, Finance, and R&D to deliver innovative product concepts in a timely and fiscally responsible manner.
• Write, test, edit, and improve proprietary commercial formulas and home‑cook recipes while maintaining formula and recipe integrity.
• Demonstrate cooking methods, train others on basic culinary skills, and showcase Bell products.
• Coordinate food products and presentation materials for customer meetings, trade shows, internal events, and product demonstrations.
• Maintain accurate scientific notebooks, data records, and documentation to support reliable decision‑making.
• Travel up to 20% of the time for customer presentations, trade shows, demonstrations, and related business activities.

Your Qualifications

• Associate degree in Culinary Arts or equivalent restaurant industry experience required.
• Bachelor’s degree in culinary science, Food Science, Culinology, or a related field required.
• 3–6 years of experience working for a food manufacturer preferred.
• Minimum of one year of food product development experience in a multi‑project environment.
• Strong professional cooking skills and experience developing manufactured food products from raw ingredients to finished consumer‑packaged goods.
• Basic understanding of food science principles, including preservative systems, gums, starches, emulsifiers, flavors, sweeteners, and basic chemistry.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Strong written, verbal, communication, presentation, interpersonal, and team‑building skills.
• Passion for food, cooking, product innovation, and demonstrating culinary applications.

Why Join Us?

• Competitive salary range of $50,000 - $100,000
• Full‑time benefits package
• Ideal role for a chef who enjoys hands‑on development, customer‑facing demonstrations, and bringing innovative food concepts to life.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development
• Be part of a supportive and collaborative team
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion

Equal Opportunity Employer

Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.