Research Chef

Bell Flavors & Fragrances; 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.

This role drives culinary innovation through concept development, prototype creation, recipe and formula testing, and product demonstrations. The ideal candidate combines passion for food with strong culinary execution and applies food science principles within a product development environment.

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 preservatives, 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.

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.

Skills

Culinary skills

Food science knowledge

Professional cooking

Microsoft Office

Communication

Team collaboration

Presentation skills

Food product development

3–6 years experience

Education

Associate degree in Culinary Arts

Bachelor’s degree in culinary science

Tools

Microsoft Outlook

Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Job description

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.

Job Details

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