Remote Menu Development Specialist

Placements24; Stellenbosch; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus structure

Health benefits

Professional development allowance

Fully remote

Brand leadership opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 in South Africa seeks a Remote Menu Development Specialist to drive culinary creativity and strategic menu planning across diverse catering events. You will shape profitable menus, oversee costing, and collaborate with culinary teams, marketing, and operations from a home office.

The ideal candidate has 8+ years in culinary arts, expertise in global cuisines and dietary trends, and strong written and verbal communication for remote collaboration.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years in culinary arts with menu development and costing focus.
• Proven ability to create commercially viable menus for catering or high-volume ops.
• Deep knowledge of global cuisines and dietary trends.

Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, develop, and test menu items and full menus for events.
• Research global culinary trends and innovative ingredients.
• Collaborate with chefs to ensure feasibility and execution.
• Analyze food costs and develop pricing strategies for profitability.
• Create detailed recipe specs, prep guidelines, and presentation standards.
• Coordinate with marketing to align menus with campaigns and client needs.

Skills

Menu development

Costing

Culinary creativity

Remote collaboration

Global cuisines

Tools

Recipe management software

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking an innovative and highly skilled Remote Menu Development Specialist to drive culinary creativity and strategic menu planning. This position is crucial for developing exciting, profitable, and on-trend menus that cater to a diverse clientele across various event types. You will work collaboratively with culinary teams, marketing, and operations, leveraging your expertise to craft exceptional dining experiences. The ideal candidate is a passionate foodie with a deep understanding of ingredients, global cuisines, dietary trends, and cost management, capable of excelling in a fully remote setting. This role offers the chance to shape the culinary direction of our client and significantly impact their market position through visionary menu engineering and development, all from the comfort of your home office.

Key Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, develop, and test new menu items and full menus for various catering events, considering profitability and market trends.
• Research and stay abreast of global culinary trends, dietary preferences, and innovative ingredients to inspire new creations.
• Collaborate closely with chefs and kitchen staff to ensure menu feasibility and successful execution of new dishes.
• Analyze food costs and develop pricing strategies for menu items to maximize profitability while maintaining value.
• Create detailed recipe specifications, preparation guidelines, and presentation standards for all menu items.
• Work with marketing and sales teams to align menu offerings with promotional campaigns and client needs.

Requirements

• Minimum 8 years of progressive experience in culinary arts, with a significant focus on menu development and costing.
• Demonstrated success in creating commercially viable and popular menus for catering or high-volume food service operations.
• Expertise in global cuisines, dietary trends (e.g., vegan, gluten-free), and creative food presentation.
• Strong analytical skills for food cost analysis, pricing, and profitability assessment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of conveying culinary concepts effectively in a remote setting.
• Proficiency in using culinary software for recipe management and costing.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and bonus structure.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits package.
• Generous allowance for professional development and culinary courses.
• Fully remote work arrangement, offering exceptional flexibility and work-life balance.
• Opportunity to lead culinary innovation and significantly influence brand direction.