Lead Culinary Food Development Specialist

About the role

Lead Culinary Food Development Specialist at Univar Solutions, a leading global distributor of chemicals and ingredients.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor culinary and technical team members, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous development
• Serve as a key technical interface with customers and supplier partners, building strong, trust-based relationships
• Partner cross-functionally with Sales, Marketing, and Product Management to align innovation efforts with business strategy
• Lead end-to-end product development—from concept through prototype, validation, and customer presentation
• Translate consumer trends and market insights into relevant, scalable product concepts
• Solve complex formulation challenges using supplier ingredient portfolios
• Develop prototypes that demonstrate ingredient functionality and support commercialization efforts
• Deliver compelling customer presentations, culinary trainings, and product demonstrations (in-person and virtual)
• Represent Univar Solutions at industry trade shows and events, showcasing innovation and capabilities
• Partner with marketing to create digital content, webinars, and promotional materials
• Manage and prioritize a pipeline of innovation projects to accelerate customer adoption and revenue growth
• Ensure accurate documentation, technical rigor, and timely, high-quality deliverables
• Maintain a safe, clean, and compliant culinary lab environment
• Operate commercial kitchen equipment and support scale-up considerations

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Culinary Science, or a related scientific field
• Culinary certification preferred
• 5+ years of experience in food product development or culinary innovation
• Demonstrated experience leading projects and/or mentoring team members
• Strong knowledge of ingredient functionality, formulation, and commercialization processes
• Experience with product scale-up, plant trials, and market launch readiness
• Proven ability to translate trends into viable food products
• Strong customer-facing presence with the ability to influence and inspire
• Excellent presentation and storytelling skills
• Business acumen across manufacturers, distributors, and end-use markets
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce)
• Ability to stand for extended periods of time (up to 6–8 hours) while working in a commercial kitchen or lab environment
• Ability to lift, carry, and move materials and equipment up to 50 lbs
• Frequent bending, reaching, kneeling, and manual dexterity required for food preparation and equipment operation
• Ability to work safely with commercial kitchen equipment (e.g., ovens, mixers, slicers)
• Tolerance for working in environments with varying temperatures (e.g., hot cooking areas, refrigerated storage)
• Ability to travel (up to 25%) and transport materials or demo kits as needed for customer visits, trainings, and tradeshows

Qualifications

• Ability to work safely with commercial kitchen equipment (e.g., ovens, mixers, slicers)
• Tolerance for working in environments with varying temperatures (e.g., hot cooking areas, refrigerated storage)
• Ability to travel (up to 25%) and transport materials or demo kits as needed for customer visits, trainings, and tradeshows

Skills

• Leadership and collaboration
• Innovation and product development
• Customer engagement
• Operational excellence

Benefits

The salary range for this role is USD 121,340 - 151,670. The specific salary offered to a candidate may be motivated by a variety of factors including the candidate’s proven experience, education, training, certifications, qualifications, and work location. In addition, this position is eligible for incentive pay. Available employee benefits include health, vision, and dental. We also provide 401k matching for retirement and paid time off.