Corporate Chef

Griffith Foods is the caring, creative product development partner helping food companies meet the evolving needs of consumers while sustaining the planet. As a family business founded in 1919 and headquartered in Alsip, Illinois USA, Griffith Foods is known for true, collaborative innovation guided by their Purpose of "We Blend Care and Creativity to Nourish the World". The company's product capabilities range from seasonings and marinades to coating systems and sauces that are better for people and better for the planet. For more information, visit www.griffithfoods.com.

TITLE: Corporate Chef

LOCATION: Hybrid - Lombard, IL (Primary) with Regional Travel

COMP RANGE: $87,000 - $116,000 / year plus bonus

Custom Culinary, a subsidiary of Griffith Foods, is hiring a Corporate Chef, Central Region to lead the Lombard Culinary Center while supporting regional business development across Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa.

This role serves as a culinary hub leader and regional commercial chef, balancing in-house culinary execution, cross-functional collaboration, and in-market customer engagement. The position plays a critical role in translating Custom Culinary's product portfolio into operator-ready solutions that drive sales growth and strengthen customer relationships.

The Corporate Chef integrates culinary innovation, business acumen, and field activation in support of the company's Triple Bottom Line (People, Planet, Performance).

As Corporate Chef, your responsibilities will include:

• Lead day-to-day operations of the Lombard Culinary Center, ensuring readiness for internal and external engagements.
• Execute customer ideations, sales meetings, training, and internal culinary initiatives within the facility.
• Maintain a high standard of organization, product execution, and culinary excellence in all center activities.
• Partner with Culinary Leadership to optimize center utilization and align with business priorities.

• Support regional business development across Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa in partnership with Sales and regional chefs.
• Participate in customer visits, ideations, and operator consultations to drive product adoption and growth.

• Act as a culinary extension of the regional team, providing in-market support where needed.
• Build chef-to-chef relationships with operators, distributors, and regional accounts.
• Translate customer needs into menu solutions using Custom Culinary products.
• Lead ideation sessions and culinary presentations that support retention and new business opportunities.
• Manage travel and project budgets in alignment with business objectives.
• Maintain accurate culinary documentation, reporting, and follow-up.
• Represent Custom Culinary at regional events, customer engagements, and industry functions.

You'll bring value to the National Account Manager position and the team if you:

• A proven track record of seniorlevel national account leadership, including deep customer connectivity, strategic influence, and the ability to drive profitable, multiyear growth with major chain operators.
• Expertise navigating the complex foodservice ecosystem, from distribution and broker networks to crossfunctional collaboration with culinary, R&D, supply chain, marketing, and operations teams.
• A highly strategic, financially disciplined mindset, with the ability to own full P&L performance, lead complex negotiations, and translate customer and market insights into scalable, branded solutions that deliver longterm value.
• Enjoy balancing hands-on culinary execution with field-based customer engagement
• Thrive in both kitchen environments and customer-facing settings
• Can translate ingredient and manufacturing capabilities into practical culinary applications
• Are comfortable supporting sales teams and regional initiatives
• Value collaboration and can work effectively across functions and regions
• Can adapt your communication style across chefs, operators, and business stakeholders

Qualified candidates will have:

• Associate's degree in culinary arts required
• 10+ years of progressive culinary experience
• 3+ years in a corporate, regional, or commercial development chef role
• Experience working with national, regional, or distributor-based accounts
• Certified professional certification (ACF or RCA) or willingness to obtain within 18 months
• Willingness and ability to travel ~50% within the Central Region
• Must be authorized to work in the United States (no sponsorship available)
• Candidates must currently possess unrestricted authorization to work in the United States. Work visa sponsorship is not available for this role.

What will set you apart:

• Bachelor's degree in food science, Culinary Science, or related field
• Certified Research Chef (CRC)
• Experience in food manufacturing, R&D, or commercial product development
• Experience working with distributors or broker networks
• Strong organizational skills with experience managing a culinary facility or test kitchen

Custom Culinary& Griffith Foods embraces Work Flex, allowing employees to work remotely, and select options like compressed work weeks, flex time, etc. that creates an effective workplace where work patterns meet the needs of both employers & employees. Most professionals come into the office once a week or less. Periodic onsite meetings may occur at our Lombard or Alsip (IL) locations.

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, stand and walk to communicate and listen effectively. This will require both office and kitchen environments.

There is potential for a discretionary bonus, with a target of 6%. This bonus is based on personal & company performance and is not a guaranteed bonus plan.

The Company offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

Medical, Rx, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending & Health Savings Accounts, EAP, Health Advocacy, Financial Planning, Parental Leave, Care.com, Adoption & Surrogacy Assistance, Education Assistance/Tuition Reimbursement, Safety Reimbursement, Lifestyle Spending Account, Group Life & AD&D, Voluntary Life Insurance, Short Term & Long Term Disability, 401(k) Plan with Company Match, ESOP, PTO, Holiday's & Leaves, Accident Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Hospital Indemnity, Home & Auto Insurance, Pet Insurance, Identity Theft Protection, Long Term Care + Life Insurance & Legal Assistance.

Custom Culinary is a subsidiary of Griffith Foods and is a provider of branded and customer brand / "private label" soup bases, flavor concentrates, sauces, gravies, and other flavor enhancing products. We sell primarily into foodservice - restaurants, hospitals, schools, and cafeterias - as well as industrial - food manufacturers, assemblers, and commissaries - and specialty retail - grocery store foodservice, convenience stores, and meal kits.

At Custom Culinary, we aim to Be True to the Food , and we are focused on authentically bringing flavor and excellent food, ingredients, and menu solutions to our customers.

Griffith Foods is a family-owned business, founded in 1919 and headquartered in Alsip, Illinois USA.

Learn more about us at https://griffithfoods.com/careers/

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Griffith Foods believes that all persons are entitled to equal employment opportunity. Griffith Foods does not discriminate against qualified employees or applicants because of the following actual or perceived characteristics: race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, breastfeeding or related medical condition, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, genetic characteristic or information, AIDS or HIV status, order of protection status, marital status, military or veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law. Equal employment opportunity will be extended to all persons in all aspect of the employer-employee relationship, including recruitment, hiring, participation in benefit programs, training, promotion, transfer, discipline, layoff, recall, and termination.

#LI-EC2

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Griffith Foods believes that all persons are entitled to equal employment opportunity. Griffith Foods does not discriminate against qualified employees or applicants because of the following actual or perceived characteristics: race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, breastfeeding or related medical condition, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, genetic characteristic or information, AIDS or HIV status, order of protection status, marital status, military or veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law. Equal employment opportunity will be extended to all persons in all aspect of the employer-employee relationship, including recruitment, hiring, participation in benefit programs, training, promotion, transfer, discipline, layoff, recall, and termination.

Benefits:

Benefits for this role include Medical, Rx, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending & Health Savings Accounts, EAP, Health Advocacy, Financial Planning, Parental Leave, Care.com, Adoption & Surrogacy Assistance, Education Assistance/Tuition Reimbursement, Safety Reimbursement, Lifestyle Spending Account, Group Life & AD&D, Voluntary Life Insurance, Short Term & Long Term Disability, 401(k) Plan with Company Match, ESOP, PTO, Holiday's & Leaves, Accident Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Hospital Indemnity, Home & Auto Insurance, Pet Insurance, Identity Theft Protection, Long Term Care + Life Insurance & Legal Assistance. There is also potential for a discretionary bonus, this bonus is based on personal & company performance and is not a guaranteed bonus plan.