Winston Industries
Location
Louisville, KY | United States
Job description
Corporate Research & Development Chef
We need a culinary rock star. Winston is looking for a corporate research and development chef ready to flex their technical and creative muscles to champion our products.
Winston is a hometown Louisville business that's been here for over 50 years. We are leaders in foodservice technology. But our success is built on caring for people - our customers, partners, and team members. We're looking for the right person to help us grow.
What will I really be doing?
Most of your time will be spent in the Winston kitchen showing off your chef’s talents. In the first 90 days, you’ll get acquainted with CVap equipment and technology and our Collectramatic fryers that made us famous. You’ll take a deep dive into the science of CVap, so you understand what makes our equipment different, and be able to demonstrate it. Prepare to be inspired. During this time, you will also get to know the Winston team and spend some QT with some of your primary internal customers: sales, engineering, and of course, the rest of the marketing team.
Once you’re settled into your role, your days will mainly be spent in the kitchen. You’ll be responsible for research and testing. You’ll work closely with engineering, sales, and customers to prove a concept, develop programming, and study new designs or components. Additionally, you will support our sales team and end users as they face challenges in the field. You’ll need to be able to think on your feet to answer questions on the fly. There is some travel involved, as our sales team will sometimes need in-person support with key customers.
Additionally, you’ll coordinate with the marketing team to develop content. What does that mean? You’re going to be a star, baby! Well, star might be a bit of a stretch. You will be the public face of Winston and have a significant presence in our training and demo videos and social content. We want you to be you, so be ready to let your personality shine through.
You will also support our human resources team in executing occasional fun company activities. We take having fun at work and eating well pretty seriously at Winston, and you’ll be a big part of making this happen. You’ll plan and execute fun menus with our HR team, then bask in the glory.
Why would I want this job?
As the corporate chef, you’ll be recognized as the culinary expert for one of the foodservice industry’s most highly regarded companies. Winston Foodservice is a leader in cooking and holding technology. We’re not into corporate politics; we like to have a good time, and we’ve got our stuff figured out. People like that about us. Our customers and reps consistently tell us “They just like to work with Winston.” We’re easy to do business with, and our equipment consistently delivers that “wow” moment. You’ll get to be the person to showcase how Winston’s products provide customers with elegant solutions. It’s like handing our customers an easy button for their own business.
This position is your chance to unleash your creative side. We love to ask, “What if?” You’ll push the limits of what our equipment can do. You will have direct contact with end users, from independents to global chains, helping them develop plans to achieve their goals. You will work closely with our engineering team to research, test, and influence evolving equipment solutions.
The corporate chef position is ideal for someone who loves being a chef but is ready to say goodbye to the physical and mental grind that comes with overseeing a high-intensity commercial kitchen. You’ll work more normal hours and enjoy a lower-stress environment.
What kind of experience is required?
The ideal candidate has a culinary degree. Bonus points if you’ve worked in large chain restaurants, either in the kitchen or in sales. Serious bonus points if you have a food science background. You’ll need to be able to execute testing methodically and clearly communicate results in a reader-friendly format.
What are some of the challenges of this role?
Have you ever heard the saying, “too many cooks in the kitchen”? Well, at Winston, we have quite a few chefs in the house. It’s awesome, but you need to be able to hold your own and be confident yet open-minded in your role.
While many jobs at Winston lend themselves to a flexible work schedule, our corporate chef will be in the office every day. Rare administrative days are the exception.
Are there any other qualities that I need?
The ideal candidate takes good food and fun seriously, but not themselves. They are passionate about communication and making complex culinary concepts easy and applicable to a wide range of audiences. And a good sense of humor is a must.
About Winston Industries
Winston is a global company. Our products are found in some of the biggest restaurant chains. But we don't just design and build restaurant equipment. We also offer contract electronics manufacturing for outside clients.
We pride ourselves in top-down relationships with our entire workforce. The idea of being a big corporation prioritizing profit over people isn't our thing. Profits are important, but our team is what keeps the lights on.
Why Winston
We're a small enough company to know everyone's name but big enough to invest back into the company and our people. We have all the usual benefits (medical, matching 401K, paid vacation, etc.), but we also focus on investing in education and growth opportunities for our team members.
Lots of companies say they are great places to work. But when we say it, it's not just corporate kumbaya.
Job Description
Job Title: Corporate/R&D Chef
Division: Foodservice
Reports To: Marketing Manager
Status: Exempt
Job Type: Full-Time
Pay: $65,000.00 - $85,000.00 Per Year
Summary:
Responsible for providing culinary leadership, product testing, and training administration for all departments within the Division. This position is also responsible for pre-sales and post-sales support through demonstrations, end-user training and development of recipes and/or setting recommendations.
What will I really be doing and/or responsible for:
Perform R&D product testing and oversee management of testing documentation and final report.
Act as an extension of the sales team to provide consultative recommendations on foodservice operations, product optimization, comparative testing, and recipe development according to customer needs.
Travel to customer locations for high-level culinary presentations, initial start-up, or ongoing support.
Develop relationships with the chefs in our rep community to grow the Rep Chef Network as a source of inspiration and culinary best practice sharing.
Develop, organize, and lead effective tradeshow demonstrations
Provide daily culinary support for incoming phone requests for culinary assistance by customers, external sales partners, or other parties.
Create and maintain Culinary troubleshooting/support modules and SharePoint page.
Assist in the creation of culinary marketing content.
Develop and maintain product training programs.
Assist in in-house culinary events, meetings, and other special functions.
Assists with internal and external product training, tradeshow support, demonstrations, and equipment resolution needs.
Assist with maintaining the accuracy of culinary content within owner’s manuals, spec sheets, and other supporting collateral material.
Create database for recipes, settings, and applications for all target markets.
Maintain familiarity with food and operational trends within all identified target markets.
Responsible for the quality, cleanliness, and sanitation of all demo kitchens at all times.
What qualifications are a must:
Minimum of 5 years combined experience in R&D, culinary arts, operations, or related field within the foodservice industry.
Associate degree in related foodservice field required. Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
Ability to calculate food costs
Ability to convert volume/weight for recipes
Ability to calculate gross profitability
Ability to convert International temperature and weight
Perform product yield comparisons
Strong analytical ability
Ability to communicate with stakeholders of varying culinary experience effectively and routinely.
Education: Associates Degree in related field
Work Experience: Intermediate: >5 years in related field
What the culture is like at Winston:
While we recognize that profits are a necessity for any business, we do not make decisions based on just increasing the bottom line. We are genuine in our appreciation for each team member’s contribution and look to make Winston a better place to work every day. With us prioritizing our culture, we love to grow from within, but still understand the need to continue to gain knowledge from outside. We are far from perfect, but we focus daily on our vision of wanting to “make money and have fun doing it.”
A lot of companies will tell you they “think outside the box.” But that’s not us- we never actually fit into the box to begin with. We’ve always enjoyed the position of being just a little different in our approach.
What are the unique demands:
Physical Demands:
Medium Work: Exerting 20-50# of force occasionally (<30% of the time) and/or up to 25# of force frequently (>30% of the time) to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Involves frequent sitting, walking, and/or standing.
Travel:
Limited Travel: Less than 25% Domestic and/or International (all transportation types required)
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