Chef Research & Development

Company Description

NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. We create world-class content, which we distribute across our portfolio of film, television, and streaming, and bring to life through our global theme park destinations, consumer products, and experiences. We own and operate leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, and Peacock, our premium ad-supported streaming service. We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through our powerhouse film and television studios, including Universal Pictures, DreamWorks Animation, and Focus Features, and the four global television studios under the Universal Studio Group banner, and operate industry-leading theme parks and experiences around the world through Universal Destinations & Experiences, including Universal Orlando Resort, home to Universal Epic Universe, and Universal Studios Hollywood. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. Visit www.nbcuniversal.com for more information.

Our impact is rooted in improving the communities where our employees, customers, and audiences live and work. We have a rich tradition of giving back and ensuring our employees have the opportunity to serve their communities. We champion an inclusive culture and strive to attract and develop a talented workforce to create and deliver a wide range of content reflecting our world.

,Job Description

Role Summary

The Chef, Research & Development is responsible for leading the culinary innovation process from concept through operational approval, creating exceptional food and beverage experiences that support business objectives, seasonal events, intellectual properties (IPs), and permanent menu offerings. This role combines culinary creativity with operational practicality to develop products that are innovative, scalable, financially responsible, and executable across multiple venues.

The Chef, Research & Development oversees the end-to-end product development lifecycle, including culinary ideation, recipe development, ingredient sourcing, testing, operational validation, product costing, and implementation support. This position partners closely with Culinary Operations, Production Operations, Purchasing, Marketing, Quality Assurance, Training, Operations, Finance, and external supplier partners to ensure new products are guest-focused, operationally feasible, and aligned with company standards.

The Chef, Research & Development directly leads the Assistant Manager, Culinary Product Development and fosters a culture of creativity, collaboration, continuous improvement, and culinary excellence.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of innovative food and beverage concepts for permanent menus, seasonal events, festivals, intellectual properties (IPs), and limited-time offerings.
• Develop culinary strategies that align with business goals, guest expectations, and brand standards.
• Research emerging culinary trends, ingredients, preparation techniques, and global cuisines to inspire new menu offerings.
• Create recipes that balance creativity, operational efficiency, quality, profitability, and guest appeal.
• Identify opportunities to enhance existing menu items through recipe refinement and process improvements.
• Build culinary concepts that support storytelling, immersive guest experiences, and themed entertainment.
• Lead products through the complete development process from concept to implementation.
• Manage multiple concurrent development projects while maintaining project timelines.
• Establish development schedules, testing milestones, and launch readiness plans.
• Conduct bench testing, recipe refinement, and sensory evaluations.
• Perform yield studies, hold-time validation, shelf-life testing, and production evaluations.
• Evaluate products based on quality, consistency, labor requirements, guest experience, and financial performance.