R&D Chef

Job Description Card

AGK is a Saudi limited liability company operating in the Food & Beverage (F&B) sector, AGK emerges contemporary concepts from local culture to develop a different memorable experience under one umbrella.

— Ganache and KAJU —

Job Summary:

Job Title: R&D Chef

Department: Shared Services Division

Section: R&D

Line Manager: Shared Services Director

Subordinate(s): Chef De Partie and Senior Commi Chef

Internal Communication: Marketing, Retail Brand, Country Sales, E-Commerce, Customer Experience Management, Franchise Management, Production, and Quality

External Communication: External Laboratories

Job Purpose:

Develop innovative and food product and refine existing products focusing on taste, texture, and nutritional value, while ensuring consistency and quality to enhance

the company’s offerings and align with market trends

Job Specifications:

Required Educational Level:

• Bachelor's degree in culinary Arts, Nutrition, Food Science or any related field

Required Experience:

• 10 - 15 years of experience in culinary development or any related field
• ISO 22000, FSMS, or HACCAP certificate are required

Required Skills, Abilities, and Knowledge:

Leadership and people management skills - Expert

GMP and food safety regulation knowledge - Expert

Communication and interpersonal skills - Expert

Organizational and time management - Expert

Creative thinking and analytical skills - Expert

Problem-solving skills and decision making abilities - Expert

Required Language(s):

Arabic - Fluent

English - Fluent

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Lead the creation of new and innovative food products, focusing on enhancing taste, texture, appearance, and nutritional value.
• Stay informed about the latest food trends, emerging ingredients, and consumer preferences to inspire and develop new product ideas.
• Conduct continuous research to develop and refine recipes, ensuring consistency in flavor and texture
• Utilize sensory testing and consumer data to develop improvements for existing products.
• Oversee the experimentation and testing of new recipes, ensuring they adhere to the company’s quality standards.
• Suggest alternative ingredients and food preparation processes to ensure products are suitable for mass production and comply with industry regulations.
• Collaborate with the production, marketing, retail brand, country sales, and customer experience teams to identify and address consumer preferences in product development and launching processes.
• Work closely with the production manager to standardize recipes for production scalability, including detailed instructions for ingredient preparation and cooking processes.
• Conduct sensory evaluations, taste panels, and shelf-life studies to assess the quality, stability, and safety of new products.
• Coordinate with external laboratories to conduct safety tests, including the analysis of microorganisms, chemical contaminants, and allergens, ensuring that all food products are safe for consumption and meet regulatory standards.
• Identify and mitigate potential safety hazards during product development and testing phases.
• Ensure that all products development process comply with food safety standards, labeling regulations, and industry guidelines.
• Identify opportunities for cost-saving without compromising product quality or consumer satisfaction.
• Ensure the documentation of product formulations, development processes, and compliance records.
• Participate in regular meetings with department managers to address any challenges or issues that may arise
• Prepare and submit detailed reports to senior management on R&D key metrics, including R&D projects progress, budget, product performance, evaluations, and results