Executive Chef, Production (Contract)

Home Chef, founded in 2013, is a leading meal solutions company with a strong presence both online and in retail locations. Home Chef operates through its website, homechef.com, and is available in over 2,100 Kroger grocery stores across the United States. The company is dedicated to inspiring and enabling people to prepare simple, delicious meals regardless of how busy their lifestyle might be. Home Chef's commitment to quality, convenience, and customer satisfaction has earned it a prominent place in the meal solutions industry.

In 2023, Home Chef broadened its offerings by launching a new brand called Tempo. Tempo specializes in ready-to-heat meals delivered directly to customers' doors, focusing on better-for-you choices that support a healthy lifestyle. Tempo’s menu features rotating selections including options that are protein-packed, fiber-rich, calorie and carb conscious, keto-friendly, and dietitian-approved. This innovation highlights Home Chef’s ongoing dedication to enhancing meal solutions while catering to a variety of dietary preferences and needs.

Home Chef fosters a company culture that values diversity and inclusion, encouraging employees to bring their unique perspectives and talents to the team. The company is keen on working with team players who are humble yet innovative thinkers ready to contribute to the next phase of Home Chef’s growth and development.

This particular role is a temporary position expected to last approximately six months. The company is looking for a culinary production expert to lead the kitchen operations for the Ready to Heat brand, Tempo. The ideal candidate should possess exceptional attention to detail and a fervent dedication to delivering the highest-quality meals to customers. They will be responsible for training and leading kitchen associates to consistently execute the culinary vision of the Tempo brand.

The role involves overseeing product quality in a high-volume, mass production kitchen, ensuring that every meal meets premium standards of taste, appearance, safety, and performance. The culinary production expert will implement and maintain gold standards of food quality and food safety, handle scheduling and payroll, and collaborate closely with HR and production managers to ensure seamless operation. Training and mentoring sous chef staff and team members through all stages of production is a key part of this role, as well as driving continuous improvement through collaboration with research and development chefs.

The successful candidate will also manage documentation and record-keeping, sign off on production sheets to ensure meal plating meets the brand’s visual standards, and monitor batch production data. They must be well-versed in USDA and FDA guidelines, HACCP, FSMA, and SQF regulations and bring experience from a commissary kitchen or other high-volume food preparation environments.

Home Chef offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, paid holidays, vacation, and sick time, a 401(k) program, and flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care expenses. The company prides itself on being a welcoming and inclusive employer, embracing individuals from all backgrounds and identities, and providing reasonable accommodations as needed.