Recipe Development Manager

Purple Carrot is seeking a Recipe Development Manager to join our mission-driven team and help us inspire people to eat more plants. Reporting to the Director of Culinary, you’ll lead day-to-day kitchen operations and oversee the development of our Meal Kit and Ready-to-Eat (RTE) recipes.

In this role, you’ll manage a team of Recipe Developers, contribute directly to recipe R&D, and ensure our meals are both brand-aligned and crave-worthy. You’ll work in our collaborative test kitchen, partnering with marketing, operations, creative, and fulfillment teams to deliver innovative, delicious plant-based meals to thousands of customers each week.

We're looking for someone who is highly creative, hands-on in the kitchen, and brings an analytical, detail-oriented approach to menu strategy and development. Strong prioritization and leadership skills are essential.

This is a full-time, cross-functional role based in our test kitchen. We appreciate all applicants, but only those under serious consideration will be contacted.

We greatly thank all applicants, however only those under serious consideration will be contacted.

Location: This role will be based in Chicago, IL in a hybrid capacity - working onsite in the office or onsite at our creative partners 3-5 days 

On the Plate

• Test Calendar Management: Lead the Recipe Development team to create and optimize new recipes weekly, ensuring they meet brand standards, product fit, cost, operational, and nutritional targets for both Meal Kits and Ready-to-Eat (RTE) products. Inspire your team to innovate and develop on-brand, plant-forward meals that outperform their meat counterparts and reflect current trends.
• Recipe Development Oversight: Continuously improve Purple Carrot recipes and ingredient database using data-driven insights and plant-based market trends. Collaborate closely with the Brand Director, Creative partners, and project managers to ensure recipe authenticity in photo and video content for lifestyle and eCommerce channels.
• Process and Partnership Management: Oversee the full culinary development process from ideation to final editorial approval, ensuring timelines are met weekly. Coordinate R&D efforts with RTE partners for ongoing recipe improvements and menu rotation.
• Ingredient and Trend Research: Evaluate current and potential ingredients based on menu strategy, cost of goods sold (COGS), and operational needs. Stay informed on culinary trends, emerging diets, and functional ingredients to integrate into Purple Carrot’s recipes.
• Kitchen Operations: Manage day-to-day kitchen operations, including inventory, maintenance, and cleanliness.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with procurement, operations, internal teams, and creatives to meet menu deadlines, improve processes, and ensure product success.
• Recipe Content Creation: Write clear, engaging descriptions for meal kits, RTE/PPRD products, and white-label grocery items.

Main Ingredients for the Role 

• Culinary degree and/or relevant professional cooking experience.
• 5+ years of recipe testing and development; professional test kitchen experience is a plus.
• 2+ years managing culinary teams or individuals, with strong leadership and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Skilled at balancing creativity with budget constraints.
• Experience leading projects by managing timelines, budgets, and processes.
• Partner with internal data teams to improve efficiency and leverage tools; analyze culinary data to recommend projects and optimizations.
• Collaborate closely with the Culinary Director, marketing stakeholders, and operations on new ingredients, menu timelines, and product launches.
• Maintain accuracy of recipe databases, focusing on cost, nutrition, and internal standards.
• Oversee nutrition labeling process to ensure accuracy and alignment with ingredient data, collaborating with registered dietician
• Provide hands-on culinary support to the Recipe Development team as needed.
• Proficient in Google Suite and able to learn project management and recipe writing software.

Extra Special Sauce 

• Understanding of social media in the food and drink space. Comfortable appearing on camera is a plus.

Compensation: The anticipated salary range for this role is $85,000 - 105,000  Compensation is based on experience and qualifications, and the posted range is not a guarantee of any specific offer.

About Purple Carrot

Purple Carrot started with just a seed of an idea in 2014. Our vision is a world where plant-based eating is at the core of living well. Every day, on this mission, we’re breaking boundaries with plant-based eating. We value learning from customers, an ownership mindset, integrity, winning together, and being bold. We need your expertise on our team to make things happen!

Purple Carrot’s irresistible, globally-inspired meal-kit recipes and prepared meals using fresh ingredients. We are a team of collaborative individuals who drive for results, strive for doing better, make good choices quickly, and embrace a growth mindset to win or learn. Here’s what you’re up for!

Garnish

We love our staff, and show it with benefits (including but not limited to medical, dental, vision, FSA, and life insurance), matching retirement plan, unlimited paid time off, Purple Carrot box allowance, professional development, and the opportunity to work in collaboration with teammates who are passionate about food!

Final Touches

We are committed to a safe and inclusive work environment, free of discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetics, national origin, ancestry, age, medical condition, mental or physical disability, handicap, veteran status, or marital status.