Lead Innovation & Commercialization Chef Full Time NEW

About Killer Brownie®

Killer Brownie® is a premium brownie brand renowned for its indulgent, layered desserts. Originating in Dayton, Ohio, the company has built a strong reputation for crafting decadent, multi-layered brownies that are as visually stunning as they are delicious. Killer Brownie’s mission is to unleash creativity and spark joy through each killer bite.

We have always been confident in who we are as a company. At KB, we don’t take ourselves too seriously, but we DO take our brownies very seriously! We are loving, creative people who craft an incredible product that brings our customers joy. As Killer Brownie® steps into the future, we want our customers to embrace the Live a Little™ mentality— enjoying every bite of a Killer Brownie® without hesitation, guilt, or apology.

Killer Brownie, along with King’s Hawaiian and Grillo’s Pickles is part of the Irresistible Foods Group (IFG) family of brands. With deep CPG expertise and a centralized sales force, Killer Brownie partners with IFG Sales to fuel growth.

The Lead Innovation & Commercialization Chef for KillerBrownie is a culinary and technical leader responsible for developing baked goods on a commercial scale. This role combines hands-on bakery expertise with food science applications and manufacturing knowledge to bring innovative products from concept through full production.

Working closely with Production, Quality, Operations, and external partners, this role ensures that products are scalable, repeatable, food safe, and commercially viable—without compromising taste, texture, or brand standards. This position does not manage daily production lines but serves as the technical authority during product development, scale-up, and commercialization. This is an on-site position based in Miamisburg, OH.

Role and Responsibilities

Product Innovation & Culinary Development

• Lead hands-on development of commercial bakery products such as brownies, bars, cookies, fillings, and icings.
• Create and refine formulations that balance sensory excellence (taste, texture, and shelf life) with manufacturability and cost targets.
• Develop rapid prototypes for internal reviews, marketing studies, customer presentations, and consumer testing.
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners and external chefs or vendors to drive innovation aligned with market and brand strategies.
• Establish standard mixing methods, baking parameters, and handling requirements.

Commercialization & Scaleup

• Own the technical execution of bakery products during scale-up from benchtop and rack test batches to full commercial production.
• Partner with Production and Food Safety/Quality to validate equipment capability, batch sizing, bake profiles, quality attributes, and process parameters.
• Lead and support plant trials, first productions, and post-launch optimization.
• Identify technical and operational risks during commercialization and proactively adjust formulas or processes.

Manufacturing, Quality & Food Safety

• Develop and maintain specifications for raw materials, process controls, and finished baked goods.
• Ensure products meet quality, food safety, shelf life, and regulatory requirements (FDA, USDA, Kosher, and customer-specific standards).
• Coordinate third-party lab testing and validation for food safety and shelf stability.
• Partner with technical teams to ensure compliant labeling and documentation.

Documentation & Knowledge Transfer

• Create and maintain accurate formulas, process instructions, and commercialization documentation.
• Deliver complete product trial details to ensure seamless handoff to manufacturing teams.
• Train and support Production teams during commercialization to ensure consistent execution.

Project Leadership & Collaboration

• Manage multiple innovation and commercialization projects simultaneously in a fast-paced commercial bakery environment.
• Contribute technical insight to innovation pipeline planning and prioritization.
• Communicate progress, risks, and outcomes clearly to cross-functional stakeholders.

Requirements and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Culinary Arts (Baking/Pastry Specialization), or equivalent experience working in a commercial bakery is required.
• Proven experience developing and commercializing baked goods in a commercial or industrial bakery setting.
• Strong understanding of bakery manufacturing processes, scale-up challenges, and food safety standards.
• Demonstrated ability to translate benchtop recipes into scalable, repeatable commercial formulas.
• Strong understanding of dough systems and functional ingredients related to commercial baking.
• Ability to travel up to 10%

Preferred

• 5+ years of bakery R&D experience, including hands-on product development and commercialization in a commercial or industrial bakery environment.
• Experience supporting large-scale bakery product launches.
• Familiarity with regulatory labeling and third-party food safety testing.
• Experience with different packaging methods and extending product shelf life.

Benefits:

• Affordable quality healthcare coverage
• Employer-paid vision coverage
• Dental coverage
• Employer-paid life insurance (with the option to purchase additional coverage)
• Paid time off

Killer Brownie® is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status. We believe in the value of diverse perspectives and experiences and strive to foster a workplace where everyone feels respected and valued.