Home Job Listing Apply for a job near you!

Join the Vallarta Team Apply for a job near you!

Culinary Innovation Chef

Store:   Santa Clarita - VSI Map

Wage: $100,000.00 - $110,000.00

Type: Full-time

Description

Title: Culinary Innovation Chef
Classification: Full-Time, Exempt
Reports To: Director of Culinary

JOB DESCRIPTION
Position Summary:
The Culinary Innovation Chef works within the culinary department and is responsible for the
research and development of new itemization, including product development, costing, communication,
training, and recipe creation developed in conjunction with the Directors of the fresh departments.
The position provides hands on support to the fresh department directors and the culinary team
related to product and menu development, product evaluation, recipe development, costing of new and
existing products, store communication, retail recommendations, merchandising recommendations,
market trend analysis, and operational training on new or modified recipes. The ideal candidate
will be passionate, positive, and humble with extensive culinary knowledge and a consistent track
record of achieving results individually and through others.

Teamwork:
Develop strong, collaborative working relationships with the Fresh Department Directors, the store
personnel, and the culinary team. A relationship built on trust, open communication, complete
involvement, commitment and support respectful of their input and roles in their respective
departments. Create a work environment that promotes teamwork, feedback, recognition, and mutual
respect.
Creativity & Innovation:
• Support: Support the Fresh Department Directors and the culinary team in all aspects of product
development and the execution of all programs.
• Innovation: The job requires both creativity and out-of-the-box, thinking to develop innovative
ideas, products, and programs. Each program must have well thought out SOPs to ensure success at
store level in both sales and margin while minimizing shrink.
• Creativity: Work alongside the Fresh Department Directors to develop company programs for every
major holiday, event, and season to ensure that Vallarta is on the leading edge with quality
product lines & offerings. The goal is to be first to market and to be a market leader.
• Communication: Support the Fresh Department Directors in ensuring that all aspects of programs
are effectively communicated to the appropriate teams. Ensure that all communication regarding
these programs to appropriate supervisors and operational team members is thorough and complete
while obtaining their input for the analysis and evaluation of new programs.
General Duties and Responsibilities:
• Ensure Procurement and vendor management teams are communicated with regularly.
• Prepare merchandising plans and ensure store execution with continuous analysis and
follow-up.
• Understand all equipment, tools and packaging used for the department, as well as how the
equipment is used.
• Must understand all aspects of competitors in our market area, as it relates to these fresh
departments.
• Partner with department supervisors and operations to gain their “buy in” and support for
programs, so they are embraced and executed effectively at the store level. This includes personal
development as well as continuous improvement.
• Assess current inventory, market conditions, availability, and promotional impact to forecast
order quantities and make recommendations.
• Expect unfavorable events through analysis of data and preparing control strategies.
• Understand operational metrics and reports on shrink and work to minimize any losses by
implementing
best practice programs and systems.

• Discover new suppliers and initiate business and organization partnerships to help with product
development.
• Visit stores regularly to monitor programs, obtain store feedback and to assess overall
implementation effectiveness.
• Develop innovation and ideas that fit Vallarta concept and goals.
• Develop programs and training materials for team members.
• Work on costing for all new and current items.
• Research new equipment to help stores with labor and consistency.
Knowledge and Skills:
• Excellent communicator, both verbal and written, with the ability to influence at all levels of
the organization with an incredibly positive approach.
• Ability to approach strategic projects with confidence; applying creativity and project
management skills through concept ideation, development, piloting, test & learn and scaling
process.
• Results driven with a desire to work in a fast-paced environment; equally adept at providing
leadership as well as working side by side with the team.
• Strong ability to establish credibility and positive relationships with individuals at all
levels inside and outside the organization.
• Exercises judgment within broadly defined practices and policies in selecting methods,
techniques, and evaluation criteria for obtaining results.
• Outstanding negotiation skills
• Excellent analytical skills and the ability to synthesize analysis into action.
• Proven problem-solving skills.
• Follow all sanitation guidelines as prescribed by the health department.
• Comply with USDA, FDA, OSHA, and all other regulatory agencies.
Required Education and Experience:
• Extensive experience in the culinary world. Familiar with both Hispanic and U.S. culinary
information and customer trends.
• Food Handlers card certification.
• Must be able to speak, read, write, and understand English.
• Basic understanding of Spanish language.
• Strong computer aptitude in MS-Office.
Physical Demands
Will be required to spend long hours sitting and using office equipment and computers. Some travel
and overnight stays from time to time. May also have to do some lifting of supplies and materials
from time to time up to 30lbs, and up to 50lbs assisted lifting.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
This is an exempt level position; schedule would be based on business necessity. Must be willing to
work; Morning, nights, weekends, and holidays that are required.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive, and employees may perform other duties as
directed. All employees are expected to perform any reasonable task or request that is consistent
with fulfilling company goals and objectives.

Apply Now

Privacy Notice (CCPA)

VALLARTA SUPERMARKETS

NOTICE TO JOB APPLICANTS (1/1/2023)

California Consumer Protection Act (“CCPA”)/California Privacy Rights Act (“CPRA”)

This notice explains to you, pursuant to the California Consumer Protection Act (“CCPA”)/California Privacy Rights Act (“CPRA”), how Vallarta Supermarkets, and related entities, (the Company), may collect your information in relation to your application for potential employment with the Company.

  1. Personal Information

For purposes of this notice, “Personal Information” means information that identifies, relates to, describes, is capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked, directly or indirectly, with a particular California resident or household, or as otherwise defined under the CCPA/CPRA, including consumers, employees, and job applicants.

“Personal Information” does not include certain information, including publicly available information lawfully made available from government records, deidentified or aggregate information, or other information excepted under the CCPA/CPRA.

  1. Information We Collect about Applicants

We need you to provide certain information in order for you to complete your application for employment with the Company. The following provides the categories of Personal Information we may collect about applicants as part of the application process, and/or our employees if ultimately hired.

  1. Personal Identifiers. We may collect your name, driver’s license or state identification card number, passport number or other government identification number (including U.S. work authorization number), Social Security information, residence/postal address, email address(es), phone number(s), and other contact information during the application and recruitment process. We may collect your emergency contact information as well. If you are hired, we may collect additional personal identifiers about you to facilitate the employment relationship.
  1. Characteristics of Protected Classifications under California or Federal law. We may collect your age, date of birth, race, ethnicity, sex/gender, and marital status.
  1. Biometric Information. We may collect your fingerprints to facilitate the employment relationship, if you are hired, and required as part of the hiring/employment process.
  1. Professional or Employment-Related Information. Depending on your role/duties with the Company, we may collect information regarding your criminal history, driving history, and credit history as part of our employment background check. We also collect information regarding your professional and employment history and other qualifications you provide in your employment application, including references, skills/abilities, employment goals and expectations, and other related information (if you choose to provide them).
  1. Education Information. We collect information regarding your professional and education history to the extent provided in your resume/application.
  1. Thermal or other Health-Related Information. If you apply in-person or come to our worksite(s) as part of the application process, we may need to take your temperature or other similar information as part of our health protection policies. However, this information is not retained, and will only be obtained if required by law.
  1. Additional Information.  We may gather information about your potential employment with the Company, such as the company location/facility to which you are assigned, position and description of duties, fulltime and part-time status, pay rate, as well as descriptions about your job performance and skills. 
  1. Purposes for Collection of Your Personal Information

We use the above categories of personal information for the following business purpose(s):

  1. To make recruitment and employment decisions, including assessing your application and qualifications for employment with us.
  2. To conduct and verify background checks (where applicable).
  3. If hired, to facilitate onboarding, payroll, benefit, and leave of absence administration
  4. For security purposes.
  5. To obtain and/or maintain insurance policies and coverage.
  6. To comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
  7. To manage workers’ compensation claims and conduct workplace investigations.
  1. Third-Party Collection of Personal Information

The Company may use third-party vendors, such as Alliance Background, to facilitate the application process for applicants. In this process, these third parties may collect an applicant’s personal information and provide it to us for employment decisions.

  1. Additional CCPA/CPRA Disclosures

At this time, the CCPA/CPRA does not afford applicants or employees the right to make requests regarding their Personal Information as it relates to the application and/or employment relationship. This does not affect other rights you may have under other laws.

Further, nothing in this notice restricts the Company’s rights or ability to:

  1. Comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
  2. Meet any other legal obligation, including complying with lawful inquiries, investigations, subpoenas, court orders, or other requirements of applicable lawful authorities.
  3. Exercise its legal rights and defend claims.
  4. Report potentially unlawful activity to appropriate law enforcement and cooperate in any resulting investigation.
  5. Detect and respond to unauthorized activity and security incidents.
  6. Protect against and report potential illegal activity and/or fraud; or
  7. Provide information to our service providers in relation to the above listed purposes, or transfer information as part of a merger, acquisition, or other transfer of some or all of our business to another party.