Strategic Menu Development Chef, Global QSR

General Information

Date Published

11-Aug-2025

Advertising Ends

20-Aug-2025

ID#

12706

Role Type

Sales

Work Type

Permanent Full-Time

Workplace Type

Hybrid

Country

New Zealand

Location

Auckland

Position Description

Whāia tō ara whakamua i konei | Where to next? Imagine tomorrow—here at Fonterra

Here at Te Mātāpuna Fonterra, we believe in nurturing talent and providing opportunities for growth. If you’re applying for the next step in your career journey here at Fonterra, then you’ve come to the right place.

Whether you’re looking to deepen your expertise, broaden your horizons, or take on a new challenge, we’re here to support your progress. We’ll help you bring your best and be at your best—because your growth is our growth.

Mō tēnei tūranga | About the opportunity

Fonterra’s Global Foodservice team is on the lookout for a chef who blends vision, strategy, and innovation. This role places you at the heart of our culinary collaborations with global Quick Service Restaurant giants like McDonald’s, KFC, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, Burger King, Domino’s, and Subway. You'll be the architect behind menu ideation and customer engagement, crafting experiences that resonate across borders

As the Strategic Menu Development Chef, you’ll drive creative menu solutions based on customer insights while translating food trends into relevant, commercially impactful concepts. Your day-to-day work involves developing customized recipes and adapting them to the latest channel, FOH, BOH, and delivery innovations. You’ll work alongside cross-functional teams to convert your culinary creativity into measurable EBIT gains through value-added services, all while leading demos and virtual sessions that inspire partners globally.

In this role, you’ll act as a culinary consultant—assessing back-of-house operations, recommending SOPs and equipment upgrades, and helping QSRs operate more efficiently. You’ll spearhead product testing, providing competitor benchmarking and insights, and act as a gatekeeper for local market launches. As a respected figure within the chef network, you’ll also cultivate relationships with technical influencers, boost the brand’s profile, and share your expertise across continents.

He kupu mō mātou | About us

We are a Co-operative created and owned by Aotearoa New Zealand dairy farmers. Since our beginnings, collaboration, innovation, and passion have enabled us to share the goodness of our dairy with the world. We're committed to caring for the land, our animals, and every drop of milk, producing nutritious food with safe, quality ingredients loved here in New Zealand and around the world.

As part of the Fonterra Co-op, you'll be solving for a better future alongside a team connected by solid values as we strive to be a leader in dairy sustainability, dairy innovation and science, with a focus on New Zealand milk.

When you join Fonterra, you'll open yourself to a career of opportunities where you can grow with us by developing your skills, sharing your knowledge, and exploring diverse career paths that ignite your passions.

Mōu | About you

We want a bold culinary strategist with a flair for innovation, a sharp commercial edge, and 10+ years of global QSR experience. You’ll know the ins and outs of BOH/FOH, be fluent in food trends, and skilled at turning product knowledge into compelling demos, training sessions, and customer engagement. You’ll be confident leading across cultures and platforms, with a proven ability to turn culinary vision into commercial value.

Your skills and experience will include:

A Culinary Arts degree (minimum 2 years)
10+ years of experience, with significant exposure to QSR chain operations
A deep understanding of BOH/FOH dynamics, food trends, and menu cost structures
Experience in training, technical demos, and customer engagement
Skill in product benchmarking, application testing, and recipe ideation
The ability to articulate product value stories and support post-sales processes
Comfort with photography, digital presentations, and content creation
Natural flair for networking, knowledge-sharing, and community-building

Ngā Uara | Our Values

We live our values every day—Good Together, Better Every Day, and Every Drop Counts. They are for everyone and guide how we show up for each other, our farmers, and our communities.

Tā mātou oati | Our Commitment to You

We’re committed to helping you grow, empowering you to be your best self, and encouraging you to contribute and learn. You’ll find support through:

Career development and mentoring
Work-life balance options (flexible/hybrid working where possible)
Recognition and internal mobility pathways
A safe, inclusive environment where you can thrive

Ngā Mahi | A Career of Opportunities

At Te Mātāpuna Fonterra, we are inspired by purpose and guided by our principles and values. Together, we create goodness for generations and make a global impact at a local level. As part of our Co-operative, you are an everyday creator, imagining what Fonterra, dairy, and you can be here.

He Wāhi mō te Katoa | Together, we're shaping a future of inclusion.

Inclusion is key to our Co-operative. We're building a team that reflects the diverse world we live in, believing it drives better decisions and innovation.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds (ethnicities, genders, identities, orientations, ages, abilities, neurotypes, cultures, religions).

Even if you don't meet every requirement listed, we encourage you to apply; we value your potential and growth.

If you face accessibility issues or need accommodations during the process, please contact your recruiter. We ensure fair participation, allowing you to be at your best.

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General Information

Position Description