Job Description
About the Company
Join FreshDirect's dynamic Research & Development team as a Culinary Research and Development Intern! This role provides hands-on experience in supporting test kitchen operations, maintaining production timelines, and assisting with the R&D innovation calendar. Working closely with our Test Kitchen Manager, you'll gain exposure to cross-functional collaboration with Manufacturing, Production Planning, Supply Planning, and Nutrition teams while learning the intricacies of commercial food production and quality management.
About the Role
Location: Bronx, NY (FreshDirect Production Facility)
Duration: 13-16 weeks
Commitment: Full-time (40 hours/week) preferred, part-time considered
Compensation: $23-$25 per hour
Responsibilities
- Essential Functions
- Test Kitchen Operations & Maintenance (30%)
- Assist with daily kitchen maintenance and organization including inventory control, equipment checks, and cleaning schedules
- Support maintenance of organized workspace and proper storage of ingredients and equipment
- Help track and organize kitchen supplies and coordinate restocking as needed
- Assist with basic equipment troubleshooting and maintenance requests
- Support implementation of food safety and sanitation protocols
- Testing & Documentation Support (25%)
- Help schedule and coordinate tastings for new developments, samples, manufacturing tests, and organoleptic testing
- Assist in maintaining comprehensive and accessible records for all stakeholder communications
- Support documentation of testing results and feedback compilation
- Help organize and prepare materials for weekly cutting sessions and evaluations
- Assist with data entry and record-keeping for test kitchen activities
- Administrative & System Support (25%)
- Assist with recipe data entry and updates in SAP system under supervision
- Support cost analysis activities and data compilation for new and existing items
- Help coordinate communication between R&D team and relevant departments
- Assist with tracking project timelines and deliverable schedules
- Support administrative tasks related to new product launches and updates
- Cross-Functional Collaboration (20%)
- Work with Production Planning teams to understand production flow requirements
- Assist Supply Planning team with vendor communication and specification tracking
- Support Nutrition team with portion size documentation and weight measurements
- Help coordinate with Copy Editors and Labeling team for website updates
- Assist with photo shoot preparation and organization for new and existing items
- Assist with new product specification documents
- Support special events and internal brand promotion activities as needed
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Qualifications
- Minimum Qualifications
- Education & Background
- Currently enrolled in Culinary Arts, Food Science, or related program
- Junior, Senior, or Graduate student preferred
- Strong academic performance (3.0+ GPA preferred)
- Relevant coursework in food service operations, business, or culinary management
- Experience & Skills
- Interest in culinary research and development
- Basic understanding of food safety and sanitation principles
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel proficiency important)
- Good communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to follow precise instructions and work independently
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Required Skills
- Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Core Competencies
- Problem solver with excellent communication and organizational skills
- Adaptable - thrives in fast-paced and ever-changing work environment with appetite for continuous learning
- Detail-oriented - strong follow-up skills in managing requests and projects that span several weeks
- Collaborative - strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively across departments
- Initiative-driven - high level of enthusiasm, initiative, and solution-driven mindset
- Food passionate - genuine passion for food, cooking, and quality ingredients
- Professional Skills
- Ability to listen, follow precise instructions, and communicate cross-departmentally
- Strong project management and timeline coordination abilities
- Basic understanding of cost accounting and analysis principles
- Excellent relationship-building skills and high emotional intelligence
- Temperament for detailed work and systematic documentation
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Preferred Skills
- Culinary degree program enrollment
- Professional kitchen or food service experience
- Knowledge of food safety standards and regulations
- Preferred but not required: Bilingual capabilities (Spanish preferred)
- Preferred but not required: Project management coursework or experience
Pay range and compensation package
Join our Test Kitchen team and gain invaluable hands-on experience in commercial food production, cross-functional collaboration, and operational excellence. This internship offers real exposure to the behind-the-scenes operations that bring innovative food products from concept to customer.
Compensation: $23-$25 per hour
Equal Opportunity Statement
FreshDirect is committed to diversity and inclusivity in the workplace.
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