Recipe Developer

About Purple Carrot

Founded in 2014, Purple Carrot delivers clean, long-lasting energy through the power of plants. As the only company in America devoted entirely to plant-based eating, we have spent over a decade perfecting the balance of protein and fiber that only plants can provide. Offering chef-crafted, dietitian-designed meals delivered right to your door, we make plant-forward eating effortless, flexible, and endlessly exciting. Our menu spans quick weeknight dishes, occasion-worthy dinners, breakfast, lunch, snacks, and ready-to-eat meals. 

Purple Carrot prioritizes taste and flexibility, offering no membership fees, the freedom to skip or unskip weekly deliveries whenever you want, and a no-pressure, cancel-anytime policy. We pride ourselves on doing plants better than anyone else - and we have the receipts to prove it.

Recipe Developer

We’re looking for a Recipe Developer to join our mission-driven team and help inspire people to eat more plants! Reporting to the Recipe Development Manager, this role is an integral part of our Culinary department and plays a key role in shaping the Purple Carrot experience.

As a Recipe Developer, you’ll manage end-to-end recipe development — from concept to final testing — within our menu timelines, operational guidelines, and nutrition and budget goals. You’ll bring creativity, precision, and organization to a fast-paced environment where collaboration and curiosity thrive.

Location

This role is based in Chicago, IL, in a hybrid capacity, working onsite in our office or at our creative partners 3–5 days per week.

On the Plate

• Drive continual testing, optimization, and development of Purple Carrot recipes to enhance customer experience, focusing on ease, nutrition, and budget.
• Accurately ideate, formulate, test, and document all recipes in alignment with Culinary standards.
• Evaluate recipes during development and tastings, grounding decisions in data, feedback, and customer insights.
• Contribute innovative, trend-forward recipe concepts through ongoing research and culinary experimentation.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe test kitchen following team protocols and industry best practices.
• Support food styling and photoshoot prep as needed, in collaboration with the production team (food styling experience a plus).

Main Ingredients

• 5+ years of experience as a chef or recipe developer, ideally within e-commerce or editorial environments.
• Culinary schooling or comparable professional cooking experience.
  Strong recipe writing, editing, and test kitchen experience.
• Proficiency in Google Suite and recipe management software.
• Excellent communication skills—clear, timely, and collaborative.
• Physically able to stand for long periods, lift up to 35 lbs, and walk up flights of stairs while carrying equipment or ingredients.
• Exceptional time management, problem-solving, and attention to detail.
• Adaptable, proactive, and solutions-focused in a dynamic environment.
• Deep passion for plant-based cuisine and culinary storytelling.
• Comfortable working both independently and collaboratively toward shared goals.
  

Extra Special Sauce

• Brings creativity and positivity to ambiguity, thriving in brainstorms and collaboration with the Culinary and Marketing teams.
• Comfortable appearing on camera and contributing to light social or brand content that showcases our culinary work.
• Passionate about elevating the plant-based experience through delicious, accessible, and inspiring food.
  

Compensation

The anticipated base salary range for this role is $60,000 - $70,000. Compensation is based on experience and qualifications, and the posted range is not a guarantee of any specific offer.

Garnish

We love our staff, and show it with benefits (including but not limited to medical, dental, vision, FSA, and life insurance), a matching retirement plan, generous and flexible paid time off, Purple Carrot box delivery credits, 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.