Position: Food Innovation Chef, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
Our Blend
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is one of the world’s largest independent and privately-owned specialty coffee and tea retailers. In 1963 we opened our very first store in Southern California, and today we have over 1100 cafes in over 20 countries, and our Global Headquarters in Singapore.
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is on an inspiring journey to become the world’s coffee and tea brand. We are united by our passion for connecting people through the daily rituals of coffee and tea—viewing every cup as an opportunity to impact someone’s day.
Our Brew Crew is a diverse team of hard-working optimists with a passion for learning about our craft, the people we serve, and the world around us. We offer the tools, the environment, and the support for you to make your unique contribution and grow as a person.
Passion is contagious, and we’ve got a serious case of it. If you are just as passionate as we are, come join our Brew Crew!
Brew Crew Opportunity
Our Global Brew Crew is seeking a visionary and creative Food Innovation Chef to lead the development of new food concepts, recipes, and menu items that align with current trends, customer preferences, and brand standards.
The ideal candidate will combine culinary expertise with consumer insight and innovation strategies to create standout food experiences that drive business growth.
Key Responsibilities
In this role, you will:
- Conceptualize, develop, and test innovative recipes, menu items, and product lines based on market trends and consumer behavior.
- Adapt global and regional food trends into commercially viable offerings suitable for the brand and target market.
- Work closely with cross-departmental teams to ensure scalability and consistency of recipes across outlets.
- Conduct research on emerging ingredients, preparation techniques, dietary trends (e.g., plant-based, keto, allergen-free), and flavor profiles.
- Benchmark against competitors and regularly review industry innovations to inform product development strategy.
- Organize and lead kitchen trials and tastings to refine new dishes and gather feedback.
- Ensure recipes meet cost, nutritional, and operational requirements, including standardization for SOPs.
- Partner with marketing, procurement, and supply chain teams to align culinary innovations with brand campaigns, seasonality, and sourcing capabilities.
- Support training and onboarding of production staff to execute newly developed items effectively.
- Maintain high standards of hygiene, food safety, and regulatory compliance during all innovation and development activities.
- Document and maintain accurate records for all recipes, ingredients, and preparation methods.
Your Ingredients
- Diploma or Degree in Culinary Arts, Food Science, or related field.
- Minimum 5–7 years of culinary experience, with at least 2 years in a food innovation, R&D, or concept development role.
- Strong understanding of food trends, flavor development, and nutrition.
- Hands-on culinary expertise across multiple cuisines or specialized categories (e.g., bakery, beverages, healthy meals).
- Creative mindset with a commercial focus and problem-solving abilities.
- Excellent communication and project management skills.
- Experience in QSR, casual dining, or food manufacturing environments.
- Familiarity with kitchen technology, modernist techniques, or alternative ingredient
Performance & Rewards
At The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, we embrace a high-performance culture that rewards and encourages our values of teamwork, ownership, and respect for one another.
Our ‘FROTH’ VALUES
We believe in the fundamental truths that guide us through our daily lives:
- F*RIENDLINESS -* We go above and beyond in everything we do. Friendliness and customer-centricity is embedded in our culture.
- RESPECT - We are inclusive and honour each other’s values, opinions and diversity.
- OWNERSHIP - We take ownership and accountability for our individual, team and business results, every day.
- TEAMWORK - As a team, we collaborate, innovate, and leverage our diverse strengths to grow the business.
- HONESTY - We live up to the highest levels of integrity by being truthful and transparent with each other, the business and ourselves.
At The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, we are a global company committed to representing the neighborhoods we serve. We welcome all to apply to our Brew Crew and we value the impact of diversity on our culture and in our work.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: Up to RM5,000.00 per month
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Free parking
- Health insurance
- Maternity leave
- Meal allowance
- Opportunities for promotion
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Expected Salary?
Experience:
- F&B: 5 years (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
