Lead chef-facing brand activations, product demonstrations, tastings, masterclasses, and culinary events across national gourmet markets. Serve as a technical and culinary expert for IRCA Group products, translate product features into practical applications, build chef relationships, support sales priorities and product launches, coordinate the Promoter Program, and provide market insights. The role is non-commercial, focused on brand visibility, demand creation, and product adoption, with approximately 50% national travel.
The Irca Group is an International Leader in high quality finished and semi-finished ingredients for the bakery, pastry, and ice cream markets. With a solid history of over 100 years in the industry, the Group has its headquarters in Italy (Gallarate) and a strong global footprint with 23 production sites and over 2000 employees in Europe, the United States and Vietnam.
Our core product categories include chocolate, compounds, chocolate decorations, sprinkles, creams, pastry mixes, gelato ingredients, nuts and candied fruit. The most recent acquisition of Kerry Sweet complements our existing categories with the addition of sweet particulates, chocolate confections, inclusions, variegates and frozen fruit purees.
Through its 8 key brands (IRCA, Dobla®, in2food, Via Degli Orsini, JoyGelato, RaviFruit, Cesarin and Anastasi®) the IRCA Group offers an unparalleled "one-stop shop" approach for delivering quality solutions to all ingredients needs, through a broad range of innovative products. We offer every day and seasonal solutions to 3 macro channels: Gourmet, Food Manufacturing and Consumer Product (Retail). “Extraordinary made simple”.
We are looking for a Brand Specialist to drive chef-facing activation and demand creation across East coast & Midwest markets. This is a high-impact, non-commercial role designed to strengthen brand pull, elevate product adoption, and support sales effectiveness through technical expertise and field execution. This is a unique opportunity to play a transversal, high-visibility role within a growing gourmet platform, working closely with sales leadership while staying deeply connected to chefs and the market.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Lead chef-facing activations including product demonstrations, tastings, masterclasses, and culinary events.
- Act as a technical and culinary expert across the IRCA Group Gourmet portfolio (Domori, Cesarin, Ravifruit, Dobla, JoyGelato, IRCA, Graffiti Sprinkles).
- Translate product features into practical, solution-driven applications for chefs and end users.
- Build strong relationships with chefs, bakers, and culinary professionals, positioning IRCA Group as a trusted long-term partner.
- Collaborate closely with Sales Managers to support priority opportunities and strategic projects (no direct pricing or account ownership).
- Provide market feedback and qualitative insights to help guide portfolio focus and commercial strategy.
- Coordinate and support the Promoter Program, ensuring alignment with sales priorities and high execution standards.
- Support new product launches through pull initiatives and chef engagement.
- Drive brand visibility and activation across priority markets including NYC, Miami, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, and Toronto.
- Travel approximately 50% nationally.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- 7+ years of relevant experience in pastry, culinary, foodservice, or gourmet brands.
- Pastry or culinary background strongly preferred; chef experience is a plus.
- Strong technical credibility and the ability to engage chefs at a high level.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
- A high-energy, hands-on professional with an educator mindset.
- Ability to work independently in the field while remaining highly collaborative.
- Comfortable in a non-commercial role, focused on demand creation and brand activation.
Irca Group offers career growth opportunities as well as competitive compensation and benefits:
Medical, Dental, & Vision, 401(k) matching, Paid Vacation, and Holidays, Employee Education Tuition Reimbursement Program
Similar Jobs
Fintech • Information Technology • Insurance • Financial Services • Big Data Analytics
Manages strategic partnerships with benefits technology firms to drive sales growth, market expansion, partner enablement, data integration, and go-to-market initiatives. Owns partner relationships, develops joint business plans, coordinates cross-functional teams, manages pipeline development, and tracks performance metrics. Requires experience in group benefits or insurance distribution, benefits administration platforms, relationship management, and strategic stakeholder influence.
Top Skills:
AIAPIsBenefits Administration PlatformsHcm SystemsPayroll Systems
Fintech • Information Technology • Insurance • Financial Services • Big Data Analytics
Leads operational risk management activities supporting Mexico and South America within MetLife’s Global Customer Service & Operations organization. Maintains risk and control data in OpenPages, performs non-financial risk assessments and control environment reviews, supports issue and control-metric identification, evaluates AI opportunities, and produces executive and detailed risk reporting. The role partners with regional stakeholders, Global Risk Management, Internal Audit, and Compliance while requiring fluent Spanish and English.
Top Skills:
Microsoft CopilotExcelMicrosoft PowerpointMicrosoft VisioOpenpages
Artificial Intelligence • Professional Services • Business Intelligence • Consulting • Cybersecurity • Generative AI
Supports clients through ERP transformation initiatives, including business application analysis, process design, implementation, testing, deployment, integration, training, and adoption. Manages agile delivery workstreams, requirements, risks, timelines, and dependencies; documents solutions and status; reviews deliverables; mentors junior team members; and builds client relationships. The role focuses on field service and operations modernization using platforms such as SAP, Salesforce, Maximo, ESRI, SEW, and IFS.
Top Skills:
AgileErpEsriIfsMaximoSalesforceSAPSew
What you need to know about the Colorado Tech Scene
With a business-friendly climate and research universities like CU Boulder and Colorado State, Colorado has made a name for itself as a startup ecosystem. The state boasts a skilled workforce and high quality of life thanks to its affordable housing, vibrant cultural scene and unparalleled opportunities for outdoor recreation. Colorado is also home to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, helping cement its status as a hub for renewable energy innovation.
Key Facts About Colorado Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 260,000; 8.5% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Lockheed Martin, Century Link, Comcast, BAE Systems, Level 3
- Key Industries: Software, artificial intelligence, aerospace, e-commerce, fintech, healthtech
- Funding Landscape: $4.9 billion in VC funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Access Venture Partners, Ridgeline Ventures, Techstars, Blackhorn Ventures
- Research Centers and Universities: Colorado School of Mines, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Denver, Colorado State University, Mesa Laboratory, Space Science Institute, National Center for Atmospheric Research, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Gottlieb Institute
