Head Chef Jobs in Virginia
Head Chef jobs in Virginia are open across Harrisonburg, Richmond, and Reston and other Virginia metros, with employers like Harrisonburg City Public Schools, Baker Roofing, and ICF hiring at every experience level. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Job Title: Head of Flavor & Sensory
Req Id: 3008
Work Model: Remote
Company: Altria Client Services
State/Province: Virginia
Job Description:
Together We Innovate. Together We Change.
What if the next frontier of growth isn’t just what we make, but how precisely we shape how it’s experienced, and how flavor and sensory can become a scalable engine of innovation and connection? This role elevates them into a strategic lever, uniting science, insights, and product development to drive compelling experiences and stronger market impact.
We are actively recruiting the Head of Flavor & Sensory to join our Growth Organization in Richmond, VA or we are open to remote work arrangements. Must be willing to travel as needed, approximately 30-40%.
The Head of Flavor & Sensory will own and lead a critical capability at the heart of product differentiation, translating flavor and sensory science into consumer preference and commercial advantage. By integrating technical expertise, insights, and innovation, this role will transform flavor and sensory into a strategic system that consistently delivers superior, consumer-winning experiences.
What you’ll be doing:
Define Strategy and Superiority:
- Define consumer-winning sensory ambition and translate insights into clear category targets and product priorities
- Establish “where to play/how to win” strategies and define superiority scorecards and evidence standards
Build Capability & Innovation:
- Evolve flavor and sensory capabilities, standards, and differentiated product-experience systems
- Build benchmarking, modeling, long-term capability, talent, and innovation roadmap
Integrate the Capability System:
- Integrate cross-functional expertise (sensory, R&D, analytics, regulatory, etc.) into a unified product-experience system
Enable Delivery, Govern Validation and Evidence:
- Deploy capabilities into priority programs with clear ownership, portfolio management, and operating standards
- Define validation frameworks and integrate consumer, sensory, and technical evidence into decisions and learning loops
Lead the External Ecosystem and Knowledge System:
- Build and manage strategic external partnerships to accelerate innovation
- Standardize knowledge capture and reuse across tools, insights, and future development
Measure Performance and Impact:
- Define KPIs and use insights to improve delivery, resourcing, and ways of working
- Build team capability and succession pipeline to sustain long-term advantage
We want you to have:
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Bachelor's or master's degree in food science, Chemistry, Consumer Science, or a related technical field
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15+ years related experience in flavor, sensory, product development, consumer science or related technical fields
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Experience leveraging external partners to accelerate capability and innovation design and technology development
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Demonstrated experience defining flavor, sensory, or product-experience strategy across categories or platforms.
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Strong technical credibility across flavor, sensory, product development, and related analytical or product-science disciplines.
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Proven ability to operate effectively as a system leader with internal and external stakeholders
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Awareness of consumer-product trends, competitive developments, emerging technologies, and future category opportunities.
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Occasional domestic and international travel may be required
As a People Leader at Altria, you are accountable for both results and the experience of your team. You drive alignment by connecting strategy to daily work, and you model collaboration by embracing diverse perspectives. By creating trust, offering feedback, and leading with authenticity, you help strengthen Altria’s culture and deliver meaningful outcomes.
The starting salary is based on but not limited to experience, knowledge, and qualifications in determining compensation decisions. The Salary Range for this position is: $174,700.00 - $305,650.00.
Why You’ll Love Building Your Career at Altria
At Altria, we believe a great career starts with feeling supported — both at work and in life. Here’s what you’ll find here:
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Work where life works for you — with flexible and remote options that fit your world, not the other way around.
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Own your time — start with 15 days of paid time off, 13 paid holidays, 2 floating holiday days, and a 37.5-hour workweek so you can recharge and live fully
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A place where you belong — where your ideas are welcomed, your growth is encouraged, and your impact is real
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Get recognized for your work – annual merit increases and performance bonus
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A future you can count on — 401(k) matching from day one; plus Deferred Profit Sharing, an annual company contribution in an amount equal to 13%-17% of your base salary
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Help with your goals — get help with student loan repayment assistance, attend a conference, or gain a new certification with professional development stipends
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Support for what matters most — comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family
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Celebrating your milestones — paid parental and bonding leave for life’s biggest moments.
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Wellness that goes beyond work — programs that care for your whole well-being at whatever stage you are in your life
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A culture that gives back — paid volunteer days and a shared commitment to making a difference
At Altria, we offer more than benefits — we offer a career that fits your life, rewards your ambition, and celebrates your impact.
Altria is a Fortune 500 company that has a leading portfolio of products for U.S. adult tobacco and nicotine consumers 21+. For decades we’ve been leaders in the tobacco industry, but the industry is evolving - and so are we. Our Vision is Moving Beyond Smoking™.
At Altria, we celebrate the power of diverse teams working together to shape our future. Each Altria company is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing individuals with criminal records, including formerly incarcerated individuals and individuals with conviction records, a fair chance at employment. Join us as we work together to shape a better future for adult tobacco consumers, our employees, and our shareholders.
Altria is the parent company of Philip Morris USA, John Middleton, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco, Helix Innovations, and NJOY. Altria complements its tobacco portfolio with equity investments in Anheuser-Busch InBev and Cronos Group.
See All 32 Head Chef Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Head Chef JobsHead Chef Jobs by City in Virginia
Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Head Chef Job Market in Virginia
A snapshot from current Virginia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Harrisonburg City Public Schools5

- Baker Roofing4

- ICF2

- Old Dominion University2

- Orangetheory Fitness2

Top Industries Hiring
- Education14
- Construction & Real Estate5
- Consulting & Professional Services3
- Sports & Recreation3
- Hospitality & Tourism2
What Virginia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in head chef jobs across Virginia.
- Proven experience running full kitchen operations as a head or executive chef
- Current ServSafe Manager certification or equivalent food safety credential
- Demonstrated ability to manage food and labor costs within budget targets
- Experience leading and scheduling a brigade of line cooks and prep staff
- Culinary Arts degree or diploma from an accredited culinary school preferred
- Proficiency with kitchen management and inventory software such as BlueCart or MarketMan
Head Chef Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions
How many head chef jobs are there in Virginia?
There are 32+ head chef openings in Virginia on Migrate Mate as of June 2026, with the most roles in Harrisonburg, Richmond, and Reston. New positions post regularly as employers across Virginia hire.
How much do head chefs make in Virginia?
Head chefs in Virginia earn a median of about $63,270 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $43,010 for the lowest 10% to over $90,470 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which Virginia cities have the most head chef jobs?
Harrisonburg, Richmond, and Reston have the most head chef openings in Virginia right now, with additional roles spread across smaller metros statewide.
Which companies hire head chefs in Virginia?
Employers hiring head chefs in Virginia include Harrisonburg City Public Schools, Baker Roofing, and ICF, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026.
Are there remote head chef jobs in Virginia?
Yes. About 9% of head chef openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of June 2026. The rest are on-site roles based in Virginia metros.
How do I apply for head chef jobs in Virginia?
You can apply to head chef jobs in Virginia directly on Migrate Mate. Search the listings above, find roles that match your experience and preferred Virginia location, then apply to each one that fits.
See All 32 Head Chef Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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