Safeway Inc. announced the “Search for Our Next Chef” competition, which invites chefs from across the nation to compete for a job with the Safeway Culinary Kitchens and have their recipe included in the Open Nature Skillet Meal line sold in stores nationwide.

To enter, Safeway said each chef first must “like” Safeway on Facebook. Then he or she must submit his or her resume; an original skillet recipe and a photo of the finished product; an outline of what inspired the recipe, why it’s special and why Safeway shoppers would want to buy it; and a statement about what motivated him or her to become a chef and enter the competition. Safeway then will select 25 candidates, based on experience and recipe submissions, to participate in an interview with the retailer and submit a short “Why I’m the Next Safeway Culinary Chef” video.

Safeway said it then will select 12 semifinalists to advance to three regional cook-offs. The winner of each cook-off will advance to a final cook-off at the retailer’s headquarters in Pleasanton, Calif. In this competition, Safeway chefs and executives — along with celebrity chef Alexandra Guarnaschelli — will determine the final winner. The second-place finalist will receive $2,000, while the third-place finalist will receive $1,000.

“We are the first to host a major competition where a talented chef has the opportunity to win a new job and develop a product that will be on the shelf in a major national grocery store,” said Joe Ennen, senior vice president of consumer brands at Safeway. “We are excited to find a well-rounded food expert who has a passion for innovation and is able to execute the highest level of recipe and product development to join our team.”