Development Chef

Good Food Studio - Food & Restaurant Consultancy; Greater London; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A food consultancy studio in London is seeking an experienced Development Chef to manage projects for various clients. The ideal candidate will have at least 3 years in trendy restaurants and be skilled in kitchen management and food presentation. You will assist in menu development, conduct research, and maintain the kitchen. Flexibility for evening or weekend work as well as potential national travel is required. This role offers a competitive salary and professional growth opportunities.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience in a professional kitchen environment.
• Serious computer skills – fast adaptation to various software required.
• Experience in FMCG is a bonus.
• Valid driving licence and access to a car is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Manage development projects for diverse client briefs.
• Conduct market and trend research.
• Develop menus and recipes per nutritional guidelines.
• Maintain the development kitchen and ensure it's stocked.

Skills

Kitchen management

Food presentation

Communication skills

Research and analysis

Negotiation skills

Education

Level 3 Award in Food Hygiene

Culinary arts or food science background

Tools

Recipe management software

Market research tools

Job description

Salary : £32,000–£38,000 (depending on experience)

Location : Camberwell, London (SE5)

Employment : Full‑time

Industry : Food & Beverages

Please note:

Only UK-based applicants will be considered, and only those able to travel daily to South London where the studio is based.

About the Role

Our team is growing, and we’re looking for a Development Chef to join us at Good Food Studio to manage our pipeline of development work for our diverse client base, which includes FMCG brands, restaurants, casual dining groups, and QSRs.

As part of our development team, you’ll manage projects and development plans for client briefs — working across innovative ideas, inspirational food, and process efficiencies.

We’re looking for an experienced chef with a minimum of 3 years’ experience in trendy restaurants in London. The ideal candidate will be comfortable managing a section in a busy kitchen, confident in food presentation, and eager to develop a commercial understanding of product development.

Our studio is based in Camberwell (SE5), and you’ll also spend time on‑site with clients to help implement projects, run tastings, and troubleshoot as required.

What You Need to Have

• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience in a professional kitchen environment.
• Serious computer skills – we use a wide range of software and online systems, and catching up fast will be crucial.
• Experience in FMCG (not essential but a bonus).
• Level 3 Award in Food Hygiene.
• Valid driving licence (access to a car is a plus, as some national travel may be required).
• Background in culinary arts or food science.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

What You’ll Be Doing and Learning at GFS

• Assisting in projects end‑to‑end, learning from our experienced team.
• Conducting market and trend research, with strong technical, formatting, and presentation skills.
• Researching and presenting insights relevant to client briefs.
• Applying commercial understanding to cost engineering, menu development, and analytical recipe writing.
• Sourcing and liaising with ingredient suppliers, negotiating best prices and specifications.
• Developing menus and recipes in line with client briefs and nutritional guidelines.
• Using our recipe system to create dishes that meet strict nutritional and operational criteria.
• Producing training materials and specifications, and assisting in setting up training plans for new projects.
• Helping to formulate briefs and assist in client pitches — a client‑facing role with exposure to high‑level presentations and tenders.
• Maintaining day‑to‑day upkeep of the development kitchen, ensuring it’s well‑stocked and presentable.
• Embracing a proactive attitude — no task is “not my job.”

Additional Information

We launch and manage businesses and projects across varied client schedules, so flexibility is key. You can expect some evening or weekend work, and occasional national travel.