Development Chef

The Compleat Food Group; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the food industry seeks a Development Chef for their Culinary Innovation Team in Milton Keynes. The role involves driving innovation in chilled fried food, working closely with NPD and Category teams. The ideal candidate will have strong culinary skills, experience in a high-standard kitchen, and a passion for creativity and teamwork.

Benefits

Employee Volunteering Days

Retailer discount scheme

Employee well-being support

Charity initiatives

24/7 Access to Grocery Aid

Qualifications

• Experience as a Development Chef or similar role.
• Experience in a Michelin or Rosette level kitchen is desirable.
• Valid driving licence for travel to sites.

Responsibilities

• Deliver business strategy and customer category plans.
• Create innovative concepts based on customer briefs.
• Promote health and safety culture during kitchen development.

Skills

Strong cookery skills

Organisation and planning

Communication

Team player

Job description

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We have a fantastic opportunity for a Development Chef to join our brilliant Culinary Innovation Team!

Based at our site in Milton Keynes, you will work closely with the wider NPD and Category teams supporting with development and innovation at site for the chilled fried food category.

At The Compleat Food Group we never just make food. We make food to feel good, taste good and do good for everyone. Our aim is to delight our customers and consumers every day, creating the best possible foods for shoppers needs and budgets.

Our ability to drive category growth for our customers is through our focus on understanding our consumers and our relentless pursuit of innovation – we have the courage to think differently and challenge the status quo.

We work at the correct pace to make clear decisions and deliver on our commitments on time every time. Quality is at the heart of everything we do, always. We take in pride in everything we produce.

We value everybody who works in our organisation. Everyone is treated with respect and encouraged to thrive and develop. Together we will become number one for culture.

Location: Milton Keynes – with some travel to other sites as required.

Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 – 17:00.

Your Duties Will Include:

• Effective delivery of the business strategy and customer category plans as directed by the Development Chef and/or Development Controller/ Manager.
• Interpret varying customer briefs to create and deliver innovative concepts that meet customer and market requirements.
• Gather information required and confidently present products to customers and internal site teams
• Recipe build and interpret theoretical nutritional results against guidelines
• Understand and drive proactive development initiatives which push factory production and Technical boundaries to maximise cost savings and efficiency.
• Identify new trends and maintain current products to deliver newness to the category by understanding the market.
• Communicate with teams including NPD, purchasing and finance to interpret briefs, source new ingredients and carry out costings
• Promote health and safety culture across the site and follow health and safety requirements during kitchen and process development work
• Work alongside development technologists and chefs through travel to other sites when required

Requirements:

• Experience as a Development Chef or similar role in the food industry.
• Experience of working successfully in a Michelin or Rosette level kitchen (desirable)
• Valid driving licence due to expectations to travel to our other sites across the UK (essential)

Key Skills:

• Strong cookery skills with flare for innovation
• Organisation and planning
• Communicating at different levels of seniority
• Basic computing skills
• Team player but can work independently

Qualities:

• Enthusiasm to learn and grow
• Hard working and driven

Benefits to Include:

• 2 Employee Volunteering Days per year
• Online and High-street retailer discount scheme and well-being portal
• Employee well-being and community support groups
• Charity Initiatives and Team events
• 24/7 Access to Grocery Aid

The Compleat Food Group are proud to have built an inclusive and respectful culture where our colleagues feel safe, supported and valued. A place where they can bring their whole selves to work to achieve exceptional results and thrive.

We continue to attract diverse talent into our teams, because we know greater diversity leads to exceptional results and provides a better working life. That’s why we’re committed to ensuring Fairness, Equity, Inclusivity, and Respect in all that we do.

Recruitment Agencies : We have an active and trusted Preferred Supplier List to assist us if required. We do not acknowledge any speculative CVs or unsolicited candidate introductions from agencies.