Development Chef

Greencore Group plc; Newark on Trent; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Life insurance

Share save scheme

Employee discount platform

Wellbeing Centre platform

Parental leave & menopause policies

Job summary

Greencore Group plc is seeking a passionate Development Chef to join our team. You will work across major retail customers, creating eye-catching products in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment.

You will collaborate with Senior Development and Head Chefs, develop innovative concepts, support kitchen trials, and help shape products for nationwide reach. A strong culinary background and trend awareness are essential for success.

Qualifications

• Experienced Chef with industry-recognised qualifications (e.g. NVQ, City & Guilds).
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in hospitality or food manufacturing.
• Strong creative flair with a passion for innovation and food trends.
• Self-motivated and organised, able to work independently and in a team.
• Confident communicator with a collaborative approach.

Responsibilities

• Develop innovative food concepts and recipes in line with customer briefs and market trends.
• Support the NPD process from concept to launch with high culinary and quality standards.
• Work with Technical, Process, and Commercial teams.
• Attend customer presentations and showcase new ideas and developments.
• Provide culinary support during trials and product scale-up.
• Maintain awareness of market and food trends.

Skills

Chef experience

Culinary creativity

Independent worker

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Education

NVQ/City & Guilds

Job description

Following the combination with Bakkavor in January 2026, we’re one of the UK’s leading creators of convenience food, driven by a simple purpose: to make everyday taste better.

As a vibrant and fast-moving business, we’re proud to employ over 28,000 talented colleagues across 36 manufacturing sites and 21 distribution depots in the UK and the US. Together, we bring delicious food to life. Our products cover every meal occasion from breakfast through to dinner and dessert, with lunch and snacking in between.

In FY25, our shared passion helped us achieve combined revenues of approximately £4bn. Our extensive direct to store (DTS) network, with 17 depots across the UK, allows us to deliver fresh and frozen food both our own and from trusted partners to thousands of stores every day, ensuring consumers enjoy the very best, whenever and wherever they shop.

We are seeking a passionate and driven Development Chef to join our innovative team. This is an exciting opportunity to work across a variety of major retail customers, creating eye catching and inspiring products across our desserts ranges within a fast-paced food manufacturing environment.

Working closely with our Senior Development Chef and Head Chef, you will play a key role in developing innovative food concepts, supporting kitchen trials, and helping to shape products that reach customers nationwide.

This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a dynamic and growing food business where no two days are the same. You’ll have the chance to bring creativity to life across multiple retailers and fresh produce categories, supported by an experienced leadership team that encourages new ideas and continuous development.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop innovative food concepts and recipes in line with customer briefs and market trends.
• Support the NPD process from concept to launch, ensuring high culinary and quality standards.
• Work collaboratively with cross-functional teams including Technical, Process, and Commercial.
• Attend customer presentations and contribute to showcasing new ideas and developments.
• Provide culinary support during factory trials and product scale-up.
• Maintain an up-to-date understanding of market and food trends.

About You

• Experienced Chef with industry-recognised qualifications (e.g. NVQ, City & Guilds or equivalent).
• Minimum 3 years’ experience within a hosppitality setting or food manufacturing environment.
• Strong creative flair with a genuine passion for innovation and food trends.
• Self-motivated and organised, with the ability to work independently and within a team structure.
• Confident communicator with a collaborative approach.

We’re proud to be recognised in the Gender Equity Measure Top 100 for our commitment to gender equality.

What you’ll get in return

• Competitive salary and job-related benefits
• Life insurance up to 4x salary
• Company share save scheme
• Exclusive Greencore employee discount platform
• Access to a full Wellbeing Centre platform
• Enhanced parental leave and menopause policies

Throughout your time at Greencore, you will be supported with on the job training.

Recruitment Fraud Warning

Greencore and its recruitment partners never charge candidates any fees at any stage of the hiring process. Any request for payment relating to a job opportunity should be considered fraudulent.