Development Chef - 12month FTC (London)

McCain Foods; London; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A global food leader, McCain Foods, seeks a Development Chef for a 12-month FTC in London. You will lead culinary innovation, develop new recipes, and liaise with customers. If you have over 5 years of culinary experience and a flair for relationship-building, join us to make a meaningful impact.

Benefits

Generous car allowance

Performance related bonus

Excellent pension with double contributions

Flexible holidays

Private medical insurance

Cycle to work scheme

'Chips In' Volunteering Day Off

Qualifications

• 5+ years of culinary experience in a customer-facing role.
• Proven experience as a Development Chef or similar role in the food industry.
• Food safety certification (Level 3) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with customer teams to understand culinary needs.
• Develop innovative recipes using McCain products.
• Ensure high standards of food safety.

Skills

Culinary craft skills

Communication

Relationship-building

Education

Culinary degree

Job description

Position Title: Development Chef - 12month FTC (London)

Position Type: Temporary - Full-Time

Position Location: Scarborough

Requisition ID:36387

Development Chef – 12month FTC (London)

About McCain.

At McCain, we’re feeding the world: from French fries to Smiles, we contribute to the important role food plays in people's lives. That’s why we’re dedicated to ensuring our core values—Family, Authentic, Trusted, and Quality—shine through every day. As a privately owned family company with over 60 years of experience, a presence in more than 160 countries, and a global team of 22,000 people, our values and culture are at the heart of everything we do. We believe that we can work together, along with our business and community partners, to bring sustainable growth and positive change today, tomorrow, and for generations to come. Join us and see how you can MAKE IT at McCain!

Why join the McCain family.

• Your Life – we’re here to help you fulfil your potential, flourish, and thrive in work and life.
• Your Success – work alongside passionate individuals who are committed to supporting your career ambitions, drive, and success.
• Your Impact – we want you to make a meaningful, lasting impact for you, for your colleagues, and for the business.

About the role.

Are you passionate about food and culinary innovation? Do you thrive on creating memorable dining experiences and developing products that meet the needs of customers?

Could you grow our business through by developing innovative recipes for our customers with McCain products? Would your technical expertise help our customers deliver perfect products every time?

If so, we have an exciting opportunity for a Development Chef to join our team!

Responsibilities and Accountabilities

• Collaborate with key customer food teams to understand their culinary needs and to demonstrate the relevance and quality of McCain products.
• Provide culinary training and support to customer teams to enhance their product knowledge and cooking techniques.
• Develop innovative, appealing recipes that incorporate McCain products that align with current food trends & profitably deliver the customer’s proposition.
• Identify opportunities to optimize McCain products through customer kitchen operations, developing technical solutions to maximise product performance, efficiency, and quality.
• Ensure all activities within Mccain or customer facilities deliver highest standards of food safety.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams including sales, marketing, and R&D to support business initiatives with culinary expertise.
• Provide regular updates and reports on culinary initiatives, customer feedback, and market trends.

Experience

• 5+ years of culinary experience in a customer-facing or development role.
• Proven experience as a Development Chef or similar role in the food industry.
• Culinary degree or equivalent professional training.
• Strong knowledge of food trends, culinary techniques, and recipe development.

Skills

• Strong culinary craft skills with the ability to showcase products effectively.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• A full, clean driving license.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of the food service market and a willingness to stay up to date with food trends.
• Food safety certification (Level 3)

Leadership Principles.

Our principles, each with related practices, guide our actions across the organisation. Together, they address how McCain interacts with our customers and employees, and how we work as individuals and collectively to find success. While each role adheres to the Leadership Principles, individual roles may focus more on a specific principle or principles.

We are customer obsessed. Customers are our starting point. By understanding their needs and leveraging data and consumer insights, we drive mutual success.

We think big and plan ahead. Through ambition, curiosity, and smart risks, we can accomplish goals, refine processes, and innovate to scale success.

We bring out the best in our people. We create safe spaces for our people so that trust and empowerment come naturally. Inclusion is about listening first, showing humility, and working together.

We act like owners. Together, we clear obstacles and do the work that makes us all successful and proud to be part of McCain.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR.

If your love for all things potato, cheese and veg knows no bounds and you happen to be in a similar regional sales role within the foodservice industry, then this could be the perfect opportunity.

But that's not all. To be our perfect match, you should also bring to the table:

• Demonstrated success in managing and growing B2B customer accounts, ideally across regional or multi-site territories. Skilled in relationship-building, negotiation, and delivering mutual value.
• Confident in managing budgets, understanding cost structures, and making data-driven decisions to drive profitability. Comfortable with forecasting, reporting, and commercial analysis.
• A track record of identifying and converting new opportunities into sustainable growth. Experience opening up new regional routes to market and tailoring solutions to meet customer needs.
• Background working with well-known consumer brands, with an understanding of brand positioning and the added value of brand-led selling.
• Deep understanding of the UK foodservice or retail landscape, including supply chain dynamics, route-to-market models, and distributor operations. Up to date on market trends, category growth drivers, and competitor activity.

So, if you're ready to take your passion for potato, cheese and veg products and your leadership skills to the next level then apply now and let's embark on this flavourful journey together.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

Although we do encourage you to taste the goods, you’ll be pleased to know we don’t pay you in chips & cheese. For working hard, you’ll also get a great salary and some pretty good benefits including:

• Generous car allowance
• Performance related bonus
• An excellent pension where we will pay double what you do, up to a maximum of 12% of your pay
• Flexible holidays – where you can buy & sell up to 5 days holiday per year
• Private medical insurance scheme
• Optional health cash plan
• Cycle to work scheme
• ‘Chips In’ Volunteering Day Off - to make a positive impact to the competitiveness, resilience, and long-term development of McCain communities across the globe

And of course, being part of a Global business there are great opportunities to shine/thrive should you wish to relocate in the future. We have an ambitious 5-year growth plan that presents development & progression opportunities for those who seek it out.

WHERE YOU’LL WORK…

This is a home-based contract that allows you the freedom to work from home, meet and greet customers on the go, and connect with your amazing team. And if you fancy a change of scenery, our Head Office in Scarborough, North Yorkshire will be there to welcome you from time to time. It's the perfect blend of flexibility and collaboration, allowing you to achieve outstanding results wherever you may roam.

Our culture is all about achieving outcomes, focusing on what truly matters. We measure success by the objectives you deliver. It's about making an impact, no matter where you're based.

McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. As a global family-owned company, we strive to be the employer of choice in the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that inclusion drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger.All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us knowand we will work with you to find appropriate solutions.

Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us, you agree this will be handled in accordance with McCain’s Global Privacy Policyand Global Employee Privacy Policy, as applicable. You can understand how your personal information isbeing handled here.

Job Family:Sales
Division:GB Commercial Foodservice
Department:Foodservice Category and Marketing
Location(s): GB - United Kingdom : England : London*

Company:McCain Foods (G.B.) Ltd