Food Editor and Test Kitchen Manager

Immediate Media Co; Greater London; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 34,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading media company in Greater London is seeking a Food Editor and Test Kitchen Manager to oversee food content during a maternity leave period. Responsibilities include managing day-to-day Test Kitchen operations, developing and refining recipes, and coordinating with editorial teams. The ideal candidate should have at least 2 years' experience in food media, strong technical cooking knowledge, and exceptional editing skills. This role also offers a range of employee benefits and a supportive work culture.

Benefits

Relaxed working environment

Supportive well-being initiatives

25 days holiday plus birthday leave

Tailored training through in-house platforms

Flexible/hybrid working

Cycle to work scheme

Enhanced Family Policies

Competitive pension plans

Qualifications

• At least 2 years’ experience in a similar role, ideally within food media or professional Test Kitchen.
• Deep knowledge of food and cooking with strong technical understanding.
• Solid writing and editorial skills, with experience editing recipes.

Responsibilities

• Manage the Test Kitchen, including scheduling and workflow planning.
• Develop, write, and refine recipes to meet editorial standards.
• Coordinate recipe scheduling and oversee Test Kitchen Assistant.

Skills

Hands-on creativity in cooking

Editorial quality care

Problem-solving

Organisational abilities

Job description

Food Editor andTest Kitchen Manager (up to £34,000 PT – 4 days a week)

12 month fixed term contract

Immediate is home to some of the biggest and most loved consumer brands in the UK, including Radio Times, Good Food and BBC Gardeners World magazine. Our trusted, quality content reaches millions of people a month across digital, print, video, podcasts, apps and live events.

We’re the destination for people looking to get more from the things they love. We’re here to inspire, fuel, encourage and educate.

Whether it’s the big things, or the little things; from reaching fitness goals to savouring good food, cultivating outdoor spaces, or enjoying the latest TV sensation – we help bring our audiences joy!

About the role

As a Food Editor andTest Kitchen manager, you will play a central role in maintaining and elevating our food content during a maternity leave period. You will oversee the full recipe development lifecycle, manage day‑to‑day Test Kitchen operations, uphold editorial quality standards, and support content creation across multiple formats. This role is essential in ensuring continuity, consistency, and creativity across all food output.

You’ll love this role if;

• You’re energised by hands‑on creativity in the kitchen and enjoy developing, testing, and perfecting recipes that people genuinely want to cook.
• You thrive in an organised, fast‑moving environment where you can plan, prioritise, and keep multiple projects running smoothly.
• You care deeply about editorial quality, from recipe precision to clear, engaging food writing.
• You’re motivated by problem‑solving, keeping workflows smooth and finding smart solutions when priorities shift.
• You take pride in delivering high‑quality output, even on tight deadlines.

As a Food Editor andTest Kitchen manager you will;

• Manage the Test Kitchen, including scheduling, workflow planning, resourcing, and maintaining a productive and safe working environment.
• Develop, write, and refine recipesthat meet our editorial standards and deliver exceptional results for our audience.
• Copy edit and fact‑check recipes and food features to ensure accuracy, clarity, and consistency.
• Coordinate recipe scheduling, aligning development with editorial, video, and social content calendars.
• Oversee and support the Test Kitchen Assistant, providing guidance and ensuring smooth daily operations.
• Collaborate with the video team on recipe‑based shoots, contributing to ideation, preparation, on‑set support, and quality control.
• Work closely with internal stakeholders to facilitate Test Kitchen usage for events such as agency cook‑offs, talks, dinners, and brand or partner experiences.
• Maintain content output levels, helping the team deliver against deadlines and uphold quality benchmarks throughout the maternity leave period.

• At least 2 years’ experience in a similar role, ideally within food media, publishing, or a professional Test Kitchen environment
• A deep knowledge of food and cooking, including strong technical understanding of ingredients, methods, and recipe development
• Solid writing and editorial skills, with proven experience editing recipes and food copy for accuracy and clarity
• Experience developing and testing recipes from concept to final publication
• Strong organisational and project management abilities, with confidence managing schedules, workflows, and deadlines

• A relaxed working environment with regular socials including a summer festival
• Supportive well‑being initiatives and benefits, talks & workshops, and Mental Health First aiders & Champions
• 25 days holiday plus a day for your birthday. Our offices will be closed between Christmas and New Year’s which are in addition to your annual entitlement
• Tailored training and development through both our inhouse learning platform and LinkedIn Learning
• A progressive and transparent culture focused on your development
• Flexible / hybrid working plus early finish Fridays
• Cycle to work scheme
• Enhanced Family Policies including paternity, adoption and surrogacy leave. We also provide a pregnancy loss, fertility, and carers policy
• Competitive pension plans and Life Assurance
• A newly renovated modern office with lots of collaborative spaces

At Immediate, we pride ourselves on our open, collaborative, and dynamic culture that empowers our people to thrive and give their best. We care deeply about our people, environment, and impact. Our active Diversity & Inclusion network, comprehensive well‑being programs, and clear sustainability strategies reflect this commitment.

People are at the heart of our business and creating a diverse and inclusive working environment is extremely important to us. Immediate is an equal opportunities employer. We’ll never treat anyone less favourably because of their sex, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, marital/civil partnerships, sexual orientation, race, nationality, ethnic origin, age, religion or belief or disability. We’re also committed to supporting applications from those who are returning to work following a career break, maternity leave or caring responsibilities.

Immediate is a place where you can grow, be supported, and make a difference