Head of Culinary Development Catering Job

Greycoat Lumleys; London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 81,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading catering company in the UK seeks a Head of Culinary Development to shape high-end dining experiences. The successful candidate will drive culinary innovation, collaborate with talented chefs, and uphold the highest standards of quality in catering and client interaction, ensuring excellence from concept to delivery.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in culinary development or executive chef roles.
• Exceptional palate and passion for British heritage cuisine.
• Strong knowledge of allergens and scaling production.

Responsibilities

• Lead culinary innovation and menu development for events.
• Train chefs and ensure consistency in dish execution.
• Maintain compliance with hygiene and food safety standards.

Skills

Culinary development

Client communication

Team training

Plating skills

Costing knowledge

Job description

Full Time Head of Culinary Development Job

A rare and exciting opportunity has opened for a Head of Culinary Development to join one of the UK’s most respected catering teams. This senior role is ideal for a chef with strong creative vision, development experience, and the leadership skills to turn brilliant ideas into outstanding culinary experiences.

Reporting directly to the Culinary Director, you will lead the development, costing, documentation, and delivery of all dishes across events and product lines. You’ll collaborate with head chefs, production teams, and client-facing colleagues to ensure every dish is executed to the highest standard – from concept to plate.

Key Responsibilities

Culinary Innovation & Development

• Create, test, and cost seasonal and bespoke menus for high-end events

• Develop canapés, plated dishes, and food stall concepts to meet creative and commercial goals

• Build clear spec sheets with photography, recipes, and allergen details

• Collaborate with marketing to capture dish photography and content throughout the year

• Deliver client tastings and presentations in a confident, client-facing capacity

Production & Consistency

• Run tasting workshops with the kitchen brigade and ensure new menus are well understood

• Train chefs on dish execution and scaling methods

• Work closely with external chefs and collaborators to bring unique menus to life

• Attend select events to oversee execution and gather feedback

Product Lines

• Develop seasonal menus for various business arms (e.g., retail, delivery, or casual formats)

• Ensure all dishes are scalable and documented with full allergen tracking

• Prepare menus and tasting decks well ahead of deadlines for team and client review

General Leadership

• Live and champion the company’s core values of sustainability, local sourcing, and culinary excellence

• Support sales and events teams by understanding briefs and designing dishes that align with the client’s vision

• Document and follow up on all tastings to ensure clarity and quality in final delivery

Hygiene, Safety & Compliance

• Maintain full compliance with hygiene and food safety standards both in the central kitchen and on-site

• Ensure accurate allergen documentation for all recipes

• Contribute to internal audits and uphold an FSA 5-star hygiene rating

• Identify and address any potential hazards in equipment or kitchen practices

Performance Measures

• Client feedback and satisfaction

• Timely delivery of menus and dishes to set deadlines

• Achievement of gross profit targets

• Compliance with kitchen documentation and reporting standards

Monitoring & Development

• Regular reviews with the senior kitchen team

• Full-year and mid-year performance appraisals

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Extensive experience in culinary development or executive chef roles within high-end catering or restaurants

• Exceptional palate, plating skills, and passion for British heritage cuisine with a modern touch

• Strong knowledge of costing, allergens, and scaling production

• Confident communicator with experience delivering tastings and working closely with clients

• Skilled in team training and process documentation

Salary: £70,000 GPA plus Benefits