Junior Development Chef

Gap Personnel; Llantrisant; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food manufacturing company seeks a passionate Junior Development Chef to innovate and improve chilled snack products in Llantrisant. This role involves collaboration across teams for new product launches, maintaining high standards of quality and safety. Ideal candidates will have culinary experience and creativity, with opportunities for hands-on training and growth in a dynamic environment.

Benefits

Flexible working around key development activities

Supportive environment for culinary skill growth

Hands-on training and mentorship

Career progression potential

Qualifications

• Background in hospitality, food service, or food manufacturing required.
• Minimum 1–2 years in a product development or culinary role preferred.
• A valid UK driving licence is essential.

Responsibilities

• Assist with New Product Development (NPD) and Existing Product Development (EPD).
• Support in recipe formulation and product presentation.
• Ensure compliance with food safety regulations.

Skills

Culinary skills

Innovation

Food trends knowledge

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Education

Culinary qualification or degree in Food Science

Job description

Junior Development Chef

Location: Llantrisant
Full Time | Permanent | 40 hours per week
Standard Hours: 8:00am – 4:00pm / 9:00am – 5:00pm (Flexibility required for trials, launches, tenders, etc.)
Salary: £26,000 – £28,000 (Depending on experience)

Overview

We’re looking for a passionate and creative Junior Development Chef to join a forward-thinking food manufacturing team in Llantrisant, focused on developing and improving chilled snack products across a broad customer base. This is a hands-on role, ideal for someone with a flair for innovation and a drive to bring exciting, high-quality products to life.

You’ll work closely with the Product Development and wider site teams to support both new product launches and improvements to existing lines, ensuring each product meets operational, nutritional, and quality standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist with New Product Development (NPD) and Existing Product Development (EPD) within agreed timescales and cost parameters
• Contribute to customer briefs, helping to create innovative, on-trend food concepts
• Support in recipe formulation, costings, and product presentation
• Conduct benchmarking and internal tasting sessions to gather insights and feedback
• Identify and research food trends to help maintain a fresh and competitive product range
• Work collaboratively with procurement, finance, and technical teams to source ingredients and align development with business objectives
• Conduct regular tastings to assess quality, flavour, and texture, adjusting recipes as needed
• Participate in kitchen trials and support full-scale factory trials and product launches
• Maintain kitchen hygiene, documentation, and stock control procedures
• Ensure compliance with food safety regulations, allergen management, and labelling requirements

Ideal Candidate

• A passion for food with a desire to grow a career in development chef roles
• Background in hospitality, food service, or food manufacturing
• Minimum 1–2 years in a product development or culinary role (preferred)
• Culinary qualification or degree in Food Science, Culinary Arts or related field (preferred)
• A valid UK driving licence (essential)

Key Skills & Attributes

• Strong culinary skills with an innovative, trend-led approach
• Knowledge of pastry and chilled food production is highly desirable
• Creative mindset with the ability to balance flavour, texture, and appearance
• Understanding of HACCP, allergen management and food safety standards
• Strong organisational and time management abilities
• Effective communication and teamwork skills across various departments and levels
• Comfortable using basic computer systems for recipe management and documentation
• Proactive, detail-oriented and committed to delivering excellence

What You’ll Get

• Competitive salary of £26,000 – £28,000, depending on experience
• Standard 40-hour week with core hours of 8am–4pm or 9am–5pm
• Flexible working around key development activities such as trials, launches, and customer visits
• A supportive environment to grow your culinary and product development skills
• Opportunity to work on exciting, trend-led food projects in the chilled category
• Hands-on training, mentorship, and real career progression potential

If you're a creative thinker with a genuine passion for food and innovation, we’d love to hear from you.