Junior Development Chef

Gap Personnel; Llantrisant; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Progression opportunities

Learning environment

Monday–Friday schedule

Job summary

Gap Personnel is seeking a Junior Development Chef to join a growing food development team. This role blends hands-on kitchen work with creative recipe development, flavour testing and production notes.

Ideal candidates have professional kitchen experience, strong attention to detail and enjoy teamwork, with a Monday–Friday schedule and room to learn, experiment and progress within the team.

Qualifications

• Professional kitchen or food production background.
• Interest in innovation and hands-on development work.
• Strong attention to detail and creativity.
• Confident communicator with good teamwork.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced development kitchen.

Responsibilities

• New product development — support senior chefs with recipe creation, flavour trials and concept testing.
• Sample preparation — produce test batches and adjust seasoning for consistency.
• Quality assurance — maintain high standards for taste, texture and presentation.
• Cross‑team collaboration — work with development, technical and production teams.
• Recipe documentation — assist with spec sheets, recipe cards and production notes.

Skills

Kitchen experience

Food development

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Communication

Job description

Junior Development Chef – £35,000

Role Overview

A well‑established food manufacturer is seeking a Junior Development Chef to join their product development team. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with strong kitchen experience who wants to step into a creative, innovation‑focused role.

Key Responsibilities

• New product development — supporting senior chefs with recipe creation, flavour trials, and concept testing.
• Sample preparation — producing test batches, adjusting seasoning, and ensuring consistency.
• Quality assurance — maintaining high standards for taste, texture, and presentation.
• Cross‑team collaboration — working closely with development, technical, and production teams.
• Recipe documentation — assisting with spec sheets, recipe cards, and production notes.

Candidate Profile

• Background in a professional kitchen or food production environment
• Passion for food innovation and hands‑on development work
• Strong attention to detail and a creative approach
• Confident communicator who enjoys teamwork
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced development kitchen

Salary & Benefits

• £35,000 per year
• Clear progression opportunities within a growing development team
• Supportive environment with plenty of room to learn and experiment
• Monday–Friday schedule with occasional flexibility for trials