Junior Sous Chef

Absolute Taste; Cherwell District; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Absolute Taste - Travel is looking for an experienced Junior Development Chef in Bicester. The role focuses on creating seasonal menus and optimizing recipes for food service. Candidates should have at least 1 year of culinary experience and be passionate about food and cooking. Responsibilities include working with suppliers, conducting shelf life tests, and collaborating with production teams to ensure high-quality standards. Good communication skills and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment are essential.

Qualifications

• Minimum 1 year of experience as a chef.
• Ability to work from very specific briefs.
• Good all-round knowledge of various cooking techniques.
• Up to date with latest food trends.

Responsibilities

• Work with NPD Head Chef to create seasonal menu propositions.
• Ensure all recipes are scalable while maintaining consistency.
• Monitor trends and develop recipes aligned with customer demands.
• Conduct shelf life testing and maintain high standards in the kitchen.

Skills

Food Service/Hospitality experience

Ability to work in a fast pace environment

Outstanding food knowledge

Good communication skills

Problem solving skills

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Word

Job description

Absolute Taste are looking for an experienced Junior Development Chef with Food Service/Hospitality experience.

You will be someone who is self‑motivated and focused on customer. You will demonstrate initiative and ownership. Enjoy working collaboratively with colleagues. You will be flexible and adaptable to new challenges and change.

The role of Junior Development Chef includes:

• Working with our NPD Head Chef to create new, seasonal menu propositions for our travel clients, considering production, regeneration of the food and shelf life restrictions
• Ensure all recipes can be produced on a medium to large‑scale volume with keeping consistency
• Optimising ingredients and procedures to minimise human inaccuracies
• Work with local suppliers to ensure the sourcing of fresh ingredients for the business
• Supporting with typing up of recipes and costings where required
• Monitor trends and develop recipes in accordance with customer demands and response
• Maintaining the ongoing development of new and existing quality products – working closely with existing and new customers
• Support with taking product from concept to launch with in the operation’s current capabilities
• Basic understanding of food cost, knowledge of high cost ingredients versus lower costs
• Work closely with production teams across capabilities – taking new products into production as well as assist on existing products – review process and assist with updating process and or problem solving
• Work closely with Procurement, Technical team & commercial team/ account managers
• Conduct Shelf life testing
• Sample making, as well as maintain excellent standards at all times in NPD kitchen, you will also be involved in collection of ingredients and day‑to‑day housekeeping.
• Define, implement, and monitor process to ensure compliance to all health and regulation requirements
• Managing and updating knowledge management systems in line with the quality standards and protocols
• Customer facing - from product presentations to cooking and presenting lunches/ dinners for clients– a natural good host making a mean cup of tea!

What are we looking for?

• Min 1 years’ experience as a chef
• Work in fast pace environment with short lead times
• Ability to work from very specific briefs
• Must be a passionate foodie and have outstanding food knowledge and ability to demonstrate natural flair with a good pallet – basically you must love food and cooking!
• Have the ability to bring whole concepts together as well as working on silo products
• Ability to quickly learn the capabilities of the current operation and work alongside the capabilities when developing products for our demanding customers
• Must have an eye for detail and with good organization skills
• Good all‑round knowledge of cuisines from around the world
• Good all‑round knowledge of various cooking techniques and production processes
• Up to date with latest food trends and innovative food orientated mindset
• Good communication skills
• Ability to work on own projects as well as part of a team on larger projects
• Problem solving, think on feet
• Computer literate with a working knowledge of Microsoft excel, PowerPoint and word.

The above list of duties for the Junior Development Chef are non‑exhaustive, and this role may be required to perform additional tasks as necessary to meet the needs of the department and the Company.