Product Development Chef

Hunter Savage; Dungannon; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK-based food manufacturer is seeking a Product Development Chef to join their innovative NPD team. This role offers the opportunity to develop plant-based and fresh food products that redefine market standards. Candidates with a strong culinary background, a passion for food innovation, and experience in food manufacturing are encouraged to apply.

Benefits

Fully equipped development kitchen

Positive, collaborative company culture

Flexible working options

Ongoing development opportunities

Qualifications

• Strong culinary background with food manufacturing or product development experience.
• Experience in developing and scaling recipes from kitchen samples to factory-ready products.

Responsibilities

• Create and develop original food concepts based on customer briefs.
• Work with cross-functional teams to bring ideas to market.
• Lead tastings and present product ideas confidently.

Skills

Food innovation

Creativity

Collaboration

Communication

Education

Culinary qualification

Job description

Product Development Chef

County Tyrone, Northern Ireland

Are you a culinary innovator with a passion for food trends and a talent for transforming creative ideas into commercially successful products? We’re recruiting on behalf of a leading UK-based food manufacturer for a Product Development Chef to join their fast-paced, forward-thinking New Product Development (NPD) team.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a chef with experience in the food manufacturing industry to work on cutting-edge plant-based and fresh food products that are redefining category standards across major retailers.

About the Role

As a key member of the NPD team, you’ll be at the forefront of culinary innovation — developing exciting new recipes, responding to market trends, and guiding concepts from the kitchen bench to full-scale production.

Key Responsibilities

• Create and develop original food concepts based on customer briefs and consumer insights

• Work closely with cross-functional teams including Technical, Commercial, and Production to bring ideas to market

• Lead tastings and present product ideas with confidence to both internal teams and external customers

• Explore and experiment with ingredients, flavours, and techniques to push innovation boundaries

• Travel occasionally for trend research, customer collaboration, and sourcing inspiration

What We're Looking For

• A strong culinary background with experience as a chef within food manufacturing or product development

• Passion for food innovation, trends, and delivering on flavour

• Creativity, energy, and the confidence to champion new ideas

• Experience developing and scaling recipes from kitchen samples to factory-ready products

• Strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively across departments

What’s on Offer

• Join an award-winning, innovation-driven food business

• Work in a fully equipped development kitchen with a passionate team of foodies

• Benefit from a positive, collaborative company culture with ongoing development opportunities

• Flexible working options and the chance to make a real impact in a growing business