Production Development Chef

Bell Recruitment; Newry; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking a Product Development Chef to drive the creation of innovative Food on the Move products. The role involves transforming product briefs into market-ready items and requires passion for food, relevant experience in product development, and strong leadership skills. Benefits include a competitive salary, discounted food, and opportunities for training and development.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Discounted food

Free on-site parking

Cycle to work scheme

Staff events

Tech scheme

Training, development, and career progression

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of consumer and market trends.
• Proven experience translating briefs and delivering quality outcomes.
• Ability to manage multiple NPD projects efficiently.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of innovative Food on the Move products.
• Manage New Product Development projects from concept to market.
• Monitor market trends and competitor activity.

Skills

Passion for food

Experience in product development

Strong communication skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving mindset

Tools

MS Office

PowerPoint

Intact or equivalent software

Job description

Job Title: Product Development Chef
Reports To: Head of Food Innovation and Development

Role Overview:
As a Product Development Chef, you will lead the development of innovative Food on the Move products in line with company strategy. You will transform product briefs into viable, high-quality products, ensuring timely delivery within cost targets, while keeping the development team fully informed on all projects. The Product Development Chef will play a key role in driving creativity, quality, and operational excellence throughout the product development process.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Translate product briefs into viable products, considering ingredient quality, cost, and production constraints.

• Initiate and manage New Product Development (NPD) projects, transforming food concepts into market-ready products.

• Conduct concept snapshots to engage the team early and identify potential challenges.

• Follow the NPD stage-gate process, collaborating closely with the wider development team.

• Create and oversee initial product costs.

• Prepare and dispatch product samples to customers with all relevant documentation.

• Train production staff on product mixes to ensure consistency and quality throughout the production chain.

• Participate in production trials for sign-off on mixes and product assembly.

• Source high-quality, innovative ingredients and packaging to enhance product appeal and consumer experience.

• Lead customer presentations, representing the company at events, trade shows, and account visits.

• Monitor market trends, consumer behavior, and competitor activity to inform innovation strategies.

• Manage the day-to-day activities of the development kitchen and the development team.

Desired Skills and Competencies:

• Passion for food with a strong understanding of consumer and market trends.

• Proven experience in product development, translating briefs, and delivering quality outcomes within budget.

• Well-established network of industry contacts for project support.

• Problem-solving mindset with resilience and emotional intelligence.

• Strong communication, presentation, and team leadership skills.

• Ability to analyze data and translate insights into actionable product concepts.

• Computer literate (MS Office, PowerPoint, Intact or equivalent software).

Benefits:

• Competitive salary

• Discounted food

• Free on-site parking

• Cycle to work scheme

• Staff events

• Tech scheme

• Training, development, and career progression