Senior Development Chef

Greencore; Bourne; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Holidays

Pension contributions

Life insurance

Share save scheme

Greencore qualifications

Employee discount platform

Wellbeing Centre access

Enhanced parental leave

Job summary

Greencore is seeking a Senior Development Chef to lead our culinary team across multiple sites, including Boston, Spalding, Bourne. The role encompasses a mobile, flexible pattern between depots with a focus on delivering high-quality product development.

You will drive NPD/EPD, mentor chefs, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to enable growth and margin improvements. A strong UK retail/FMCG background is essential.

Qualifications

• Highly motivated with a passion for food innovation and a proven track record in Product Development.
• A broad and deep culinary understanding and cuisine knowledge – a true expert.
• Product Development experience of UK retail and FMCG.
• Strong people management and organisational skills.
• Passionate to deliver commercial growth through Product Development.
• Innovative and creative.
• A strong presenter and effective influencer.

Responsibilities

• Lead culinary team to deliver development activity to the highest standard.
• Mentor Chef team to achieve personal development and continuous improvement.
• Translate feedback into actionable product changes and improvements.
• Drive the pipeline through inspirational and innovative product and process ideation.
• Manage site development kitchen facilities to a high standard.

Skills

Product Development

Culinary Expertise

People Management

Commercial Awareness

Presentation & Influencing

Job description

Location

Covering Boston, Spalding Salads & Bourne

Hours

Monday - Friday 37.5 hrs per week

Why Greencore?

Following the combination with Bakkavor in January 2026, we’re one of the UK’s leading creators of convenience food, driven by a simple purpose: to make everyday taste better.

Job Description

Job: Senior Development Chef

Location: Covering Boston, Spalding Salads & Bourne

Permanent role with mobile support responsibilities, rather than being based at site only.

Hours: Monday - Friday 37.5 hrs per week

Why Greencore? Following the combination with Bakkavor in January 2026, we’re one of the UK’s leading creators of convenience food, driven by a simple purpose: to make everyday taste better.

In FY25, our shared passion helped us achieve combined revenues of approximately £4bn. Our extensive direct to store (DTS) network, with 17 depots across the UK, allows us to deliver fresh and frozen food both our own and from trusted partners to thousands of stores every day, ensuring consumers enjoy the very best, whenever and wherever they shop.

What You'll Be Doing

Managing the culinary team to create and deliver quality product Development, demonstrating culinary expertise, innovative thinking and commercial awareness.

What We're Looking For

At Greencore we put our people at the core. We celebrate their differences and help everyone to be themselves at work. Together we make every day taste better.

• Highly motivated with a passion for food innovation and a proven track record in Product Development
• A broad and deep culinary understanding and cuisine knowledge – a true expert.
• Product Development experience of UK retail and FMCG.
• Strong people management and organisational skills.
• Passionate to deliver commercial growth through Product Development.
• Innovative and creative.
• A strong presenter and effective influencer.

Role Accountabilities

• Business Communication: Has effective internal working relationships across key functions to support the Development process activity.
• Leadership: Leads the kitchen team to effectively deliver the development activity to the highest standard. Supports and mentors Chef team to achieve personal development.
• Leadership: Is open to change and strives for continuous improvement in product quality, margin enhancement, operational efficiency and ways of working.
• Customer: Manages hospitality for customer and high-profile visits. Customer role: drives and leverages relationships with Customer Culinary team.
• Culinary: Has the ability to present product to internal and external customers, influencing through culinary knowledge, expertise, passion and flair with best in class food and presentation skills. Supports site with culinary expertise. Is able to convert feedback into appropriate action.
• Product Innovation: Drives the pipeline through inspirational and innovative product and process ideation. Has the ability to translate food trends into relevant and commercially viable product Development. Drives sector-led innovation opportunities.
• Business Knowledge: Fully understands relevant site capabilities and has an understanding of broader Group capabilities.
• Facilities: Manages, maintains and runs the Development kitchen facility to a high standard.
• Product Development Cycle: Develops NPD and EPD, to an agreed quality and timescale, based on a strong understanding of all Development and commercial parameters. Seeks opportunities for margin enhancement.
• Behaviours: Leader, creative, dynamic, passionate, demonstrable flair and finesse, effective communicator, ability to motivate others, alignment to Greencore values.

What You'll Get In Return

• Competitive salary and job-related benefits
• Holidays
• Competitive matched pension contributions
• Life insurance up to 4x salary
• Company share save scheme
• Greencore Qualifications
• Exclusive Greencore employee discount platform
• Access to a full Wellbeing Centre platform
• Enhanced parental leave and menopause policies

Throughout your time at Greencore, you will be supported with on the job training and development opportunities to further your career.

We reserve the right to close the advert ahead of the specified closing date.