Senior Development Chef

Cranswick PLC; Preston; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme with enhanced employer/

Job summary

Cranswick Country Foods in Preston near Hull is seeking a Senior Development Chef to lead Fresh Pork culinary innovation from concept to launch and manage an NPD Chef. You will ensure products meet customer and Cranswick expectations, and coordinate timelines for successful cross-functional launches.

The role requires significant development-chef experience in food manufacturing, strong flavour knowledge and excellent communication skills to influence stakeholders and drive workshops.

Qualifications

• Significant Development Chef experience in food manufacturing with successful product launches.
• Strong food trend, consumer insight and flavour knowledge for innovation.
• Excellent communication to present to customers and lead innovation workshops.
• Good organisational skills to manage multiple NPD projects and factory implementation.
• Full UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Lead Fresh Pork culinary innovation from concept to launch and manage an NPD Chef.
• Ensure products meet customer and Cranswick expectations, technical and operational requirements, and timelines.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver successful launches.
• Develop and refine products to achieve quality, cost and manufacturing targets.

Skills

Development Chef experience

Food trend knowledge

Communication skills

Project management

Driving licence

Education

Level 3+ Food Safety qualification

Job description

(Cranswick Country Foods, Preston HU12 8TB)

Cranswick is a leading UK food producer with revenues approaching £2.9 billion, supplying premium food to major UK retailers, foodservice and global customers.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Development Chef at our Preston site near Hull (HU12 8TB). Reporting to the NPD Controller, you will lead Fresh Pork culinary innovation, develop products from concept to launch, and manage an NPD Chef.

You will ensure products meet customer and Cranswick expectations, technical and operational requirements, and critical timelines for a successful cross-functional launch.

What We Look For:

• Significant Development Chef experience in food manufacturing/product development, with successful food innovation and product launches (Essential).
• Strong food trend, consumer insight and flavour knowledge, with a passion for food, innovation and exceptional eating experiences (Essential).
• Customer presentation and innovation workshop leadership, with credible communication and influencing skills at all business levels (Essential).
• Commercial awareness, strong organisation and the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities across NPD processes and factory implementation (Essential).
• Coaching, mentoring or people-management experience, plus a Level 3+ Food Safety qualification (Desirable).
• Full UK driving licence (Essential).

What We Look For:

• Competitive salary – to be discussed at application / interview stage
• Job stability at a growing and expanding company
• Commitment to progression and development through internal and externally accredited training
• Company pension scheme with enhanced contributions - matched up to 10%
• Participation in our Share Save Scheme, offering discounted company share purchases
• 28 days annual leave entitlement (inclusive of bank holidays)
• New canteen providing fresh breakfast and lunch options
• Membership discounts at high street stores and supermarkets through our discount portal

A full job description is available upon request. Salary to be discussed at interview stage.

Closing Date: 13th November 2026

Please note that if a suitable candidate is found, this closing date may be brought forward.

If you are an internal applicant, please ensure you have made your line manager aware before applying and confirm this when submitting your application.