Senior Research Chef

McCormick & Company; Aylesbury; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global flavors company is seeking a Senior Research Chef in Haddenham, UK. This role drives culinary innovation for Flavour Solutions and branded foodservice in EMEA, collaborating with various teams and managing multiple customer briefs. The ideal candidate has strong culinary skills, creativity, and experience in the food industry. A culinary degree and food hygiene certification are preferred, alongside excellent communication skills. This position offers opportunities for travel across EMEA.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 or equivalent in Food Preparation is required.
• Intermediate Food Hygiene certification required within 6 months.
• Experience in the food industry, ideally in restaurants or foodservice.

Responsibilities

• Drive culinary innovation and concept development.
• Participate in customer-facing sessions and create trends insights.
• Manage multiple customer briefs across various regions.

Skills

Culinary skills

Creativity

Communication skills

Relationship-building

Food knowledge

Detail-oriented

Education

NVQ Level 3 or C&G 701/2 in Food Preparation

Culinary or Food Science degree

Job description

Senior Research Chef

Haddenham, UK

Responsibilities

• Drive culinary innovation and concept development for Flavour Solutions and branded foodservice across EMEA
• Participate in customer-facing sessions, create gold standard flavours, and provide trend insights
• Manage multiple customer briefs across UK, France, Nordics, Middle East, and Africa
• Design and validate culinary recipes, including nutritional information where needed
• Collaborate closely with R&D, Marketing, Insights, and Commercial teams
• Deliver culinary and product training to internal teams and customers
• Lead and execute culinary events and trade shows tailored to customer needs
• Support customer range sell-ins, focusing on seasonings, coatings, and condiments
• Contribute to NPD projects in collaboration with R&D and Sensory teams
• Apply culinary expertise to sensory and market research
• Act as a brand ambassador, promoting culinary excellence and food-first culture
• Foster a culture of innovation and high performance
• Ensure food safety and hygiene standards in all culinary activities
• Collaborate with the Global Culinary Council to align with global strategy

Candidate Profile

• NVQ Level 3 or C&G 701/2 in Food Preparation; Culinary or Food Science degree preferred
• Intermediate Food Hygiene required (within 6 months); Advanced preferred
• Experience in the food industry, ideally in restaurants or foodservice
• Strong culinary skills and creativity
• Knowledge of global food and flavour trends
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• Confident in culinary demos and training delivery
• Food styling and photography skills are a plus
• Detail-oriented and well-organized
• Flexible and open to travel across EMEA and globally
• Computer literate
• Additional European language is a plus

Equal Opportunities

As an Equal Opportunities employer, McCormick is committed to a diverse workforce.