Senior Research Chef

McCormick & Company, Inc.; England; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global food company is seeking a Senior Research Chef in Haddenham, UK. The role involves driving culinary innovation and developing solutions for various markets. The ideal candidate will have culinary expertise, a strong educational background in food science, and the ability to communicate effectively. This position requires flexibility to travel and work with diverse teams worldwide. The company promotes a culture of diversity and excellence.

Qualifications

• Experience in the food industry, ideally in restaurants or foodservice.
• Intermediate Food Hygiene required (within 6 months); Advanced preferred.
• Knowledge of global food and flavour trends.

Responsibilities

• Drive culinary innovation and concept development.
• Manage multiple customer briefs across regions.
• Deliver culinary and product training to teams and customers.

Skills

Culinary skills

Communication

Creativity

Detail-oriented

Organizational skills

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

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