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- Tasks: Join our Culinary Development Team to create innovative food products and delight customers.
- Company: The Compleat Food Group is dedicated to making food that feels good, tastes good, and does good.
- Benefits: Enjoy employee volunteering days, travel expenses, discounts, and well-being support.
- Why this job: Be part of a culture that values innovation, teamwork, and personal growth in the food industry.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Development Chef or in a Michelin-level kitchen is preferred; valid driving license required.
- Other info: Weekly travel to other UK sites and some London client visits will be required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.
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Development Chef – 6 Month Fixed Term Contract, Nottingham
Client: The Compleat Food Group
Location: Nottingham, United Kingdom
Job Category: Other
EU work permit required: Yes
Job Reference: 072b72b1348d
Job Views: 27
Posted: 24.03.2025
Expiry Date: 08.05.2025
Job Description:
Development Chef – 6 Month Fixed Term Contract
We have a fantastic opportunity for a Development Chef to join our brilliant Culinary Development and Innovation Team!
Based at our site in Nottingham, you will work closely with the wider NPD and Category teams supporting with the development and innovation of a range of our exciting award-winning products.
At The Compleat Food Group we never just make food. We make food to feel good, taste good and do good for everyone. Our aim is to delight our customers and consumers every day, creating the best possible foods for shoppers\’ needs and budgets.
Our ability to drive category growth for our customers is through our focus on understanding our consumers and our relentless pursuit of category-leading innovation – we have the courage to think differently and challenge the status quo.
We work at the correct pace to make clear decisions and deliver on our commitments on time every time. Quality is at the heart of everything we do, always. We take pride in every single product we produce.
Everybody who works in our organisation is valued, and we strive to ensure everyone is treated with respect and encouraged to thrive and develop. Together we will become number one for culture.
Location: Nottingham – with weekly travel to our other UK sites as required and some travel to London to visit clients (Travelling will be expensed)
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 – 17:00 (with some flexibility for travel requirements)
Your Duties Will Include:
- Effective delivery of the business strategy and customer category plans as directed by the Executive Chef and/or Product Development Manager.
- Interpret varying customer briefs to create and deliver innovative concepts that meet customer and market requirements.
- Gather information required and confidently present products to customers and internal site teams.
- Recipe build and interpret theoretical nutritional results against guidelines.
- Understand and drive proactive development initiatives which push factory production and technical boundaries to maximise cost savings and efficiency.
- Identify new trends and maintain current products to deliver newness to the category by understanding the market.
- Communicate with teams including NPD, purchasing and finance to interpret briefs, source new ingredients and carry out costings.
- Promote health and safety culture across the site and follow health and safety requirements during kitchen and process development work.
- Work alongside development technologists and chefs through travel to other sites when required.
Requirements:
- Experience as a Development Chef or similar role in the chilled food industry.
- Experience of working successfully in a Michelin or Rosette level kitchen (desirable).
- Valid driving licence due to expectations to travel to our other sites across the UK (essential).
Key Skills:
- Strong cookery skills with flair for innovation.
- Organisation and planning.
- A real foodie, with a true passion for food innovation.
- Communicating at different levels of seniority.
- Presentation skills and creativity.
- Basic computing skills.
- Team player but can work independently.
Qualities:
- Passion for food and future innovation.
- Enthusiasm to learn and grow.
- Hard working and driven.
Benefits to Include:
- 2 Employee Volunteering Days per year.
- Expensed travel.
- Online and High-street retailer discount scheme and well-being portal.
- Employee well-being and community support groups.
- Charity Initiatives and Team events.
- 24/7 Access to Grocery Aid.
The Compleat Food Group are proud to have built an inclusive and respectful culture where our colleagues feel safe, supported and valued. A place where they can bring their whole selves to work to achieve exceptional results and thrive.
We continue to attract diverse talent into our teams, because we know greater diversity leads to exceptional results and provides a better working life. That’s why we’re committed to ensuring Fairness, Equity, Inclusivity, and Respect in all that we do.
Recruitment Agencies: We have an active and trusted Preferred Supplier List to assist us if required. We do not acknowledge any speculative CVs or unsolicited candidate introductions from agencies.
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Development Chef – 6 Month Fixed Term Contract employer: TN United Kingdom
Contact Detail:
TN United Kingdom Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Development Chef – 6 Month Fixed Term Contract
✨Tip Number 1
Make sure to showcase your culinary creativity and innovation during the interview. Prepare examples of how you've developed unique recipes or concepts in previous roles, especially if they align with the chilled food industry.
✨Tip Number 2
Familiarize yourself with current food trends and consumer preferences. Being able to discuss these insights during your conversation will demonstrate your passion for food innovation and your understanding of the market.
✨Tip Number 3
Highlight your experience working in high-pressure kitchen environments, particularly at Michelin or Rosette level. This will show that you can handle the demands of a Development Chef role effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Since the role involves collaboration with various teams, be prepared to discuss your communication skills and how you've successfully worked with different departments in past positions. This will illustrate your ability to thrive in a team-oriented environment.
We think you need these skills to ace Development Chef – 6 Month Fixed Term Contract
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Take the time to thoroughly read the job description for the Development Chef position. Understand the key responsibilities and required skills, and think about how your experience aligns with these.
Tailor Your CV: Customize your CV to highlight relevant experience in the chilled food industry and any Michelin or Rosette level kitchen experience. Emphasize your strong cookery skills and passion for food innovation.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your enthusiasm for the role and the company. Mention specific examples of your previous work that demonstrate your ability to innovate and deliver quality products.
Showcase Your Presentation Skills: Since the role involves presenting products to customers and internal teams, consider including a brief section in your application that highlights your presentation skills and any relevant experiences where you successfully communicated ideas.
How to prepare for a job interview at TN United Kingdom
✨Show Your Passion for Food Innovation
Make sure to express your genuine enthusiasm for food and innovation during the interview. Share specific examples of how you've contributed to innovative culinary projects in the past, as this aligns with the company's focus on creating exciting award-winning products.
✨Demonstrate Strong Communication Skills
Since the role involves collaborating with various teams, it's crucial to showcase your ability to communicate effectively at different levels. Prepare to discuss how you've successfully interpreted briefs and presented concepts to both customers and internal teams.
✨Highlight Your Experience in High-Quality Kitchens
If you have experience working in Michelin or Rosette level kitchens, be sure to mention it. This experience is desirable for the role and can set you apart from other candidates. Discuss what you learned and how it has shaped your approach to culinary development.
✨Prepare for Practical Questions
Expect to answer practical questions related to recipe building and nutritional guidelines. Brush up on your knowledge of current food trends and be ready to discuss how you would drive proactive development initiatives that maximize efficiency and cost savings.
