At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead cooking performance testing and optimise products for real kitchens.
- Company: Join a dynamic team at the forefront of culinary innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hands-on experience, and opportunity to shape products.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Blend your culinary skills with product development to create impactful appliances.
- Qualifications: Degree in Home Economics or related field; strong cooking and analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Are you passionate about food, cooking, and product innovation? Do you love combining culinary expertise with hands‑on testing and real consumer insight? We’re looking for a Product Development Home Economist to join our client, playing a key role in shaping the future of their product range.
Working closely with Engineering and Product teams, you’ll lead cooking performance testing, validation, and optimisation, ensuring our products deliver outstanding results in real kitchens. This is a unique opportunity to blend culinary skills, food science, and product development, helping to create appliances that are intuitive, high‑performing, and truly consumer‑focused.
As the Product Development Home Economist, you will:
- Act as the subject matter expert for cooking performance, influencing product decisions from concept through to launch.
- Design and execute structured test plans, protocols, and validation processes aligned with development milestones.
- Carry out hands‑on cooking trials and appliance testing on prototypes and pre‑production models.
- Analyse test results and translate findings into clear, actionable recommendations to improve performance and usability.
- Stay ahead of consumer trends, cooking behaviours, and competitor products, feeding insights into product innovation.
- Own and manage the test kitchen/lab environment, ensuring it is safe, organised, and optimised for repeatable testing.
- Produce high‑quality reports and presentations to support product sign‑off and stakeholder decision‑making.
- Collaborate cross‑functionally with Engineering, Product, and Customer teams in a fast‑paced environment.
- Support customer experience initiatives, including troubleshooting, aftercare insights, and usage guidance.
What We’re Looking For:
- Degree in Home Economics, Food Science, Culinary Arts, or a related discipline (or equivalent experience).
- Strong practical cooking skills with experience designing and running repeatable cooking trials.
- Ability to interpret data, identify trends, and solve problems, turning insights into tangible product improvements.
- Excellent written communication and documentation skills.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
- A proactive, self‑starting mindset with the ability to work independently and collaboratively.
- Strong understanding of consumer cooking behaviours and appliance usage.
- Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel.
Desirable Experience:
- Experience in product development, appliance testing, or white goods.
- Background in food innovation, culinary development, or kitchen lab environments.
- Experience creating user guides, cooking instructions, FAQs, or training materials.
- Knowledge of test method development, repeatability studies, and protocol optimisation.
- Previous experience as a Product Development Home Economist or similar.
Why Join?
- Be at the forefront of culinary innovation and product development.
- Work with cutting‑edge appliances and influence real consumer experiences.
- Collaborate with a passionate, multidisciplinary team.
- Opportunity to shape products from concept to launch.
Product Development - Home Economist in Royal Leamington Spa employer: Apex Recruitment - Leamington Spa
Join a dynamic team in Leamington Spa where your passion for food and innovation will thrive. As a Product Development Home Economist, you'll enjoy a collaborative work culture that values creativity and consumer insight, alongside opportunities for professional growth in a fast-paced environment. With access to cutting-edge appliances and the chance to influence product development from concept to launch, this role offers a unique blend of culinary expertise and hands-on testing that makes it an exciting place to build your career.
Contact Details:
Apex Recruitment - Leamington Spa Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Development - Home Economist in Royal Leamington Spa
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend food and product development events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your culinary skills! If you get the chance, bring samples of your cooking or demonstrate your testing process during interviews. This hands-on approach can really set you apart and showcase your passion for food and product innovation.
✨Tip Number 3
Stay updated on consumer trends and competitor products. Research what’s hot in the market and be ready to discuss how you can contribute to innovative product development. This shows you’re not just a cook, but a forward-thinking Home Economist.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search. Let’s get you into that dream role together!
We think you need these skills to ace Product Development - Home Economist in Royal Leamington Spa
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food:Let your love for food and cooking shine through in your application. Share any relevant experiences or projects that highlight your culinary skills and how they relate to product development.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use clear language to describe your skills and experiences, especially those related to cooking trials and product testing. We want to see your expertise without wading through fluff!
Highlight Your Teamwork Skills:Since collaboration is key in this role, mention any experiences where you worked with cross-functional teams. Show us how you can contribute to a dynamic environment and help shape products from concept to launch.
Apply Through Our Website:Make sure to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and get you into the process smoothly. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Apex Recruitment - Leamington Spa
✨Know Your Culinary Stuff
Brush up on your cooking skills and be ready to discuss your culinary expertise. Be prepared to share specific examples of cooking trials you've conducted and how they influenced product development. This will show your passion for food and your ability to translate that into practical insights.
✨Understand the Product Development Process
Familiarise yourself with the stages of product development, especially in relation to cooking performance testing. Be ready to talk about how you would design test plans and validate results. Showing that you understand the entire process will demonstrate your capability to contribute effectively from concept to launch.
✨Stay Ahead of Trends
Research current consumer trends and cooking behaviours relevant to the products you'll be working on. Bring insights to the interview about what’s popular in the market and how it could influence product innovation. This will highlight your proactive mindset and your commitment to staying informed.
✨Communicate Clearly
Since you'll need to produce reports and presentations, practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely. Prepare to discuss how you would communicate findings from cooking trials and how you can make complex data understandable for stakeholders. Strong communication skills are key in this role!
