At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead food innovation and development, turning ideas into exciting products.
- Company: Billington Foods, a passionate and innovative food company.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, car allowance, bonus, pension, and career growth opportunities.
- Other info: Join a culture of food excellence and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Shape the future of food and inspire a talented team.
- Qualifications: Experience in food development and strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
About the job
Billington Foods - Wellingborough | Competitive + Car Allowance
At Billington Foods, food is at the heart of everything we do. We are passionate about creating great products, building strong customer partnerships, and delivering innovation that helps our customers succeed. As we continue to grow, we are looking for an experienced and ambitious Head of Development to lead our food strategy, innovation agenda, and development team. This is a fantastic opportunity for a commercially minded food leader who thrives on turning insight into action, inspiring high-performing teams, and bringing exciting food concepts to life for our customers and for the innovation pipeline.
The Role
Reporting to the Sales & Marketing Director, you will be responsible for shaping and delivering our strategy, leading product development from concept to launch at our Wellingborough factory, ensuring we remain at the forefront of market trends and customer needs. You’ll work closely with our Commercial, Procurement, Process development Operations, and technical teams, while also building strong relationships with key customers and industry partners.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and deliver the company food and innovation strategy
- Oversee two key customers as their lead chef
- Manage and develop a high-performing team of development professionals
- Deliver and grow our core capabilities of Pies, Bakes & Desserts
- Drive an exciting and commercially successful NPD pipeline and portfolio
- Identify emerging food trends and translate them into winning products
- Collaborate with customers to develop innovative food solutions
- Ensure products are commercially viable, operationally deliverable, and aligned to business objectives
- Support customer presentations, innovation sessions, and strategic growth opportunities
- Champion a culture of food excellence, curiosity, and continuous improvement
About You
We’re looking for someone who combines a genuine passion for food with strong commercial and leadership capabilities. You will ideally have:
- Significant experience in food development, innovation, or category leadership within food manufacturing, foodservice or hospitality
- Proven success leading teams and delivering business growth through innovation
- Strong understanding of food trends, consumer insight, and market dynamics
- Excellent stakeholder management and presentation skills
- The ability to balance creativity with commercial and operational realities
- A collaborative leadership style with a passion for developing people.
What We Offer
- Car allowance
- Company bonus
- Pension scheme
- Holiday allowance
- Career development opportunities
The chance to shape the future food strategy of a growing business
Why Billington Foods?
This is more than a Head of Development role. It’s an opportunity to influence business strategy, lead a talented team, and make a tangible impact on the future direction of our food offer. If you’re passionate about food, innovation, and leadership and want to join a business where your ideas can make a real difference we’d love to hear from you. To apply, please submit your CV and a brief introduction outlining why you’re interested in joining Billington Foods.
Head of Development (Pies & Desserts) in Wellingborough employer: Billington Foods
At Billington Foods, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and innovative work culture that places food at the forefront of our mission. As a Head of Development in Wellingborough, you will not only lead a talented team but also have access to career development opportunities, a competitive salary with car allowance, and the chance to shape our food strategy. Join us to make a meaningful impact in a company that values creativity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Development (Pies & Desserts) in Wellingborough
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the food industry! Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential colleagues or mentors. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that dream job.
✨Show Off Your Passion
When you get the chance to chat with hiring managers or during interviews, let your love for food shine through! Share your ideas on trends and innovations in the industry. We want to see that spark and enthusiasm that makes you the perfect fit for leading our development team.
✨Prepare for the Spotlight
Before any interview, do your homework! Know the company inside out, especially their products and recent innovations. We’re looking for someone who can hit the ground running, so show us you’re ready to lead our food strategy by being well-prepared and informed.
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply directly through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows us you’re genuinely interested in joining Billington Foods and being part of our exciting journey in the food industry.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Development (Pies & Desserts) in Wellingborough
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food:When you're writing your application, let your love for food shine through! Share specific examples of how you've turned your passion into successful projects or innovations in the past. We want to see that you’re not just about the job, but that you genuinely care about what you do.
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Head of Development role. Highlight your experience in food development and innovation, and don’t forget to mention any leadership roles you've had. We’re looking for someone who can inspire a team, so show us how you’ve done that before!
Craft a Compelling Introduction:Your introduction is your chance to grab our attention! Keep it brief but impactful. Explain why you’re excited about joining Billington Foods and how your skills align with our mission. We want to feel your enthusiasm right from the start!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, it shows you’re serious about wanting to join our team. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Billington Foods
✨Know Your Food Trends
Before the interview, dive deep into current food trends, especially in pies and desserts. Be ready to discuss how these trends can influence Billington Foods' product development and innovation strategy.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership capabilities. Discuss how you've successfully led teams in the past, focusing on collaboration and developing talent, as this role requires a strong emphasis on team performance.
✨Understand the Business Objectives
Familiarise yourself with Billington Foods' business goals and how the Head of Development role aligns with them. Be prepared to share your vision for how you can contribute to their food strategy and innovation agenda.
✨Engage with Customer-Centric Solutions
Think about how you can translate customer insights into innovative food solutions. During the interview, be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've collaborated with customers to develop successful products.
