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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead food and drink innovation, manage product development, and collaborate across teams.
- Company: Bill's Restaurants is a vibrant dining destination known for its creative food and drink offerings.
- Benefits: Enjoy a 20% annual bonus, 28 days leave, and generous restaurant discounts.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team shaping culinary trends and making a real impact in the food industry.
- Qualifications: Creative, commercially savvy, with strong leadership and product development skills.
- Other info: Opportunity to mentor a development chef and work on exciting new products.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
At Bill's Restaurants we are looking for a Head of Food and Drink Development. To be successful in this role you will need to be a creative and commercially astute individual with a deep passion for food and drink trends, a strong understanding of product development processes, and excellent leadership skills.
About the Role
- Strategic Leadership & Vision: Develop and implement the overall food and drink innovation strategy in alignment with the company's business goals and brand identity. Identify and analyse emerging food and beverage trends, consumer insights, and market opportunities to inform new product development. Establish clear priorities and roadmaps for product development projects. Stay abreast of competitor activities and industry best practices.
- Product Innovation & Development: Lead the ideation, conceptualisation, and formulation of new food and drink products. Oversee the entire product development lifecycle, including research, prototyping, sensory evaluation, ingredient sourcing, and recipe optimization. Ensure products meet quality standards, nutritional requirements, and regulatory compliance. Collaborate with commercial finance team to translate concepts into commercially viable and scalable products. Manage and optimize existing menus based on market performance and consumer feedback.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Marketing, Operations, Procurement, and Regulatory teams throughout the product development process. Build, lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing development team, this role will have one direct report a development chef. Collaborate with Marketing to define target audiences, product positioning, and go-to-market strategies. Partner with Operations to ensure smooth and efficient menu launches and ongoing consistency. Liaise with Procurement to identify and secure high-quality and cost-effective ingredients. Work with Regulatory to ensure all products comply with relevant food safety and labelling regulations.
- Project Management & Budget Control: Manage multiple F&B development projects simultaneously, ensuring they are delivered on time and within budget. Develop and track project timelines, milestones, and resource allocation. Monitor and control development costs, ensuring projects meet financial targets. Identify and mitigate potential risks and challenges during the development process.
- Guest Feedback and Ongoing Menu Refinement: Consistently measure guest opinion scores across all menu sections and address any product or execution issues on a weekly basis. Plan and refine guest feedback to gather valuable feedback for menu optimization. Analyse consumer data to make informed decisions about product development.
- Supplier Relationships: Build and maintain strong relationships with key ingredient suppliers. This includes brand partnerships working alongside the marketing team to drive engagement and brand awareness. Evaluate new ingredient options and technologies to enhance product quality and innovation. Negotiate terms and ensure reliable supply of ingredients.
What's in it for you - Benefits at Bill's:
- 20% Annual Bonus
- 28 days annual leave (including BH) with length of service increase
- Generous restaurant discounts allowing you to enjoy Bills food as well as discounts across other restaurants in our group including the Ivy Collection
- Employee Assistance Program
Head of Food and Drink Development employer: Bill's Restaurants
Contact Detail:
Bill's Restaurants Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Food and Drink Development
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest food and drink trends by following industry publications, blogs, and social media influencers. This will not only enhance your knowledge but also demonstrate your passion for innovation during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the food and beverage industry, especially those involved in product development. Attend relevant events or webinars to build connections that could provide insights or referrals for the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of successful product development projects you've led in the past. Highlight your leadership skills and how you managed cross-functional teams to achieve results.
✨Tip Number 4
Research Bill's Restaurants thoroughly, including their menu offerings and brand identity. Be ready to share ideas on how you could enhance their food and drink innovation strategy, showing that you're proactive and aligned with their vision.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Food and Drink Development
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities and requirements of the Head of Food and Drink Development position. Tailor your application to highlight your relevant experience in food and drink trends, product development, and leadership.
Craft a Compelling CV: Your CV should clearly showcase your experience in food and beverage innovation, project management, and cross-functional collaboration. Use specific examples to demonstrate your achievements and how they align with the role's requirements.
Write a Strong Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for food and drink trends and your vision for product development. Highlight your strategic leadership skills and provide examples of how you've successfully led teams and projects in the past.
Showcase Your Knowledge: During the application process, be prepared to discuss current food and drink trends, market opportunities, and your approach to product innovation. This will demonstrate your expertise and enthusiasm for the role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Bill's Restaurants
✨Showcase Your Passion for Food and Drink
Make sure to express your enthusiasm for food and drink trends during the interview. Share specific examples of how you've kept up with industry developments and how this knowledge has influenced your previous work.
✨Demonstrate Strategic Thinking
Prepare to discuss how you would develop and implement a food and drink innovation strategy. Think about how you can align product development with business goals and brand identity, and be ready to share your vision.
✨Highlight Leadership Experience
Since this role involves leading a team, be prepared to talk about your leadership style and experiences. Share examples of how you've successfully built and mentored teams in the past, and how you plan to do so in this position.
✨Prepare for Cross-Functional Collaboration Questions
Expect questions about how you would work with various departments like Marketing, Operations, and Procurement. Have examples ready that demonstrate your ability to collaborate effectively and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
