Development Chef / Product Lead
Development Chef / Product Lead

Development Chef / Product Lead

Warrington Full-Time 36000 - 60000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the creation of innovative, high-protein meals while managing kitchen operations.
  • Company: FuelHub fuels elite athletes with performance-driven meals, redefining meal prep in the UK.
  • Benefits: Enjoy company events, discounts on food, and a pension plan while working in a dynamic environment.
  • Why this job: Join a growing team where your culinary skills can shine and impact athletes' performance.
  • Qualifications: 5+ years as a senior chef with expertise in product development and high-protein meal prep.
  • Other info: This is a full-time, in-person role based in Warrington, UK.

The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.

Job Description

Job Title: Lead Product Development Chef

Location: Warrington UK

Department: Production / R&D

Reports to: Head of Operations

At FuelHub, we are redefining meal prep with high-quality, performance-focused meals. We fuel the UK’s elite sports teams and athletes, ensuring they perform at their peak with nutritionally optimised, performance-driven meals.

We are at an exciting stage of accelerated growth, meaning there are huge opportunities for career progression.

As our Lead Product Development Chef, you will be at the forefront of innovation, production efficiency, and culinary excellence, helping us fuel our customers with the best meals possible.

Job Summary:

We are seeking a highly skilled Lead Product Development Chef to take charge of new meal innovation, cooking process management, and quality control at FuelHub. This role is hands-on in the kitchen, leading the development of high-protein, macro-controlled meals while ensuring efficiency, food safety, and consistency in our production process. The candididate will lead product development, and ensure accurate specifications and standardised cooking methods and oversee the cooking processes on production days.

They will also collaborate with the nutritionist to develop innovative, performance-driven meals.

Key Responsibilities: Product Development & Innovation:

  • Develop and test new high-protein, macro-balanced meals in line with FuelHub’s nutritional standards.
  • Work closely with the nutritionist to ensure meals meet macro, calorie, and dietary requirements.
  • Research new ingredients, techniques, and trends in sports nutrition and meal prep.
  • Optimise meal recipes for scalability, consistency, and cost-effectiveness.
  • Conduct taste tests, quality control, and process trials before product launches.
  • Lead product development and manage product specifications, ensuring consistency and compliance.

Cooking Process Management & Production Oversight:

  • Oversee day-to-day cooking operations to ensure efficient, high-quality meal production.
  • Implement and refine standardised cooking procedures to maintain meal consistency.
  • Train production team on new recipes and cooking techniques.
  • Work alongside production staff to ensure seamless execution of meals at scale.
  • Troubleshoot cooking process inefficiencies and implement improvements.
  • Define and document cooking methods, ensuring all production staff follow precise procedures.

Food Safety, Labeling & Compliance:

  • Ensure allergen controls, food safety protocols, and HACCP compliance are strictly followed.
  • Oversee correct labelling of all products, ensuring compliance with nutritional and legal regulations.
  • Maintain high standards of kitchen hygiene and sanitation.

Operational & Cross-Department Collaboration:

  • Work closely with the Operations Manager to align kitchen processes with business goals.
  • Collaborate with the procurement team to source high-quality, cost-effective ingredients.
  • Provide feedback to marketing and sales teams on product performance and customer preferences.
  • Ensure clear documentation of recipes, processes, meal specifications, and cooking methods.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

  • Proven experience as a senior chef in a fast-paced kitchen (meal prep, catering, or large-scale food production preferred).
  • Strong background in product development and culinary innovation.
  • Deep understanding of macro-controlled, high-protein meal prep.
  • Hands-on experience managing cooking teams and production lines.
  • Knowledge of food safety regulations, HACCP, and allergen controls.
  • Ability to scale recipes from development to mass production.
  • Excellent leadership, organisation, and communication skills.
  • Passion for healthy, performance-driven nutrition.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

  • Company events
  • Company pension
  • Discounted or free food
  • Employee discount
  • Free parking
  • On-site parking

Schedule:

  • Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate:

  • Warrington WA5 7TN: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Experience:

  • Chef: 5 years (required)

Work Location: In person

Development Chef / Product Lead employer: FuelHub

At FuelHub, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Warrington where innovation and culinary excellence thrive. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through ample career progression opportunities, alongside a supportive culture that values teamwork and creativity. With benefits like company events, free food, and a focus on healthy, performance-driven nutrition, joining our team as a Lead Product Development Chef means being part of a mission to fuel the UK's elite athletes while enjoying a fulfilling and rewarding career.
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Contact Detail:

FuelHub Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Development Chef / Product Lead

✨Tip Number 1

Make sure to showcase your hands-on experience in managing cooking teams and production lines during the interview. Share specific examples of how you've optimized meal production processes in previous roles.

✨Tip Number 2

Familiarize yourself with the latest trends in sports nutrition and meal prep. Being able to discuss innovative ingredients or techniques during your conversation will demonstrate your passion and knowledge in the field.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare to discuss your experience with food safety regulations and HACCP compliance. Highlight any specific instances where you implemented these protocols effectively in a kitchen environment.

✨Tip Number 4

Emphasize your ability to collaborate across departments, especially with nutritionists and procurement teams. Share examples of how you've successfully worked with others to develop high-quality, performance-driven meals.

We think you need these skills to ace Development Chef / Product Lead

Culinary Innovation
High-Protein Meal Development
Macro-Controlled Nutrition
Cooking Process Management
Food Safety Regulations
HACCP Compliance
Recipe Scaling
Quality Control
Team Leadership
Training and Development
Operational Efficiency
Ingredient Sourcing
Cross-Department Collaboration
Communication Skills
Attention to Detail

Some tips for your application 🫡

Understand the Role: Make sure to thoroughly read the job description for the Lead Product Development Chef position at FuelHub. Understand the key responsibilities and required skills, as this will help you tailor your application.

Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV and cover letter, emphasize your experience in product development, culinary innovation, and managing cooking teams. Provide specific examples of high-protein meal prep or large-scale food production you've been involved in.

Showcase Your Passion: FuelHub is looking for someone passionate about healthy, performance-driven nutrition. Make sure to convey your enthusiasm for this field in your application, perhaps by mentioning any relevant projects or personal interests.

Tailor Your Application: Customize your CV and cover letter to reflect the language and values mentioned in the job description. Use keywords related to food safety, HACCP compliance, and culinary excellence to demonstrate your fit for the role.

How to prepare for a job interview at FuelHub

✨Showcase Your Culinary Expertise

Be prepared to discuss your hands-on experience in high-paced kitchens. Highlight specific examples of meal prep, catering, or large-scale food production that demonstrate your ability to innovate and manage cooking processes.

✨Emphasize Collaboration Skills

Since the role involves working closely with nutritionists and other departments, share experiences where you successfully collaborated with others to develop new recipes or improve production efficiency.

✨Demonstrate Knowledge of Food Safety

Familiarize yourself with HACCP regulations and allergen controls. Be ready to discuss how you've implemented food safety protocols in previous roles to ensure compliance and maintain high kitchen hygiene standards.

✨Prepare for Practical Assessments

Expect to showcase your cooking skills during the interview. Practice preparing a high-protein, macro-balanced meal and be ready to explain your process, ingredient choices, and how you ensure consistency and quality.

Development Chef / Product Lead
FuelHub
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  • Development Chef / Product Lead

    Warrington
    Full-Time
    36000 - 60000 £ / year (est.)

    Application deadline: 2027-03-28

  • F

    FuelHub

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