At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead menu innovation and development to create exciting food experiences.
- Company: Join a nationally recognised hospitality and retail business with a vibrant culture.
- Benefits: Up to £55,000 salary, hybrid working, generous leave, and employee discounts.
- Other info: Enjoy ongoing professional development and health support programmes.
- Why this job: Shape the future of food offerings and delight customers with your creativity.
- Qualifications: Experience in food development and strong culinary knowledge required.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 55000 £ per year.
Are you passionate about creating food experiences that customers love? We're recruiting for an experienced Menu Innovation & Development Manager to join a nationally recognised hospitality and retail business with a large multi-site restaurant operation across the UK. This is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of menu strategy, product development and innovation, shaping a food offer that delights customers while delivering commercial success. You'll play a pivotal role in developing seasonal menus, identifying emerging food trends and ensuring every menu launch is operationally achievable across a diverse estate.
If you're equally comfortable creating inspiring food concepts, analysing margin performance and collaborating with operational teams, this could be the perfect next step in your career.
The OpportunityReporting into senior leadership, you'll lead the end-to-end menu development process, taking concepts from idea through to successful launch. You'll work closely with operations, supply chain, finance and food safety teams to ensure menus are innovative, commercially viable and consistently executed across multiple locations.
Key responsibilities include:- Developing seasonal menus and food concepts that drive customer engagement and revenue growth.
- Leading the menu development process from concept creation through to implementation.
- Monitoring food and beverage trends, customer preferences and competitor activity to keep the offer fresh and relevant.
- Creating scalable recipes and preparation methods that deliver consistency across a multi-site operation.
- Managing menu costings and margin performance, identifying opportunities to improve profitability.
- Working with suppliers to source innovative products, manage substitutions and optimise costs.
- Ensuring recipe specifications, allergen information and menu data are accurately maintained within menu management systems.
- Supporting successful menu launches through training materials, operational guides and stakeholder engagement.
- Building strong relationships across operational, commercial and support teams to drive alignment and execution.
- Coaching and influencing key stakeholders to continuously improve food quality, standards and customer experience.
We're looking for a commercially aware food professional who combines creativity with strong operational understanding. You'll ideally have:
- Experience in food development, menu innovation or product development within hospitality, foodservice or retail.
- Strong culinary knowledge with the ability to develop recipes that are both appealing and operationally practical.
- Experience managing multi-site menu launches and food development projects.
- Excellent commercial awareness with a strong understanding of food costing, margins and profitability.
- Knowledge of food safety, allergen management and compliance requirements.
- Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Experience working cross-functionally with operations, finance, procurement and supply chain teams.
- Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
- A passion for food trends, customer experience and continuous improvement.
Salary up to £55,000. Hybrid working model. Generous annual leave allowance. Enhanced pension scheme. Employee discounts across food, retail and hospitality offerings. Ongoing professional development and funded learning opportunities. Health and wellbeing support programmes. Access to company events and colleague engagement initiatives. The opportunity to shape the future direction of a nationally recognised food operation.
If you're ready to combine creativity, commercial thinking and operational excellence to deliver an outstanding customer food experience, we'd love to hear from you.
Menu Development Manager in Dunfermline employer: Olympus Recruitment Ltd
Join a nationally recognised hospitality and retail business that values creativity and innovation in menu development. With a hybrid working model, generous benefits, and a strong focus on employee growth, this company fosters a collaborative work culture where your culinary expertise can thrive. You'll have the opportunity to shape exciting food experiences while enjoying professional development and a supportive environment across multiple locations.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Menu Development Manager in Dunfermline
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts, attend food and hospitality events, and connect with people 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 passion for food! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, share your ideas about menu innovation and trends. Let them see your enthusiasm and creativity – it could set you apart from the competition.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company’s current menu and recent launches. Bring fresh ideas to the table that align with their brand. This shows you’re not just interested in the role, but also invested in their success.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our brand.
We think you need these skills to ace Menu Development Manager in Dunfermline
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food:When writing your application, let your love for food shine through! Share your experiences and ideas about menu innovation and how you can create memorable food experiences that customers will adore.
Be Specific About Your Experience:We want to know what you've done in the past! Highlight your experience with menu development, especially any multi-site projects. Use examples that showcase your culinary knowledge and operational skills.
Demonstrate Your Commercial Awareness:Make sure to mention your understanding of food costing and profitability. We’re looking for someone who can balance creativity with commercial success, so show us how you’ve done this before!
Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic application! Tailor your CV and cover letter to match the job description. Mention specific responsibilities from the role and how your skills align with them. And remember, apply through our website for the best chance!
How to prepare for a job interview at Olympus Recruitment Ltd
✨Know Your Menus Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the company's current menu offerings. Familiarise yourself with their seasonal dishes and any recent innovations. This will not only show your passion for food but also demonstrate your understanding of their brand and customer preferences.
✨Showcase Your Creativity
Prepare to discuss your previous experiences in menu development. Bring examples of successful dishes or concepts you've created, and be ready to explain how they drove customer engagement and revenue growth. Highlight your ability to blend creativity with operational practicality.
✨Understand the Numbers
Brush up on your knowledge of food costing and margin performance. Be prepared to discuss how you’ve managed costs in past roles and how you can contribute to profitability. This will show that you’re not just a creative mind but also commercially savvy.
✨Build Relationships
Emphasise your experience working cross-functionally with various teams. Share examples of how you’ve collaborated with operations, finance, and supply chain to ensure successful menu launches. Strong stakeholder management skills are key, so be ready to discuss how you’ve influenced and coached others.