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- Tasks: Lead culinary innovation and develop exciting new food products for our growing brand portfolio.
- Company: Join a fast-growing restaurant startup revolutionising food delivery across the UK.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, share options, hybrid working, and 25 days holiday plus your birthday off.
- Other info: Enjoy a dog-friendly office and monthly socials in a vibrant work culture.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team shaping the future of food with real impact.
- Qualifications: Professional culinary expertise and a passion for food required.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.
Competitive Salary + Bonus + Share Options
Sessions is building the operating model for the future of restaurants, giving consumers instant access to the brands they love, wherever they live. The Sessions distribution engine runs through 400+ delivery kitchens and 16 high street restaurants across the UK. Founded in 2020 and led by ex-Deliveroo MD Dan Warne, Sessions has grown 7x in three years. Our platform has processed over 5 million orders and reaches 60% of the UK population. Our team brings experience from Deliveroo, Amazon, BrewDog, and Gousto. We scale brands at a pace that redefines what's possible in food.
ABOUT THE ROLE
This role sits at the heart of Studio - our creative and culinary hub. The Culinary Development Manager will oversee the development process - ensuring the successful launch of Sessions brands into our network. This role will be responsible for the end to end launch of new brands into our portfolio - ensuring the projects meet key timelines and working closely with all parties (both internal and external) to provide clear, concise updates.
The key area of focus for this role will be:
- New Brand Development: Developing culinary products & processes (working closely with a brand founder where appropriate) to deliver best in class recipes using the most suitable ingredients.
- Being the voice of reason within the room - with our operational constraints in mind (equipment, COGS, feasibility of the menu).
- Working with suppliers alongside the supply chain team to get accurate costings as early as possible to aid menu development.
- Getting the brands ready to launch into host kitchens (all materials and documentation are delivered on time and fully accurate).
- Spending time in host kitchens pre and post launch, ensuring we fully understand how the brand is operating in service and gaining insightful feedback from the hosts.
WHAT WILL YOU DO?
- New Product Development: Manage the development of innovative food products that align with market trends, consumer preferences, and company objectives.
- Trends: Conduct thorough market research and trend analysis to identify opportunities for new product innovation and differentiation.
- Monitor market dynamics, consumer feedback, and competitive landscape to continuously refine brand strategies and enhance market positioning of our brands.
- Culinary Excellence: Uphold rigorous quality standards throughout the product development process, ensuring that all Sessions products meet or exceed industry benchmarks.
- Training Materials / Brand Guidelines: Develop and update all required materials - SOPs (menu, recipes, suppliers, packaging, COGS, allergens) including management of Apicbase) working closely with the Culinary Learning & Development Manager.
- Relationship Management: Collaborate closely with both internal teams including procurement, brand, and supply chain to bring new products from concept to live efficiently.
- Data Obsessed: Owning the performance of brands once live to continuously monitor menu views, conversion, review data and key performance indicators and tweak accordingly.
REQUIREMENTS
- Professional culinary expertise
- Charismatic and energetic with a passion for food
- Expert level of English language
- Right to work in the UK
BENEFITS & PERKS
- Share Options - Receive an amount of share options for Sessions Market Ltd.
- Pay day on demand - Access to pay whenever needed.
- Expense card - Company Card.
- Finance Platform - Access to 'Mintago', Financial Wellbeing Platform.
- Hybrid Working - up to 2 days working remotely per week.
- Holidays - 25 days + bank holidays + Birthday Off.
- Employee Assistance Programme - Support for mental health and legal services.
- Socials - Monthly socials.
- Dog Friendly - We love our fluffy pals, they're welcome in the office!
- Wear what you like - No suits and ties please, that's so 18th century....
- Laptop - Apple Mac.
- Phone - Apple iPhone and company sim provided.
Progression & Development
High Growth Start Up - This is a great chance to be part of a growing company with plenty of progression opportunities, responsibility from day 1. Be Inspired - Learn from a team that's scaled some of the UK's biggest consumer companies. Membership & Qualifications - Sessions have helped support a number of our employees by providing funds for work-based qualifications and memberships. Sessions are a living wage and equal opportunity employer. All applicants are reviewed 'anonymously' where only work experience and education will be available for the hiring manager to view - all applicants will be considered for employment without attention to ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, family or parental status, national origin, veteran, neurodiversity status or disability status.
Culinary Development Manager employer: Sessions
Contact Detail:
Sessions Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Culinary Development Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the culinary world. Attend industry events, join online forums, or even hit up social media groups. 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’ve got a portfolio of your work, whether it’s recipes, photos, or videos, make sure to share it during interviews or networking events. It’s a great way to demonstrate your expertise and passion for food.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job postings to pop up. Reach out directly to companies you admire, like Sessions, and express your interest. A well-crafted email can go a long way in getting your foot in the door.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its brands. Understand their culinary philosophy and be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their growth. Tailoring your approach shows you’re genuinely interested and ready to jump in!
We think you need these skills to ace Culinary Development Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food: When writing your application, let your love for culinary arts shine through! Share specific examples of your experience and how it aligns with our mission at Sessions. We want to see that you’re not just a culinary expert, but someone who truly cares about creating amazing food experiences.
Be Clear and Concise: We appreciate straightforward communication, so make sure your application is easy to read. Use bullet points where necessary and keep your sentences short and to the point. This will help us quickly understand your skills and how you can contribute to our team.
Tailor Your Application: Don’t just send a generic application! Take the time to tailor your CV and cover letter to the Culinary Development Manager role. Highlight relevant experiences and skills that match the job description. We love seeing candidates who take the extra step to connect their background with what we’re looking for.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows us that you’re proactive and keen to join our team at Sessions!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sessions
✨Know Your Culinary Trends
Before the interview, dive deep into current culinary trends and market dynamics. Be prepared to discuss how these trends can influence new product development at Sessions. Showing that you’re data-obsessed and aware of consumer preferences will definitely impress.
✨Showcase Your Collaborative Spirit
This role requires working closely with various teams, so highlight your experience in collaboration. Prepare examples of past projects where you successfully managed relationships with suppliers or internal teams, ensuring smooth processes from concept to launch.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Quality Standards
Sessions prides itself on culinary excellence, so be ready to talk about how you maintain quality throughout the product development process. Share specific instances where you upheld rigorous standards and how you ensured that products met industry benchmarks.
✨Prepare Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, have a few thoughtful questions ready. Ask about the challenges they face in brand development or how they measure the success of new launches. This shows your genuine interest in the role and the company’s future.