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- Tasks: Lead recipe development and testing in our innovative test kitchen.
- Company: Join The Salad Project, London's mission-driven salad bar.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, benefits, and free salads daily!
- Why this job: Make a real impact on healthy fast food with your culinary creativity.
- Qualifications: 2 years of experience in recipe development and multi-site operations.
- Other info: Collaborate with a passionate team and grow in a dynamic environment.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Location: London
Type: Full-time
About The Salad Project
At The Salad Project, we’re on a mission to become the most iconic salad bar in London - serving food that’s fast, fresh, and seriously delicious. We believe in food that fuels you, kitchens that care, and people who want to make an impact. We’re growing quickly and looking for a Development Chef to join our Culinary Team, working alongside our Culinary Director and Culinary Executive to develop, test, and implement the next generation of The Salad Project recipes.
The Role
This is a hands-on role for a chef who thrives at the intersection of creativity, consistency, and customer insight. Reporting to the Culinary Director, you’ll take ownership of our test kitchen and spend most of your time developing recipes, refining them for scale, and ensuring they perform brilliantly in our site kitchens. You’ll play a key role in keeping our menu evolving - testing new ideas, responding to guest feedback, and making sure our food always outperforms competitors on taste, freshness, and quality.
What You’ll Do
- Own our test kitchen: Lead all testing, trials, and development sessions, ensuring every new idea aligns with The Salad Project’s brand and standards.
- Turn ideas into reality: Translate creative concepts into detailed recipes and operational specs ready for rollout.
- Champion consistency: Work in-site to validate that recipes are scalable, efficient, and deliver consistent results.
- Respond to customer feedback: Action customer and operational feedback to refine existing dishes and continuously improve the menu.
- Benchmark the market: Work with the wider Culinary team to stay ahead of trends and competitors - understanding how to elevate our offer through flavour, innovation, and presentation.
- Collaborate cross-functionally: Partner with the Culinary Director, Culinary Executive, Operations, and Training teams to bring new dishes to life across the business.
- Drive quality and efficiency: Support teams during launches, provide kitchen training, and maintain clarity through detailed documentation and recipe cards.
Who You Are
A Development Chef, Senior Sous, or NPD Chef with 2 years’ experience in recipe development and multi-site operations. You’ve worked in or with QSRs, fast casual brands, or high-volume kitchens and know how to balance creativity with scalability. You’re obsessed with flavour, detail, and process - from testing and documentation to training and launch. You’re responsive and data-driven - you use guest and operator feedback to make dishes even better. You’re collaborative, curious, and competitive - motivated to make The Salad Project the category leader in taste and consistency.
Why Join Us
Be part of a fast-growing, mission-driven brand redefining what healthy fast food can be. Take ownership of our test kitchen and the development process from idea to execution. Collaborate with an experienced, ambitious culinary team where your ideas have real impact. Competitive salary and benefits package, including free salads every day!
Locations
Development Chef in City of London, London employer: The Salad Project
Contact Detail:
The Salad Project Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Development Chef in City of London, London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the culinary industry, especially those who work at places you admire. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you’ve got a killer recipe or a unique dish idea, don’t hesitate to share it on social media or food blogs. This not only showcases your creativity but also gets you noticed by potential employers.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Instead of waiting for job openings, reach out directly to companies you’re interested in, like The Salad Project. Express your passion and ask if they have any upcoming opportunities.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare for interviews by practising your pitch. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their mission and how you can contribute to their culinary team. Confidence is key!
We think you need these skills to ace Development Chef in City of London, London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food: When writing your application, let your love for food shine through! Share your culinary journey and what excites you about creating fresh, delicious recipes. We want to see your personality and passion for the industry!
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in recipe development and multi-site operations. We’re looking for someone who knows how to balance creativity with scalability, so be specific about your past roles and achievements that align with this.
Be Data-Driven: Don’t forget to mention how you’ve used customer feedback to improve dishes in the past. We value a data-driven approach, so share examples of how you’ve responded to feedback and made changes that enhanced the menu.
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 don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, we love seeing applications come in through our own platform!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Salad Project
✨Know Your Ingredients
Before the interview, brush up on your knowledge of ingredients and flavour profiles. Be ready to discuss how you can creatively combine them to develop exciting new recipes that align with The Salad Project's mission.
✨Showcase Your Process
Prepare to explain your recipe development process in detail. Highlight how you ensure consistency and scalability in your dishes, as well as how you incorporate customer feedback into your creations.
✨Stay Ahead of Trends
Research current food trends and competitors in the fast-casual dining space. Be prepared to share your insights on how The Salad Project can elevate its menu through innovation and presentation.
✨Collaborative Spirit
Emphasise your ability to work cross-functionally. Share examples of how you've successfully collaborated with other teams in the past, and express your enthusiasm for partnering with the Culinary Director and Executive to bring new dishes to life.