At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead food innovation and develop scalable, delivery-first menus for a fast-growing food brand.
- Company: Join a dynamic food brand incubator revolutionising the delivery food scene in the UK.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus potential, and flexible working arrangements.
- Why this job: Shape the future of food with real ownership and direct influence on exciting new brands.
- Qualifications: 3+ years in food development or culinary innovation with a commercial mindset.
- Other info: Fast-paced environment with opportunities for growth and collaboration with founders.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 70000 £ per year.
A GBP 60,000 - A GBP 70,000 DOE + bonus
The business:
They are a fast scaling food brand incubator building restaurant quality, delivery first food brands across the UK. Operating through a growing network of partner kitchens on platforms such as Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat, everything is designed for scale with smart menus, tight systems and food that travels well. All food innovation happens under one roof with a development kitchen, testing kitchen, central production and HQ, allowing ideas to move quickly from concept to launch. As the business continues to grow, they are now looking for a Head of Food to bring ownership, structure and pace to the food pipeline. This is not a purely creative chef role, but a commercial food innovation leadership position within a data led, high growth business.
Why join?
- Real ownership: this role shapes the food strategy
- Speed and impact: ideas turn into live menus fast
- Founder exposure: direct influence on the business
- Growth journey: help build the next generation of food brands
The role:
This is a senior, hands on position with real influence. You will own the full food journey from early ideas through to scalable, production ready menus rolled out across multiple kitchens. You will work closely with operations, production, data and onboarding to make sure every dish is:
- Commercially viable
- Easy to execute
- Consistent at scale
- Built for delivery
You will owe decisions, processes and standards.
What you will be responsible for:
- Building and evolving multiple delivery first food brands
- Leading menu innovation and seasonal refreshes
- Owning the development and testing kitchens
- Turning chef-led ideas into scalable, CPU-friendly products
- Ensuring strong margins, consistency and operational fit
- Working closely with production to ensure smooth execution
- Using data to guide decisions: what to build, fix, improve or stop
- Creating clear specs, recipes, costings and documentation
- Bringing structure, clarity and pace to food development
What they are looking for:
- 3+ years in food development, NPD, culinary innovation or food operations
- Strong experience with delivery, QSR or scalable food formats
- Solid understanding of commercial kitchens and food production
- A balance of creativity and discipline
- Commercial mindset: you care about margins, waste and performance
- Comfortable working closely with founders
- Organised, decisive and clear in your communication
- Happy working at pace with multiple projects live at once
Working pattern:
- 4 days per week onsite (kitchens are key)
- 1 day per week working from home
Head of Food Innovation in West Drayton employer: TipTopJob
Contact Detail:
TipTopJob Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Food Innovation in West Drayton
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts, attend food innovation 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
Showcase your passion for food innovation! Create a portfolio that highlights your previous projects, menu innovations, and any data-driven successes. This will help us see your hands-on experience and how you can bring value to our team.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by understanding our business model and the delivery-first approach. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to building scalable food brands and share your ideas on menu innovation that aligns with our vision.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our fast-growing team and making an impact in the food industry.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Food Innovation in West Drayton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food Innovation: When writing your application, let your love for food innovation shine through! Share specific examples of how you've contributed to menu development or culinary projects in the past. We want to see your enthusiasm and creativity in action!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to describe your experience and skills, especially those that align with the role. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see why you're a great fit!
Highlight Your Commercial Mindset: Since this role is all about balancing creativity with commercial viability, make sure to mention any experience you have with margins, waste management, or performance metrics. Show us how you can think like a business leader while still being a culinary innovator!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s the quickest way for us to receive your application and start the conversation about how you can help shape our food strategy!
How to prepare for a job interview at TipTopJob
✨Know Your Food Innovation
Make sure you’re well-versed in the latest trends in food innovation and delivery formats. Research the company’s existing brands and think about how you can contribute to their growth. Be ready to discuss specific examples of your past work in food development and how it aligns with their vision.
✨Showcase Your Commercial Mindset
This role requires a balance of creativity and commercial awareness. Prepare to discuss how you've successfully managed margins, waste, and performance in previous roles. Bring data or case studies that demonstrate your ability to make decisions based on financial viability and operational fit.
✨Demonstrate Strong Communication Skills
As a Head of Food, you’ll need to communicate effectively with various teams. Practice articulating your ideas clearly and concisely. Think about how you can convey complex concepts in a straightforward manner, especially when discussing menu innovations and operational processes.
✨Prepare for Fast-Paced Scenarios
Given the nature of the business, be ready to discuss how you handle multiple projects simultaneously. Think of examples where you’ve thrived under pressure and maintained quality while working at pace. This will show that you can keep up with their dynamic environment.