At a Glance
- Tasks: Create innovative food concepts and lead culinary events for Tyson Foods.
- Company: Join a leading global food company with a passion for culinary excellence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid work model, and opportunities for travel across Europe.
- Other info: Dynamic role with significant impact on product development and brand representation.
- Why this job: Be the creative force behind exciting food trends and engage with top brands.
- Qualifications: Culinary degree and 5 years of experience in high-quality kitchens required.
The Senior Development Chef role is a unique and highly visible position within Tyson Foods International Business Unit, spanning our UK & EU commercial channels focused on Added-Value Poultry. You are responsible for both product activation and being the creative spark for front-end concept ideation, connecting consumer insights and real-time market trends into targeted prototypes.
The Senior Development Chef is responsible for researching, planning, coordinating and delivering tailored, engaging customer experiences through inspiring food storytelling that illustrates the menu potential and diversity of our portfolio. The role is central to showcasing our pan-European Tyson Branded Foodservice range with branded events, international trade fairs, and digital content. You will also be the Culinary-facing lead actively collaborating with our strategic International Quick-Service Restaurant and Organised Foodservice client base.
The role requires a passionate culinarian, to draw inspiration from consumer insights, market trends, cross-category pollination, competitive set, and culinary experiences, converting them into meaningful menu development and new product ideation.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Recognised Culinary Ambassador for Tyson Foods Europe (TFE) representing our Brand and strategic clients Brands with passion and expertise.
- Driving a foodie culture within the Research & Development (R&D) Team and across the business.
- Continuing to build the Pride and Confidence in our Tyson Brand, integrated supply-chain and 3rd-party capabilities.
- Creating inspiring, targeted menu development solutions, food demonstrations and building our digital platform.
- Leading engaging culinary events and presentations including:
- Tyson Brand product showcases
- International and large-scale food exhibitions
- Tailored client-specific presentations
- Culinary training of product unique-selling-points (USPs) for Sales, Marketing and Distributor partners.
- On-site Team and Leadership events.
- Providing Culinary Leadership and establishing TFE as the go-to expert for inspiration and collaboration.
- Representing TFE working collaboratively with the supplier-base of International QSR Brands.
- Collaborating with international food ingredient suppliers to build product concept ideation and front-end prototypes.
- Supporting R&D Team sharing best-practice, coaching, delivering educational and inspirational presentations.
- Shaping Product Development Strategy:
- Collaborating with Marketing, Commercial and R&D to align on targeted food innovation opportunities.
- Support Research & Development of new opportunities through propositional development.
- Considered concept and menu development ideas considering cuisines, equipment, point-of-sale, menu analysis, real-time market research and trend analysis, market insights infeed.
Education:
- Formal education Culinary Arts (BA), Culinary Industry Management (BA), Food Science (BSc).
Work Experience:
- Professional Chef with 5-years progressive experience within high-quality restaurant, hospitality, or commercial kitchen pedigree (e.g. Michelin, 5-star).
- Proven track-record of consumer insight driven product ideation concept development and ownership.
- Proven track-record of cross-functional collaboration within a Food Manufacturing environment.
- Passion for food, quick-service and organised foodservice brands, consumer behaviour and experiences.
- Knowledge of nutrition and nutritional development.
- Confident, energetic oral and visual presentation skills to both external and internal audiences.
- Comprehensive understanding of Microsoft programmes including Outlook, Teams, Powerpoint, Excel.
- Food hygiene and food-safety management certification.
- Excellent culinary skills and butchery knowledge.
- Proactive mindset driven to improve working methodologies and embracing technology.
- Travel 40% (UK & EU bias, APAC, US).
- Full Driving License.
Not eligible for visa sponsorship now or in the future. Not eligible for relocation assistance.
Senior Development Chef (UK)- Hybrid in Ashford employer: Tyson Foods
At Tyson Foods, we pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment that empowers our employees to thrive. As a Coordinator R&D in our vibrant Innovation Hub, you will enjoy opportunities for professional growth while contributing to exciting product development initiatives. Our commitment to hygiene, safety, and continuous improvement ensures that you will be part of a team that values excellence and creativity in the heart of the UK.
