Junior Development Chef

Junior Development Chef 

Are you passionate about food and love to innovate with flavours? Are you bursting with creative ideas and eager to learn? If so, we've got a fantastic opportunity for you at The Compleat Food Group, based in Market Drayton, to join our Culinary Innovation Team. 

Who We Are:

At The Compleat Food Group we’re not just serving up great food, we’re creating an environment where our people can thrive. As one of the leading chilled prepared food manufacturers in the UK food industry, we believe that our employees are the secret ingredient to our success. We’re passionate about fostering a culture where quality, innovation, collaboration, and personal growth are at the forefront. 

Location: Palethorpes Bakery, Market Drayton, TF9 3AL

Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 – 17:00 (some flexibility may be required)

Salary: £28,000 per annum. 

Contract: Full time, permanent 

Purpose:

The Junior Development Chef works closely with the wider New Product Development (NPD) and Category teams to support the development of products and innovation plan at site. This is done across a multiple customer base of top UK retailers for the chilled savoury pastry category.  

Your Duties Will Include:

• Support New Product Development (NPD) and Existing Product Development (EPD) to required cost and timescales
• Assist on varying customer briefs to create and deliver innovative products that meet customer and market requirements
• Assist recipe building and formulation against guidelines
• Support the effective delivery of the business strategy and customer category plans as directed by the Senior Development Chef
• Gather information required and present products to customers and internal site teams
• Support continuous improvement initiatives which push factory production and Technical boundaries to maximise cost savings and efficiency
• Identify new trends and maintain current products to deliver newness to the category by understanding the market.
• Communicate with teams including NPD, purchasing and finance to interpret briefs, source new ingredients and carry out costings
• Promote health and safety culture across the site and follow health and safety requirements during kitchen and process development work
• Work alongside development technologists and chefs through travel to other sites when required

Requirements:

• Looking to start or continue career as a Development Chef
• A genuine passion for food!
• Previous experience working with food e.g. restaurants, hotels, food manufacturing 
• Formal qualification in food, culinary or catering (desirable) 
• Valid driving licence due to occasional expectation to travel to our other sites across the UK 

Key Skills: 

• Strong cookery skills with flare for innovation and creativity
• Organisation and planning
• Communicating at different levels of seniority
• Presentation skills
• Basic computing skills 
• Team player but can work independently

Qualities:

• Enthusiasm to learn and grow
• Hard working and driven
• Eager to progress

Benefits to Include:

• 33 days annual leave 
• 2 Employee Volunteering Days per year
• Online and High-street retailer discount scheme and well-being portal
• Employee well-being and community support groups
• Charity Initiatives and Team events
• 24/7 Access to Grocery Aid

The Compleat Food Group are proud to have built an inclusive and respectful culture where our colleagues feel safe, supported and valued. A place where they can bring their whole selves to work to achieve exceptional results and thrive.

We continue to attract diverse talent into our teams, because we know greater diversity leads to exceptional results and provides a better working life. That’s why we’re committed to ensuring Fairness, Equity, Inclusivity, and Respect in all that we do. 

Recruitment Agencies: We have an active and trusted Preferred Supplier List to assist us if required. We do not acknowledge any speculative CVs or unsolicited candidate introductions from agencies.