Development Chef

Overview

We are an innovative culinary and customer service provider, dedicated to delivering inspirational food and experiences that redefine customer satisfaction. With a commitment to excellence and a passion for pushing boundaries, we continue to grow from strength to strength.

As a small, dynamic team of event professionals, we specialize in creating exciting, well-managed, and sustainable events, while fostering strong working relationships. We're looking for individuals who share our fun, resilient, and hardworking values to join our supportive, high-performing team.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a highly regarded organisation dedicated to success and a positive, empowering culture.

About The Role

We are seeking an experienced Junior Development Chef with strong Food Service and Hospitality experience. You'll play a key role in shaping, testing, and elevating dishes that deliver the premium, guest focused experience we're known for.

Work Location: Bicester

As a Junior Development Chef your key responsibilities will be:

• Working with our NPD Head Chef to create new, seasonal menu propositions for our travel clients, considering production, regeneration of the food and shelf-life restrictions
• Ensure all recipes can be produced on a medium to large-scale volume with keeping consistency
• Optimising ingredients and procedures to minimize human inaccuracies
• Work with local suppliers to ensure the sourcing of fresh ingredients for the business
• Supporting with typing up of recipes and costings where required
• Monitor trends and develop recipes in accordance with customer demands and response
• Maintaining the ongoing development of new and existing quality products - working closely with existing and new customers
• Support with taking product from concept to launch with in the operation's current capabilities
• Basic understanding of food cost, knowledge of high-cost ingredients versus lower costs
• Work closely with production teams across capabilities - taking new products into production as well as assist on existing products - review process and assist with updating process and or problem solving
• Work closely with Procurement, Technical team & commercial team/ account managers
• Conduct Shelf-life testing
• Sample making, as well as always maintain excellent standards in NPD kitchen, you will also be involved in collection of ingredients and day-to-day housekeeping.
• Define, implement, and monitor process to ensure compliance to all health and regulation requirements
• Managing and updating knowledge management systems in line with the quality standards and protocols
• Customer facing - from product presentations to cooking and presenting lunches/ dinners for clients - a natural good host making a mean cup of tea!

What We Are Looking For:

• Min 1 years' experience as a chef
• Work in fast-paced environment with short lead times
• Ability to work from very specific briefs
• Must be a passionate foodie and have outstanding food knowledge and ability to demonstrate natural flair with a good pallet - basically you must love food and cooking!
• Have the ability to bring whole concepts together as well as working on silo products
• Ability to quickly learn the capabilities of the current operation and work alongside the capabilities when developing products for our demanding customers
• Must have an eye for detail and with good organization skills
• Good all-round knowledge of cuisines from around the world
• Good all-round knowledge of various cooking techniques and production processes
• Up to date with latest food trends and innovative food orientated mindset
• Ability to work on own projects as well as part of a team on larger projects
• Problem solving, think on feet
• Computer literate with a working knowledge of Microsoft excel, PowerPoint and word.

Why Join Us

Join a fast-growing and innovative company that is redefining customer experiences in the culinary and event space. We offer an empowering team culture, the opportunity to work on exciting, well-managed events, and a supportive, resilient team environment.

We are committed to supporting your career growth with thorough training and ongoing development.

You can also enjoy benefits such as:

• 25 Days holiday + Bank Holiday
• Company Pension Scheme
• Life Assurance

If you're ready to make an impact in a fast-paced environment and contribute to the success of Absolute Taste, apply today and join our team!

We are committed to being an equal opportunities employer.