Job Advert
Development Chef
Join Our NPD Team at The Compleat Food Group!
We’re excited to offer an excellent opportunity for Development Chef join our dedicated NPD team in Middlesbrough.
About The Compleat Food Group
At The Compleat Food Group, we’re proud to be a food business built on purpose and passion. Formed in 2021, we’re on a mission to create Food to Feel Good - great quality, tasty and affordable food that people love to eat.
We’re home to some of the UK’s most exciting and loved food brands, including Wall’s Pastry, Pork Farms, Wrights, The Real Yorkshire Pudding Co., unearthed, Vadasz, Squeaky Bean, Palace Culture, and Harvey & Brockless. Alongside our branded portfolio, we’re a leading supplier of delicious own‑label pastry, sweet bakery, party food, olives and antipasti, added‑value egg products, continental meats, dips and sauces and plant‑based food to the UK’s major retailers, as well as across foodservice.
With over 6,000 talented colleagues across 17 sites, and an annual turnover of £1.3bn, we’re united by a shared ambition to shape the future of food for the better.
We are backed by European private equity firm PAI Partners.
Working Hours: Monday – Friday: 8am-4pm
Location: Middlesbrough
Salary: £30,000 per annum
Job Purpose
The Development Chef works extremely closely with the wider NPD and Category teams in order to support the development and innovation plan at site. This is done across a multiple customer base for the chilled savoury fried food category. The role involves developing products with a strong drive in innovation, making samples, keeping the kitchen clean and tidy as well as writing and costing recipes. Working in a collaborative manner with the wider development team and other key stakeholders to deliver profitable growth to the Compleat Food Group and its customers.
Key Duties, Responsibilities & Accountabilities
* Effective delivery of the business strategy and customer category plans as directed by the Development Chef &/or Development Controller/ Manager.
* Support in the sites concept NPD/EPD agenda to required cost and within agreed timescales.
* Strong involvement in customer briefs.
* Delivering innovation that translates into concepts that are profitable and fit the market requirements.
* Driving food values for both site and wider business – visually / verbally / displays.
Customer Brief / Customer Presentations
* Interpret varying customer briefs to deliver innovative concepts that meet the customer requirements for product style / QUID / key attributes / legislation/ customer guidelines and customer brand values.
* Work with relevant NPD managers to interpret the brief and split the work between chef and technologist.
* Present concepts internally to site teams and lead senior management presentations when required.
* Responsible for working with purchasing to source new ingredients / prices / min order quantity and raw material specifications.
* Working with the procurement teams responsible for providing Finance all the relevant information to carry out costings.
* Ability to interpret costings and amend products to be commercially viable.
* In conjunction with the NPD managers responsible for gathering all information required for customer presentations including theoretical nutritional / photographs / benchmarks / product descriptions to internal & external customer presentations.
* Confidently present products to customers and support the NPD Managers & Development Manager at presentations/meetings.
* Able to talk confidently about current and future products. Displays product well and appropriately.
Documentation
* Recipe build on Point 74 Recipe Professor system or site finance recipe build documents.
* Help to lead and support site feasibility sessions with expert guidance.
* Manage workload with site kitchen planner and communicate workload to the wider business and culinary function.
* Interpret theoretical nutritional results against guidelines and respond as appropriate.
* Complete relevant benchmarking documentation.
* Complete presentation for food shows/shops visited.
To understand and drive proactive development initiatives which push Production / Technical boundaries
* Support in continuous improvements and identify cost savings in reducing production costs / new ideas and ingredient potential to maximise cost savings and efficiency to both businesses.
* Support in value engineering of ingredients / packaging / processes where required.
* Support in liaising with suppliers to provide process and ingredient improvement.
* Play a key role in driving innovation for site and wider group.
* Challenge factory processes.
Identify new trends and maintain current products to deliver newness to the category. Understanding the Market.
* Involvement in blue sky activity including customer and supplier involvement / researching for site.
* Review the competitive market / comparative shop reports and relevant documentation.
* Support benchmarking panels / conduct as and when required.
* Identifying newness through directional shopping for all sites within the group (shows, local markets, farm shops, restaurant reviews).
* Blue sky development off the brief without definite end point relevant to the category.
* Understand the market at all times and keep abreast of new launches and competitors.
Communication & Team working
* Demonstrate ability to communicate with various teams as required by manager / projects.
* Organise, and attend as necessary project meetings and panels.
* Appropriate communication (written and verbal) to teams and team members.
* To work as part of a team and not by customer head. Projects may be split so working on multi-customers.
* To work alongside development technologists and chefs and be flexible in roles where required across the team – This may involve participating at other sites.
Promote Health and Safety Culture
* Follow all H&S requirements during kitchen and process development work.
* Promote safe working across site and advice immediately on unsafe work practices.
General
* May be required to carry out projects within the Complete Food Group which may require time spent at other sites.
* General office duties.
* Support the organizing of customer visits and always promote strong business food values.
* Continually keep ahead on innovation and the market - communicate with the team.
* Support benchmarking panels.
* May be required to support development chefs in the kitchen as and when required.
* Due to the nature of the role, you may be required to cover weekends and night shifts.
* Work in line with the company’s development processes and procedures.
* Complete necessary PDR’s for any reports.
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
Experience
* Experience within a food development chef role (preferred).
* Strong food experience background.
* Restaurant experience preferred – Rosette +.
* Catering college qualification (not essential).
Key Skills
* Strong cookery skills with flare for innovation.
* Organisation / planning.
* Communicating at different levels of seniority.
* Presentation skills.
* Basic computing skills.
* Team player but can work independently.
Qualities
* A passion for food.
* Enthusiasm to learn and grow.
* Hard working and driven.
Why Join Us?
Financial & Lifestyle Benefits
* Salary Sacrifice Schemes - including Electric Vehicles, Home & Tech, Cycle to Work, and SMART Pension.
* Annual leave (including bank holidays) with the option to purchase extra.
* Holiday Discounts via our online retail platform.
* Access to enhanced retail discounts online and in-store.
* Free product handouts across our sites, so you can sample and enjoy our delicious products first hand.
* EV charging points - available at selected sites.
Health & Wellbeing
* 24/7 access to Grocery Aid for free financial, emotional, and practical support.
* Physical Wellbeing Hub - free on-demand exercise classes, gym discounts.
* Free diet & nutrition advice with access to thousands of healthy recipes.
* Online wellbeing support - from mindfulness to lifestyle resources.
* Financial wellbeing tools - including mortgage calculators, budgeting tools, and financial aid.
Career Growth & Development
* Access to a personalised online learning platform (LMS).
* Formal and informal training opportunities tailored to your role.
* Performance Development Plans and regular Career Conversations.
* Company Mentoring Scheme to add depth and really support your career journey.
* Recognition through Club Compleat rewards.
Community & Culture
* 2 paid volunteering days per year to give back to causes that matter to you.
* Charity initiatives and fundraising events.
* Team socials to connect and celebrate together.
* Employee networks & support groups - including Women @ Compleat.
* New baby gift for new parents.
The Compleat Food Group fosters an inclusive, respectful culture where everyone feels safe, supported, and valued. We welcome diverse talent, knowing it drives exceptional results and a better workplace.
We are committed to Fairness, Equity, Inclusivity, and Respect, we ensure all colleagues can thrive by bringing their whole selves to work. As an equal opportunity’s employer, we provide all the support you need to succeed.
Contact us with any questions about Diversity & Inclusion or accessibility during the application process.
Recruitment Agencies:
We have a small, active and trusted Preferred Supplier List to assist us if required. We do not acknowledge any speculative CVs or unsolicited candidate introductions. We only accept CV submissions for roles released to you directly by our Talent Acquisition team.
If you would be interested in working with us please send a message to recruitment@compleatfood.com
[recruitment@compleatfood.com]
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