Head Development Chef

Absolute Taste are looking for a passionate and experienced Head Development Chef to join the team at our state-of-the-art headquarters in Bicester.

As our Head Development Chef , You will be someone who is positive, self-motivated and focused on customer. You will demonstrate initiative and ownership. Enjoy working collaboratively with colleagues. You will be flexible and adaptable to new challenges and change.

As the Head Development Chef you will be responsible for:

·        Ensure all recipes can be produced on a medium to large-scale volume whilst ensuring consistency

·        Work with our Procurement team to best utilise our national and local suppliers to ensure the sourcing of the best products

·        Lead the NPD team in innovation and development of new recipes with costings from proactive thinking and pushing our own creations and client requests.

·        Monitor trends and develop and evolve recipes in accordance with customer demands and response

·        You will be responsible for managing and maintaining the ongoing development of new and existing quality products – working closely with existing and new customers

·        Take product from concept to launch within the operation’s capabilities

·        Follow meticulously detailed NPD process - ensure all recipes, information and costings are kept updated in line with internal and external tastings as part of ongoing recipe and process development

·        EPD – review current products, update products, process and commercials

·        Work closely with production teams across capabilities – taking new products into production as well as assist with existing products – review process and assist with updating process and or problem solving

·        Work closely with internal teams

·        Working closely with our technical team to conduct shelf life testing and maximise product quality vs shelf life.

·        Sample making - as well as maintaining excellent standards at all times 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

What we are looking for:

·        Min 5 years’ experience as a chef working within quality restaurant/ hotel environment, with at least 2 years Manufacturing (NPD and EPD) experience ideally in both high care and low care food manufacturing environment OR  minimum two years Michelin star experience willing to take on a completely new world

.        Minimum of 1 years' experience in Food Development 

·        Work in fast pace environment with short lead times

·        Ability to work from very specific briefs to blue sky concepts

·        Ability to match products from BOP or Spec Quid’s

·        Must be passionate foody and have outstanding food knowledge and ability to demonstrate natural flair with a good pallet – basically you must love food and cooking!

·        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

·        Good communication skills working closely with customers, chefs, product developers and procurement teams ranging across the hospitality industry

·        Up to date with high street restaurants trends UK and abroad

·        Good customer presentation skills

·        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.

·        In date food safety level 3, ideally 4

Absolute Taste are looking for a passionate and experienced Head Development Chef to join the team at our state-of-the-art headquarters in Bicester.

As our Head Development Chef , You will be someone who is positive, self-motivated and focused on customer. You will demonstrate initiative and ownership. Enjoy working collaboratively with colleagues. You will be flexible and adaptable to new challenges and change.

As the Head Development Chef you will be responsible for:

·        Ensure all recipes can be produced on a medium to large-scale volume whilst ensuring consistency

·        Work with our Procurement team to best utilise our national and local suppliers to ensure the sourcing of the best products

·        Lead the NPD team in innovation and development of new recipes with costings from proactive thinking and pushing our own creations and client requests.

·        Monitor trends and develop and evolve recipes in accordance with customer demands and response

·        You will be responsible for managing and maintaining the ongoing development of new and existing quality products – working closely with existing and new customers

·        Take product from concept to launch within the operation’s capabilities

·        Follow meticulously detailed NPD process - ensure all recipes, information and costings are kept updated in line with internal and external tastings as part of ongoing recipe and process development

·        EPD – review current products, update products, process and commercials

·        Work closely with production teams across capabilities – taking new products into production as well as assist with existing products – review process and assist with updating process and or problem solving

·        Work closely with internal teams

·        Working closely with our technical team to conduct shelf life testing and maximise product quality vs shelf life.

·        Sample making - as well as maintaining excellent standards at all times 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

What we are looking for:

·        Min 5 years’ experience as a chef working within quality restaurant/ hotel environment, with at least 2 years Manufacturing (NPD and EPD) experience ideally in both high care and low care food manufacturing environment OR  minimum two years Michelin star experience willing to take on a completely new world

.        Minimum of 1 years' experience in Food Development 

·        Work in fast pace environment with short lead times

·        Ability to work from very specific briefs to blue sky concepts

·        Ability to match products from BOP or Spec Quid’s

·        Must be passionate foody and have outstanding food knowledge and ability to demonstrate natural flair with a good pallet – basically you must love food and cooking!

·        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

·        Good communication skills working closely with customers, chefs, product developers and procurement teams ranging across the hospitality industry

·        Up to date with high street restaurants trends UK and abroad

·        Good customer presentation skills

·        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.

·        In date food safety level 3, ideally 4