Full Time Head of Culinary Development Job
A rare and exciting opportunity has opened for a Head of Culinary Development to join one of the UK’s most respected catering teams. This senior role is ideal for a chef with strong creative vision, development experience, and the leadership skills to turn brilliant ideas into outstanding culinary experiences.
Reporting directly to the Culinary Director, you will lead the development, costing, documentation, and delivery of all dishes across events and product lines. You’ll collaborate with head chefs, production teams, and client-facing colleagues to ensure every dish is executed to the highest standard – from concept to plate.
Key Responsibilities
Culinary Innovation & Development
Create, test, and cost seasonal and bespoke menus for high-end events
Develop canapés, plated dishes, and food stall concepts to meet creative and commercial goals
Build clear spec sheets with photography, recipes, and allergen details
Collaborate with marketing to capture dish photography and content throughout the year
Deliver client tastings and presentations in a confident, client-facing capacity
Production & Consistency
Run tasting workshops with the kitchen brigade and ensure new menus are well understood
Train chefs on dish execution and scaling methods
Work closely with external chefs and collaborators to bring unique menus to life
Attend select events to oversee execution and gather feedback
Product Lines
Develop seasonal menus for various business arms (e.g., retail, delivery, or casual formats)
Ensure all dishes are scalable and documented with full allergen tracking
Prepare menus and tasting decks well ahead of deadlines for team and client review
General Leadership
Live and champion the company’s core values of sustainability, local sourcing, and culinary excellence
Support sales and events teams by understanding briefs and designing dishes that align with the client’s vision
Document and follow up on all tastings to ensure clarity and quality in final delivery
Hygiene, Safety & Compliance
Maintain full compliance with hygiene and food safety standards both in the central kitchen and on-site
Ensure accurate allergen documentation for all recipes
Contribute to internal audits and uphold an FSA 5-star hygiene rating
Identify and address any potential hazards in equipment or kitchen practices
Performance Measures
Client feedback and satisfaction
Timely delivery of menus and dishes to set deadlines
Achievement of gross profit targets
Compliance with kitchen documentation and reporting standards
Monitoring & Development
Regular reviews with the senior kitchen team
Full-year and mid-year performance appraisals
Ideal Candidate Profile
Extensive experience in culinary development or executive chef roles within high-end catering or restaurants
Exceptional palate, plating skills, and passion for British heritage cuisine with a modern touch
Strong knowledge of costing, allergens, and scaling production
Confident communicator with experience delivering tastings and working closely with clients
Skilled in team training and process documentation
Salary: £70,000 GPA plus Benefits