Job Description

Job Title: Development Chef
Location: Monaghan, Ireland
Reports to: Senior Development Chef

About the Role:
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Development Chef to join a growing food manufacturing company in Monaghan. In this role, you will be an integral part of the New Product Development (NPD) team, working closely with various departments to bring new products from concept to launch. This position offers an opportunity to work on innovative food projects, contributing to the development of high-quality products.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the Senior Development Chef to create and refine new product concepts, focusing on customer briefs, innovative ideas, and existing product redevelopment.

• Ensure timely and consistent customer sample submissions, including managing sample requests, documenting all relevant data, and confirming delivery.

• Deliver product presentations, samples, and new product concepts to internal teams, manufacturing, and retail customers.

• Partner with the purchasing team to source new ingredients that align with new product development and innovations.

• Assist with the preparation of approved recipes, raw material sourcing data, recipe costings, and product information sheets.

• Work closely with the technical team, attend update meetings, and ensure that projects progress through the stage gate process.

• Coordinate benchmarking activities for competitor products, including application testing of company products, and recommend improvements.

• Collaborate with the NPD team to define project scopes and briefs based on market research and consumer trends.

• Keep up to date with market trends, consumer preferences, restaurant trends, and competitor activities.

• Ensure the development kitchen adheres to a safe working environment and meets GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) standards.

• Have an understanding of HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) and food safety legislation requirements.

Experience and Knowledge Required:

• Qualification in culinary arts or a related field.

• Experience within a food manufacturing setting.

• Strong project management skills with the ability to work with cross-functional teams to achieve results.

• A passion for food and a commitment to quality.

• Previous experience working in an NPD environment or with food products would be highly beneficial.