NPD Development Chef
Location: Derrylin, Co. FermanaghSalary: Up to £60,000 DOEJob Type: Permanent | Full-Time
We are recruiting for an experienced and creative NPD Development Chef to join a leading food manufacturing business based in Derrylin, Co. Fermanagh.
This is an exciting opportunity for a passionate food professional to play a key role in developing innovative products for major retail and foodservice customers. Working within a fast-paced, commercially focused environment, you will help bring exciting new food concepts from initial ideas through to successful production and launch.
The successful candidate will combine strong culinary creativity with a practical understanding of food manufacturing, product development and current consumer trends.
Top 3 Things to Know About This Job
Excellent Salary – Competitive package of up to £60,000 for the right candidate.
Innovation & Creativity – Take ownership of exciting NPD projects, developing new products for leading retail and foodservice customers.
Career Opportunity – Join an established and growing food manufacturer with a strong focus on product innovation, quality and continuous improvement.
The Role
Develop innovative new food products, recipes and concepts in line with customer briefs, market trends and business objectives.
Lead hands-on product development, from initial kitchen trials and recipe creation through to factory trials and commercial production.
Create and refine recipes, ensuring consistency in flavour, texture, appearance and overall product quality.
Work closely with NPD, Technical, Production and Commercial teams to ensure successful product development and launches.
Conduct product benchmarking, competitor analysis and market research to identify new trends and opportunities.
Prepare product samples and deliver presentations and tastings for internal stakeholders and customers.
Ensure new products meet agreed cost, quality, nutritional and technical requirements.
Support factory trials and product scale-up, ensuring recipes can be consistently reproduced in a high-volume manufacturing environment.
Identify opportunities to improve existing product ranges through recipe innovation, quality enhancements and cost optimisation.
Maintain high standards of food safety, hygiene and allergen management throughout the development process.
The Person
Previous experience as an NPD Chef, Development Chef, Innovation Chef or Product Development Chef, ideally within food manufacturing.
Strong culinary skills with a genuine passion for food innovation and recipe development.
Experience developing products for retail, foodservice or large-scale commercial production.
A background in bakery, pizza, flatbreads, chilled foods or related product categories would be particularly advantageous.
Good understanding of food manufacturing processes and the challenges associated with scaling recipes for production.
Strong awareness of emerging food trends, consumer preferences and competitor products.
Excellent communication and presentation skills, with confidence presenting products to customers and internal teams.
Commercial awareness, with an understanding of ingredient costs, product specifications and development timelines.
Creative, organised and hands-on, with the ability to manage multiple development projects.
What’s on Offer?
Salary up to £60,000, depending on experience.
Opportunity to work on exciting new product development projects.
Exposure to major retail and foodservice customers.
A creative role with the opportunity to influence future product ranges.
Join a well-established food manufacturer with continued investment in innovation and development.
Opportunity to develop your career within a growing business.
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