An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Development Chef to join a fast-paced FMCG food manufacturing business supplying branded and private-label products to leading Irish and European retailers.
This is a hands-on, creative role focused on developing high-quality, innovative food products from kitchen concept through to factory scale-up.
Working closely with the NPD, Technical and Commercial teams, you will play a key role in bringing new ideas to life and translating customer briefs into commercially viable, manufacturable products.
Key Responsibilities Develop and create new food concepts, recipes, and product prototypes in line with customer and market briefs Support NPD and EPD projects from early concept through to factory trials and launch Work closely with NPD Technologists and NPD Account Managers to ensure concepts can be scaled for commercial production Prepare samples for internal reviews, customer presentations, and retailer meetings Lead and support factory trials, ensuring recipe integrity and quality is maintained during scale-up Modify and refine recipes to improve taste, texture, shelf life, cost, and manufacturability Maintain high standards of food safety, hygiene, and allergen control within the development kitchen Keep up to date with food trends, ingredients, flavours, and consumer preferences Support continuous improvement and innovation within the product development function The Ideal Candidate Professionally trained chef or food professional with experience in product development, manufacturing, or high-volume catering Experience working in an FMCG, food manufacturing, or retail-focused environment Strong understanding of recipe development, ingredients, and cooking processes Ability to translate kitchen recipes into scalable manufacturing processes Creative, organised, and commercially minded Comfortable working in a fast-paced, customer-driven environment Excellent communication skills and able to work cross-functionally Exposure to factory trials and product scale-up Understanding of food safety, allergens, and shelf-life management Experience working on retailer-led NPD or private-label products Familiarity with specification, costing, and recipe management systems
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