Kitchen Manager & Brand Development Chef

About the roleAre you passionate about food and innovation?

Do you thrive in a dynamic environment where your skills can drive creativity and deliver exceptional results?

If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you to join our Innovation team as the Kitchen Manager & Brand Development Chef.

In this hybrid role, you'll play a key part in supporting our Food Innovation and Product Development Teams to provide a smooth operation of the Food Innovation studio and management of the supplier kitchens whilst supporting with creating extraordinary own-brand products.

• Expected salary - £41,000 - £46,000

• Contract type - This position is a 6 month Secondment/Fixed Term contract until November 2025

• Location - This role is based at our Bracknell Head Office. As part of the role, you will also attend external events and travel to other Partnership locations as and when required

Key responsibilities

• Running the Show: Take charge of the smooth operation of our Development Kitchens, from managing the supplier kitchen diary to ensuring flawless execution of events and logistics

• Supporting Creativity: Work closely with the Senior development chefs, and the Innovations Manager to bring ideas to life. You’ll also play a key role in recipe development and trend documentation

• Sample Excellence: Prepare and cook samples to perfection for product meetings, events, and ad hoc samplings, maintaining the highest quality

• Event Logistics: Orchestrate the preparation and delivery of samples and equipment for high-profile food events, press days, and supplier conferences

• Kitchen Management: Ensure health and safety compliance, maintain up-to-date kitchen documentation and provide induction training for new users of the kitchen

• Culinary Knowledge Management: Keep our Chefs’ Library stocked with the latest culinary books and magazines, sharing updates with the wider team and bringing ideas to life

Essential skills

• Culinary Expertise and Food Safety: Advanced level food hygiene certification or equivalent experience in a professional kitchen environment

• Passion for Food and Innovation: A genuine enthusiasm and drive for food, creativity, and innovation in delivering exceptional results

• Technical Proficiency: Basic computer skills to effectively manage schedules and documentation

• Organisation and Time Management: Strong organisational skills, with exceptional ability to prioritise tasks

Desirable skills

• Development experience

• Kitchen Management 

• Restaurant experience 

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About The Partnership

We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.

We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.

As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect.

We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective.

As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.

Important points to note:

It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting. If required, you’ll find out more about vetting throughout the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays.

We also recommend that you apply as soon as possible as vacancies can close early if we see a high number of applicants.

We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.