Food Development Director

Our offices are based in London and Macclesfield, linked via good public transport routes. We offer comprehensive learning & development opportunities, and an engaging work atmosphere. They are sociable and open spaces with fantastic restaurant / catering facilities. Lunch subsidies / free refreshments and snacks are offered.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Food Development Director to join our team here at Elior!

You'll lead the way in boosting Elior's culinary reputation and innovation. Manage menu development and work closely with key teams to ensure creativity and New Product Development stay at the forefront. You'll inspire and motivate chefs across all levels, driving excellence while ensuring compliance with allergen legislation.

If you're passionate about food, innovation, and leading teams, this is the perfect role to make your mark!

What you'll be doing

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and lead Elior's food strategy, creating annual menu development plans that align with market trends and business objectives.
• Inspire and Lead the Culinary Team: Motivate and inspire chefs to achieve excellence in food quality, creativity, and presentation, fostering innovation across the business.
• Menu Innovation: Create commercially viable menus aligned with market demands, collaborating with leadership and marketing to ensure successful rollout.
• Team Development: Identify training needs and opportunities for culinary teams to foster continuous growth and skill development.
• Compliance & Process Management: Ensure all menus comply with allergen legislation and maintain clear operational processes, including a centralised menu database.
• Collaboration: Work closely with procurement, operations, and chefs to ensure cost-effective ingredients and alignment with overall food strategy.
• Market Insights & Trends: Monitor market trends and competitor activity to identify opportunities, ensuring Elior stays ahead of the curve.
• Sustainability Initiatives: Support sustainability goals by designing menus that reduce carbon footprints and align with Elior's Net Zero commitments.
• Project Support: Contribute to UK and group-wide strategic projects by providing menu and recipe expertise.

What can you bring?

• Minimum 5+ years of culinary experience, with a strong background in menu development and food innovation.
• Proven ability to lead teams and inspire creativity.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, both written and verbal.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to balance multiple priorities and deliver under pressure.
• Experience in food regulation compliance, including allergen legislation.
• Proficient in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and StarChef.
• Track record of delivering innovative solutions that drive sales and enhance margins.

Personal Attributes:

• A strong, visionary leader with the ability to inspire and motivate.
• Results-oriented with a passion for driving innovation and commercial success.
• A collaborative team player with superb interpersonal skills.
• Adaptable and able to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Our way of saying thank you

At Elior, we strive to ensure that our colleagues feel appreciated & rewarded, which is why we offer generous rewards & benefits in exchange for your dedicated efforts.

• FREE On-Site Lunches: Savor delicious and healthy meals, on us, every day at work
• Flexible Working: Enjoy the freedom to balance work and personal life with our flexible working hours
• Holiday Allowance: Rest and relax with 33 days holiday
• Family Leave: Prioritise your family commitments with our family leave options designed to support you during important times
• Paid Charity Leave: Make a difference in your community with paid time off to volunteer for your favourite causes
• Opportunities for Career Progression: Grow and advance your career with us, supported by continuous learning and development opportunities
• Comprehensive Wellbeing Benefits: Access mental health support and a range of wellbeing benefits to keep you feeling your best, both professionally and personally
• Life Assurance & Pension Schemes: Secure your future with our life assurance and workplace pension schemes
• Exclusive Discounts & Perks: Enjoy discounts and cashback on entertainment, leisure activities, and much more, alongside our popular cycle-to-work scheme

Why it's great to work for us

Elior is a multi-award-winning people business and one of the UK's leading contract caterers, with over 10,000 colleagues operating across a diverse range of sectors including:

• Workplaces & Office Space
• Sporting Venues & Stadium
• Attraction & Heritage Sites
• Public Sector & Defence
• Health, Care & Hospitals
• Schools, Colleges & Universities

Along with our purpose of enriching lives everywhere, every day, we're committed to an inclusive culture and want our people to feel appreciated, supported, and fulfilled.

That's why 87% of colleagues tell us how proud they are to work for us!

At Elior, we're committed to creating a culture of respect, inclusion, and belonging for all.

Ultimately, we believe it's our differences that make us stronger and enrich our work environment, which in turn makes Elior a great place to work!

By celebrating equality and diversity we've created a culture where everyone feels valued and empowered to do their best work, where colleagues fulfil their potential and have the opportunity to succeed.

If you need any support or adjustments during the application process, just let us know. We're happy to help.