Development Chef

Role Responsibility

This role balances strategic development with hands-on support and training:

• Menu & Quality Leadership: Lead the preparation of delicious, nutritious, and high-quality meals. You will oversee menu development and collaborate with unit teams to ensure a consistently fantastic dining experience that aligns with all food policies.

• Commercial Innovation: Develop pioneering food offers and marketing initiatives. Strategically ensure our catering remains on-trend, highly innovative, and profitable to maximise sales and aid retention and growth..

• Talent Development & Coaching: Serve as a culinary mentor, providing support, guidance, and specialised training to chefs within your area. Ensure all staff are performing to required standards in food health, safety, quality, and compliance.

• Operational Excellence: Ensure excellent levels of service are delivered to customers at all times.

• Compliance Champion: Guarantee strict compliance with all Company & Client policies, site rules, and statutory regulations relating to Health & Safety, hygiene, cleanliness, fire, and COSHH.

The Ideal Candidate

We seek a proven culinary expert who is passionate about setting and maintaining the highest standards of food and service:

• Previous experience in a development or senior culinary role, supported by an excellent craft background and skills.

• Strong industry acumen and forward-thinking knowledge of external catering developments and innovations.

• Strong financial understanding and proven ability to manage and adhere to budgets.

• Proven ability to communicate effectively across different management levels.

• Experienced in working within, adhering to, and actively driving compliance-led company initiatives and standards.

Package Description

At Stir, we give our teams the time, freedom, and tools they need to feel pride in their work every single day! You'll also benefit from a true commitment to work-life balance:

• Monday to Friday working only—say goodbye to all weekend shifts!

• 37.5 hours working with no late nights.

• 52 working weeks per year, structured around the term-time calendar (maximising time with family and friends!).

• Join a fast-growing, ambitious company dedicated to supporting your long-term career development.

• Access to our dedicated Learning & Development team for apprenticeships and advanced training courses available to all staff.

Crucial Note: We expect all staff to share our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children/young people. This role requires a mandatory enhanced DBS disclosure. Due to high demand for this key position, the role may be filled before the official closing date.

About the Company

We’re a specialised school catering company with a deep passion for high-quality food, dedicated to fostering a community spirit and driving a mission to instil pride back into school kitchens across the UK.

Our success is powered by an exceptional and highly valued team. We boast a diverse range of experts, skills, and abilities, all united by our common goal of creating a significant impact and stirring innovation within education catering.

We are committed to maintaining uncompromisingly high standards—both in the culinary excellence of the food we serve and in the professional management and safety of our kitchen environments. This commitment is supported by our dedicated team and reinforced through regular support and targeted training, ensuring our on-site teams possess the precise skills needed to deliver the performance we expect.

We actively seek individuals with creative initiative and growth ambition. We offer exciting opportunities designed to attract strategic thinkers and bold movers ready to advance their careers with us. If this vision resonates with you, we encourage you to connect with our team.