Are you a passionate about supporting the development of market leading menus that through guest preference and innovative problem solving deliver high volume, like for like growth and strong profits? With over 1,600 sites we’re the home of some of the nation’s favourite restaurants, bustling bars, cosy country pubs and the local you didn’t know we owned. If you’re as passionate about making a difference within hospitality as we are, we want to hear from you!

An opportunity presents itself for a Food Development Manager, on a permanent basis to take ownership of the planning of the menu development process from brief through to go live. In this exciting and challenging role, you will ‘own’ the menu solution within the brand/division, ensuring that all the department functions provide the appropriate implementation support, and proactively deliver new menus on time, on budget and on brief to achieve budgeted volume/ margin requirements, with flawless implementation.

As a Food Development Manager within our Food Development Team, you will report into a Divisional Food Development Manager, in a mobile role and this may require you to have a flexible approach to travel.

You’ll be well rewarded…

• Company Car
• Annual Bonus Scheme – We’re all about rewarding the hard work everybody puts in
• Buy up to an extra 2 weeks holiday – life is for living after all! 
• Flexible working – to work around the other important things in life.
• Love eating out? You'll love it even more with a massive 33% discount across all our brands, so whether its date night at Miller & Carter or family roast at Toby Carvery we’ve got you covered.  What’s more, you can also choose FIVE of your nearest and dearest and sign them up to 20% family and friend’s discount.

On top of all this, we offer; a pension, 26 days paid holiday, high-street shopping discounts; and we even give you free shares! There's also a free employee helpline- to support you with whatever life throws at you.

The Opportunity – Food Development Manager

• Act as a representative for Food Development at key brand operating/marketing interfaces
• Monitor and support ongoing menu performance post go live & identify future development opportunities
• Responsible for food innovation and development in each brand ensuring individual dish’s & complete menu’s deliver the sales and margin targets set out in the strategy & budget process. 
• Actively influence the clarity of menu briefing through the strong understanding of Brand Values and strategic objectives, key competitor activity and supplier innovations.
• Take accountability for ensuring FDM Key dates on Critical Path are planned & implemented in the development process of new dish trials, product availability. Absolute and timely delivery of product information for allergen and nutritional analysis
• Accountability for ensuring data accuracy and integrity – recipe build, dish costing.
• Constantly improve the brands capacity to ensure high levels of productivity and service cook times are achieved.
• Display an In depth understanding of the relevant food markets e.g. key consumer trends, competitor activity, supplier activity etc. to ensure that food development is responsive to market needs. 
• Ensure industry leading product development that is shared across menus where appropriate
• Work in conjunction with Brands and The Kitchen design manager to continually improve the deliverability of food in pubs through innovation / trial and best use of existing equipment.
• To ensure high profile presence in pilot weeks and go live week to create a sense of pride in what been developed and check execution of delivery.

What you’ll need to bring to the Food Development Manager role:  

• Be a commercially focused creative chef with strong business and project management skills
• Strong technical competence in food development & menu creation, clear market & brand understanding
• Strategic & Innovative Thinking
• Numerate, able to support in writing detailed cook book recipes, costing and training literature
• Previous experience as a Head Chef or equivalent in charge of Menu creation, recipe design, costs, etc.
• Food Development Chef experience would be desirable
• Commercial or marketing experience would be desirable

What makes Mitchells & Butlers a great place to work?

To us, a career isn’t just about ‘clocking in’. We really care about our colleagues, and we’re an employer that keeps a promise. In fact, as one of the largest employers in the country, with over 44,000 people working for us, we have the responsibility of valuing every contribution from a diverse workforce that are representative of our guests, and who make us stronger.

Sounds like an opportunity where you could make a difference? Apply for this role today and we’ll be in touch to explore how you could be part of our exciting journey.