Development Chef

Location: Kingston Upon Thames - KT1 2BA

Hours: 40 hours per week

Shift Pattern: Monday-Friday (flexibility required to suit the needs of the client)

Rate Of Pay: £16.24 Per Hour + Sodexo rewards and benefits.

Role Overview

This is a unique and exciting opportunity to be part of a flagship culinary operation, supporting an innovative client food business within a dedicated development kitchen environment.

Working closely with the client chef and development teams, you will play a key role in food development preparation, third-party food presentations, and marketing-led culinary activity. This is not a standard production kitchen role, it is an opportunity to contribute to brand-affiliated recipe development, showcase presentations, and promotional food initiatives within a professional corporate setting.

You will support the accurate preparation of branded batch recipes for marketing and promotional purposes, ensuring consistency, creativity, and quality at every stage. At the same time, you will uphold the highest standards of food safety, health & safety, and kitchen organisation, maintaining a clean, professional, and inspiring working environment.

Key Accountabilities

• Provide hands-on chef support to the client’s food business and development activity.
• Take responsibility for all stores, fridges, and freezers, ensuring organisation and compliance.
• Ensure all services and preparation activities are delivered on time and within contract specification.
• Liaise with development chefs to understand upcoming events, launches, and presentations.
• Assist in maintaining an efficient ordering system using approved client suppliers.
• Maintain accurate kitchen records in line with company policy.
• Support deliveries and ensure correct stock rotation procedures are followed.
• Maintain a clean, hygienic, and organised development kitchen at all times.
• Ensure the safety and security of company and client property, including confidential information.
• Comply with all company and client policies and statutory regulations, including fire safety, health & safety, hygiene, working safely, and COSHH.
• Report any incidents or irregularities promptly, taking appropriate action where possible.

Key Tasks

• Deliver a consistently friendly, willing, and professional service to a high standard.
• Maintain full compliance with all Food Safety and Health & Safety standards for both client and company.
• Support ad hoc requests and occasional out-of-hours events when required.
• Liaise closely with Kitchen Porters to ensure the smooth running of the development kitchen.

Essential Requirements

• NVQ Level 2 or 3 in Professional Cookery (or equivalent).
• Food Hygiene Level 2 certification.
• Confident culinary skills with enthusiasm and sound decision-making ability.
• Ability to produce attractive, high-quality food with consistency and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with development teams.
• IT literate and comfortable maintaining kitchen documentation.
• High standard of personal hygiene and professional presentation.

Why Sodexo?:

Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it’s a chance to be part of something greater.

Belong

in a company and team that values you for you. 

Act

with purpose and have an impact through your everyday actions.

Thrive

in your own way.

We also offer a range of perks, rewards and benefits for our colleagues and their families:

• Unlimited access to an online platform offering wellbeing support
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme to help with everyday issues or life's larger problems, including legal and financial advice, support with work or personal issues impacting your wellbeing
• Access to a 24hr virtual GP Service
• Sodexo Discounts Scheme, offering great deals 24/7 across popular big-brand retailers
• Save for your future by becoming a member of the Pension Plan
• Opportunities to enable colleagues to grow and succeed throughout their career at Sodexo, including a variety of learning and development tools
• Bike to Work Scheme to help colleagues to do their bit for the environment whilst keeping fit
• Sodexo UK and Irelands enhanced benefits and leave policies