Posting End Date: February 9, 2025 Join John Lewis or Waitrose today If you've ever stepped through the doors of a John Lewis or Waitrose shop, shopped online, or seen any of our adverts, you'll know there's something unique about us. That unique proposition is our Partners. As co-owners they have a say in our business and receive a share of the profits, so they put time and effort into making it work. Our Partners are the reason we're the success we are. They're our secret sauce; the opportunity for us to differentiate. Job Summary: Are 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. Job Description: 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 LI-HEADOFFICE LI-AB1 Pay: £41,000.00 - £61,500.00 Annual Scheduled Weekly hours: 35 Worker Type: Temporary Partner (Fixed Term) Job Level: Partnership Level 7 Hours of Work: 35 At the John Lewis Partnership, we embrace our differences. We want you to be you. Because, well, we know you're at your best when you're free to be yourself. Being a truly inclusive employer to us means creating an environment which celebrates your contribution, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, social background, religion or belief. It's why we've set our own aim to become the UK’s most inclusive business - for our Partners (employees) and our customers. We firmly believe that our future success lies in diversity of thought from all Partners and it's integral in our mission to build a happier world. We welcome applications from everyone interested in working for us. And, once you're a Partner, your differences will make all the difference. Find out more about D&I in the Partnership here. 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 it is possible to do so. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview. https://embed.wirewax.com/8114190