Job Description

Date Posted: 2009-11-01 Ref. JB1347766

New Product Development Chef
Kout Food Group

• To manage and develop existing and future menu and product lines of the company’s various brands and external customer base.
• To combine innovative and creative ideas and exceptional kitchen capability in developing products with commercial understanding of what will be profitable to the business and the customer/end user.
• Effectively use enthusiasm, creativity, strong culinary skills and commercial acumen to actively sell the benefits and added value for each new product developed.
• Ability to collect a comprehensive brief from internal brands/external customers regarding specific product requirements and develop this into a viable market ready product taking into consideration the constraints and processes of the manufacturing facilities.
• Accept overall responsibility for the product development process within the manufacturing facilities.
• Ensure that the company’s reputation for food quality and innovation is enhanced with our customers
• To carry out training of all staff involved in the production of new products developed.
• Through the NPD process ensure that all technical aspects/obligations of the manufacturing business are being complied with and fulfilled.
• Ensure that Company policies and statements are applied continuously and that the companies statements and policies are continually reviewed with regards to new products and process with the technical manager and amend to prevent any breach of any local or statutory regulations.
• Take a proactive approach through NPD in ensuring that standards are met and maintained to comply with GMP guidelines set down by the BRC Global food standards and any other auditing body.
• Take an active role in facilitating visits with external auditing bodies such as SGS, BRC, STS and BSA etc...
• Participate at regular internal audits to monitor and validate internal systems and practices with regards to NPD.
• Participate in the Monthly HACCP meetings.
• Complete and submit brief monthly reports to the GM/management team relating to NPD issues, progress and future requirements.
• Attend to your duties at times specified by the GM or dictated by work levels.
• Assist the technical team in investigating and responding to customer comments or complaints regarding food quality, safety or allegations of food poisoning.
• Ability to come up with creative ideas in line with current and future food trends and translate them to exciting and appealing menu and food offers.
• Be disciplined in process when identifying new menu and recipe offers while ensuring customer and restaurant testing is endured and the offer is viable
• Work on new concepts to identify market niches and opportunities to which existing products could be tailored and new products developed
• Actively participate in strategic product and process planning by continuously scanning the external environment for new product and process technologies
• Interact with customers to find new and novel market opportunities for products
• Maintain an awareness of current consumer and business trends
• Lead product project management process by ensuring that key priorities and objectives are met

Skills

• High School/Secondary Education - Essential
• Formal Higher Education Qualification (C&G 706/1, 706/2, HND, or equivalent as a minimum)
• Degree in Food Product Management, Food Science, Culinary Degree or food related field preferred
• Excellent underpinning knowledge of food preparation and cooking processes gained through traditional culinary training.
• Formal training in food hygiene and health and safety
• Chef who has proven comprehensive experience in all or some of the following sectors Restaurant/Hotel/Food service/Retail industry for a minimum of 5 years
• Previous experience in an NPD role would be a distinct advantage
• Knowledge in consumer testing methodology would be a distinct advantage
• Thorough understanding and appreciation of ingredients is essential
• Experience working in the middle east or proven familiarity with middle eastern products would be a distinct advantage
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent written and spoken English
• Excellent presentation skills

Education

• Degree in Food Product Management, Food Science, Culinary Degree or food related field preferred

Company Profile

Kout Food Group is a diversified organization enjoying a leadership position in a wide variety of industries in the Middle East & Europe .

In Kuwait, the Group is a market leader representing world-renowned brands in hospitality, wholesale and retail business e.g. Burger King, Pizza Hut, Applebee's, Kabab-JI, Burj el Hamam(A famous Lebanese Restaurant concepts) Seven Seas, Ayyame, Scoop A Cone, Boost Juice and Rifai.