Interim Head of Food

The Company

This exciting and innovative brand have amassed a dedicated fan base established through a combination of fantastic fresh food and sincere brand values which are delivered from the heart. As they look to drive innovation forward they are seeking a confident and courageous food expert who truly understands the brand and will continue to build on their success.

The Role

This compelling and highly influential role will see you implementing food strategy as you develop and lead the food team to ensure continuous growth and development. Inspiring and driving NPD, you’ll be structuring an innovation pipeline which stretches the brand whilst ensuring the products on the menu are in line with brand strategy and objectives.  You’ll work on continued supplier engagement to integrate all partners into the brand’s vision.  You will also be liaising with Commercial, Marketing and Procurement teams, influencing stakeholders and engaging with people at all levels in the business.

Working with the Technical team and the Process team you will have the chance to ensure that kitchen platforms are developed and enhanced to support innovation rather than limiting capabilities, guaranteeing that when products reach the development handover stage there is a seamless NPD process in place to ensure you meet and exceed the best in market standards and quality.

You will also be developing customer engagement regimes to deepen brand loyalty and encourage co-creation of new ideas. You will be conscious of the current market and have a good understanding of competitors with the digital and marketing team - you’ll understand how to get the best out of food communications and encourage this within your close-knit team in order to keep collective fingers on the pulse of new food innovation and cutting edge development.

The Person

We need a self-described foodie gastronome extraordinaire who is also a strong leader and can inspire those around them. Someone who will unashamedly profess their love for food and who can demonstrate how it is their all-consuming passion, willing to stand by their convictions whilst translating that passion into the products and this brand.  With an uncanny ability to build great relationships using your strong communication skills and interpersonal warmth you’ll be comfortable communicating with and influencing at all levels of management and other team members. You will be able to intrinsically understand the brand and the values it shares as well as being able to convey your ideas and get others on board.

We’re looking for outstanding senior candidates who have experience within strategic innovation management roles in QSR, casual dining,  food manufacturing or food retail sector (ideally a combination) where you have lead a team really excelled in a competitive market place.

If you are looking for the chance to shout your love of food from the rooftops and get on-board with an exciting brand then apply today or call Dhrutee for more information on 0345 2600 737.