Development Chef – Culinary

About the role

The Development Chef – Culinary will lead the creation and delivery of an airline’s food programme, ensuring a consistent, high‑quality menu that reflects the brand’s style and standards. This senior position oversees documentation, budgeting, timelines and cross‑functional coordination to guarantee on‑time, on‑budget delivery across the fleet.

Key responsibilities

• Maintain and communicate menu planning structures, timelines and detailed requirements for all airline meal services.
• Translate the airline’s food vision into actionable plans, procedures and processes.
• Track worldwide product‑quality performance and produce detailed reports for senior management.
• Identify and develop sourcing opportunities, monitor cost impacts and pursue brand‑alignment initiatives.
• Provide culinary input for catering supplier selection and deliver robust capability and commercial analyses.
• Develop and execute food‑category and commodity plans in partnership with procurement and logistics.
• Ensure clear liaison with delivery, commercial, procurement and logistics teams.
• Conduct competitor and hospitality‑trend analysis and report quarterly insights.
• Comply with company, airport and health‑safety regulations.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality, Hotel Management or Culinary Sciences.
• Minimum of 8 years’ experience in large‑scale food development, preferably within airline or catering environments.
• Proven ability to manage complex projects, budgets and cross‑functional teams.
• Strong analytical mindset with experience in cost control and supplier evaluation.
• Excellent communication skills and fluency in English.

Required skills

• Menu planning
• Product quality monitoring
• Cost analysis
• Supplier evaluation
• Food safety compliance
• Reporting and data presentation