Culinary Excellence Menu Developer

Gate Gourmet is a leading global provider of a full range of catering services for primarily the airline industry. The focus is on culinary and operational excellence – and consistently providing the highest quality products and services tailored to strengthen the brand of our customers. Working with our customers and business partners, we create innovative offerings that delight the senses and make for a memorable dining experience, in the air and on the ground. We’re looking for a Culinary Excellence Menu Developer to help drive culinary innovation and quality across The Netherlands. In this role, you’ll be responsible for bringing fresh, creative ideas to life—developing and launching new menu concepts while ensuring consistency, quality, and compliance with purchasing and process standards. You’ll collaborate closely with clients, turning their visions into delicious, well-executed offerings. If you have a passion for food, a knack for innovation, and strong planning and leadership skills, this could be the perfect opportunity for you. Main duties and responsibilities Customer & Client Engagement Build and maintain strong client relationships. Understand customer needs and ensure internal requirements are met. Participate in client meetings, presentations, tenders, workshops, and menu development discussions (UK, Europe, and globally). Respond to customer issues and feedback promptly and effectively. Attend supplier and client budget/business update meetings. Menu & Product Development Lead and support ongoing menu development and innovation. Coordinate menu design and planning to reflect nutritional, cultural, and seasonal requirements. Produce and maintain accurate recipes, methodologies, and an up-to-date recipe database. Build food orders and production packs for presentations and development. Research global food trends and translate them into client-appropriate in-flight catering concepts. Operations & Efficiency Optimize manpower, products, and equipment for efficiency. Resolve operational issues quickly and cost-effectively. Participate in menu cycle changes and start-ups. Conduct regular quality audits and ensure operational consistency using internal systems. Oversee internal QA checks and implement immediate changes as needed. Team Management & Communication Communicate effectively with team members to ensure clear understanding and engagement. Support and train production teams on new menus, maintaining records of training. Deliver regular reports to customers and internal teams. Ensure clear briefings during production and wash-up processes for smooth operations. Performance & Compliance Deliver on business objectives and customer expectations. Work within company and client timelines and requirements. Analyse performance data, identify issues, and propose and report on solutions. Ensure compliance with Food Safety, Health & Safety, Environmental, and Security regulations. Adhere to all company policies and procedures. Continuous Improvement & Innovation Drive innovation and continuous improvement across the department and wider business. Lead and support development projects from a production perspective. Arrange and conduct internal and supplier workshops in collaboration with procurement. Contribute to the development of the broader Gate Group product list. What are we looking for? The ideal candidate brings over 7–10 years of experience as an Executive Sous Chef or Head Chef, with a strong background in five-star establishments and an additional 2–5 years specializing in menu design and planning. They possess extensive expertise in managing large-scale food manufacturing operations and leading teams within high-volume or in-flight catering environments. A qualified chef with a global culinary perspective—particularly in modern European cuisine—they demonstrate in-depth knowledge of restaurant production techniques, current market and dining trends, and HACCP standards. Proven financial acumen is reflected in their experience managing budgets and performance targets. They are also adept at utilizing various kitchen software systems to streamline operations. Our offer: A salary between €3.878,88 and €4.399,99 gross per month based on a fulltime employment and your experience. 25 holidays 13 ADV days 8% holiday allowance 8,33% bonus Travel allowance (0,21) cents per km Possibility to grow within the company A VGB screening is required to be allowed to work at Schiphol. This screening takes about 4 weeks. For this, you need to fulfil the following requirements: You have not been in contact with the police or the judiciary. You have been living in the Netherlands for at least 8 years.

Location: Schiphol, North Holland, NL

Posted Date: 7/7/2025