Chef - New Product Development

Baxters Foods Australia

Campbellfield, Victoria
3-5 days (Flexible - Contract), On-Site

Baxters Foods Australia, a proud family-owned company, is a leading Australian manufacturer specialising in a diverse range of high-quality foods.

Based in Campbellfield, we produce premium products for both retail and foodservice, including chutneys, relishes, mustards, pesto and pasta sauces. Our brands include Baxters, Jensen’s Organic, Aunty Kath’s, Yackandandah and Tio Tito.

We are seeking an innovative Research & Development (R&D) Chef to develop a new line of premium, ready-to-eat chilled desserts.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop light, aerated textures that deliver a distinctive and premium eating experience.

• Ensure product stability, maintaining structure and quality at standard refrigeration temperatures (2°C–4°C).

• Formulate products with a 4–6-month chilled shelf-life using clean-label stabilisers or advanced techniques.

• Ensure feasibility of production using existing processing equipment (e.g. mixers, fillers).

• Ensure full food safety compliance for ready-to-eat consumption using appropriate processes and ingredients.

Scope of Work & Deliverables

• Develop high-quality formulations suitable for commercial scale.

• Create detailed manufacturing processes (SOPs), including critical control points (CCPs), processing parameters and temperature controls.

• Identify scalable ingredients, including clean-label texturisers and stabilisation systems.

• Support transition from bench-top development to pilot or large-scale production.

• Establish project timelines, including prototype development milestones.

What We're Looking for

• Degree in Culinary Arts, Pastry Arts, Food Science, or a related discipline.

• 5+ years' experience in commercial food manufacturing or R&D within chilled FMCG.

• Strong knowledge of food chemistry, water activity, fat crystallisation and aeration.

• Understanding of local food regulations, including FSANZ.

Candidates must be Australian citizens / Permanent Residents to be eligible for this position.

Please note – applications are reviewed frequently.

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.