Brand Head Chef - Abu Dhabi, UAE

Career Nest Academy; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Duty meals

Flight allowance

Visa & relocation support

Job summary

Career Nest Academy in the UAE is seeking an experienced Head Chef to lead our flavour-led fast-casual concept. You will set the menu standards across multiple locations, ensuring consistency between in-house dining, delivery, and forthcoming openings.

You will shape recipes, train teams, monitor food cost and safety, and drive culinary readiness for new flagship launches, reporting to the founder.

Qualifications

• Experience as Head Chef or senior sous chef
• Strong strength in proteins, vegetables, salads, dressings and sauces
• Experience in fast-casual, multi-site or central-kitchen operations
• Wood-fire or Josper experience is a strong advantage
• Practical, collaborative leadership and openness to feedback
• Strong English communication skills

Responsibilities

• Audit and refine the existing menu and develop new signature dishes
• Collaborate with central kitchen on batch recipes, yields, portion specs and prep schedules
• Decide what is prepared centrally and how it is stored, transported and finished at each outlet
• Ensure dishes hold up in busy service, takeaway and delivery contexts
• Create recipe cards, preparation guides and presentation standards and train teams to follow them
• Control food cost, portions, wastage, food safety and allergen standards
• Lead culinary readiness for new flagship, menu launches and future openings

Skills

Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef

Proteins & sauces

Fast-casual multi-site exp

Wood-fire/Josper

Leadership

English communication

Job description

A growing, flavour-led fast-casual concept in the UAE, built around fresh ingredients, bowls, grilled proteins, vegetables, salads and house-made sauces. Restaurants in Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah, a flagship opening in Abu Dhabi, and more to follow.

This is a brand role rather than a single kitchen. You set the food for every location and make sure it tastes the same on a busy lunch service, on a delivery order and in a restaurant that has not opened yet. You report directly to the founder and shape the menu as the concept grows.

What the role covers

• Audit and refine the existing menu, keep what works and develop new signature dishes
• Work hands-on with the central kitchen on batch recipes, yields, portion specifications and preparation schedules
• Decide what is prepared centrally and how it is stored, transported and finished at each outlet
• Make sure every dish holds up in busy service, takeaway and delivery
• Create recipe cards, preparation guides and presentation standards, and train the teams to follow them
• Control food cost, portions, wastage, food safety and allergen standards
• Lead culinary readiness for the new flagship, menu launches and future openings

What we're looking for

• An experienced Head Chef, or an exceptional Senior Sous Chef ready for broader responsibility
• Real strength in proteins, vegetables, salads, dressings, sauces and marinades
• Experience in fast-casual, multi-site or central-kitchen operations
• Wood-fire or Josper experience is a strong advantage
• Practical, collaborative leadership and genuine openness to feedback
• Strong English communication

The package

• Competitive tax-free salary, all-inclusive
• Medical insurance and duty meals
• Annual flight ticket allowance
• Employment visa and relocation support for overseas candidates