Brand Head Chef - Abu Dhabi, UAE

The Career Nest; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 446,000 - 670,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tax-free salary

Medical insurance

Duty meals

Annual flight allowance

Visa and relocation support

Job summary

The Career Nest is seeking an experienced Head Chef to lead our flavour-led fast-casual concept in the UAE. You will set the food for all locations, ensuring identical taste and presentation across lunch service, delivery and upcoming openings. You report to the founder and shape the evolving menu.

Lead culinary readiness for flagship launches, manage central kitchen collaboration, and drive menu standards, cost control and safety across teams.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef with multi-site operations.
• Strong menu development and leadership in fast-paced environments.
• Excellent English communication and team collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Audit and refine the existing menu and develop signature dishes.
• Collaborate with central kitchen on batch recipes and portions.
• Ensure consistency of dishes across outlets for service, delivery and take-away.
• Create recipe cards, preparation guides and train teams to standards.
• Control food cost, portions, wastage and food safety.

Skills

Head Chef

Senior Sous Chef

Menu development

Team leadership

Food safety

English communication

Tools

Josper grill

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