Business Development Chef

Barakat; Dubai; On-site; AED 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Barakat is seeking an experienced leader to own end-to-end product development and category management in the UAE. You will translate consumer insights into viable product concepts, collaborate with R&D and culinary teams, and drive launch readiness with cross-functional partners.

The role requires a strong track record in FMCG/F&B, familiarity with food safety and NPD processes, and the ability to create compelling value propositions for Retail, Hospitality, and Foodservice channels.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Food Science, Culinary Management, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in Category Management, Product/Brand Management, NPD, FMCG, Food Manufacturing, or F&B.
• Proven success in taking products from concept through commercial launch.
• Strong knowledge of food production, food safety, and NPD processes.
• Excellent stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Proficiency in presentations, analytics, spreadsheets, and project management tools.

Responsibilities

• Identify market opportunities, consumer insights, and category gaps.
• Develop commercially viable product concepts with R&D and Culinary teams.
• Own concept briefs, positioning, pricing targets, and profitability plans.
• Lead cross-functional product development from idea to launch.
• Take products from concept approval to commercial launch.
• Oversee specifications, costing, packaging, compliance, and launch readiness.
• Ensure smooth production rollout and first customer sale.
• Translate product concepts into compelling packaging and visual assets.
• Collaborate with agencies, designers, photographers, and chefs.
• Manage artwork approvals, digital assets, and brand compliance.
• Create impactful sales presentations and product pitch decks.
• Develop customer-focused value propositions and category stories.
• Support Sales teams with tailored presentations for Retail, Hospitality, and Foodservice.
• Lead product tastings, demos, and customer presentations.
• Partner with chefs to showcase products at premium quality standards.
• Develop tools and processes to support scalable product demonstrations.
• Monitor revenue, margin, sales performance, and SKU productivity.
• Conduct category reviews and identify growth opportunities.
• Lead product optimization, renovations, pricing, and portfolio decisions.
• Manage a strong innovation pipeline while maximizing category profitability.
• Act as the key contact for customer feedback and product requests.
• Build structured feedback and issue-resolution processes.
• Develop trusted relationships with key customer accounts and industry stakeholders.
• Convert customer insights into innovation and commercial opportunities.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional collaboration

Presentations

Analytics

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Food Science, Culinary Management, or related field

Tools

Spreadsheets

Project management tools

Job description

• Identify market opportunities, consumer insights, and category gaps.
• Develop commercially viable product concepts with R&D and Culinary teams.
• Own concept briefs, positioning, pricing targets, and profitability plans.
• Lead cross-functional product development from idea to launch.

Manage End-to-End Product Development

• Take products from concept approval to commercial launch.
• Oversee specifications, costing, packaging, compliance, and launch readiness.
• Ensure smooth production rollout and first customer sale.

Lead Brand & Packaging Experience

• Translate product concepts into compelling packaging and visual assets.
• Collaborate with agencies, designers, photographers, and chefs.
• Manage artwork approvals, digital assets, and brand compliance.

Build Winning Commercial Propositions

• Create impactful sales presentations and product pitch decks.
• Develop customer-focused value propositions and category stories.
• Support Sales teams with tailored presentations for Retail, Hospitality, and Foodservice.

Product Demonstration & Customer Engagement

• Lead product tastings, demos, and customer presentations.
• Partner with chefs to showcase products at premium quality standards.
• Develop tools and processes to support scalable product demonstrations.

Own Category Performance

• Monitor revenue, margin, sales performance, and SKU productivity.
• Conduct category reviews and identify growth opportunities.
• Lead product optimization, renovations, pricing, and portfolio decisions.
• Manage a strong innovation pipeline while maximizing category profitability.

Customer & Market Relationship Management

• Act as the key contact for customer feedback and product requests.
• Build structured feedback and issue-resolution processes.
• Develop trusted relationships with key customer accounts and industry stakeholders.
• Convert customer insights into innovation and commercial opportunities.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Food Science, Culinary Management, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in Category Management, Product/Brand Management, NPD, FMCG, Food Manufacturing, or F&B.
• Proven success in taking products from concept through commercial launch.
• Strong knowledge of food production, food safety, and NPD processes.
• Excellent stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Proficiency in presentations, analytics, spreadsheets, and project management tools.

Preferred Profile

• Strong culinary background with experience in hospitality, foodservice, gourmet foods, or professional kitchens.
• Deep understanding of international culinary trends and premium hospitality requirements.
• Ability to engage with chefs, F&B leaders, and hotel decision-makers across the UAE.
• Expertise in consultative selling, product demonstrations, and business development.
• Skilled at translating customer needs into innovative product solutions.