Chef – Product Development (QSR Cloud Kitchen)

Ultiwise Consult; Dubai; On-site; AED 300,000 - 460,000; Full time

Job summary

Ultiwise Consult is building a next-generation QSR Cloud Kitchen brand in Dubai. We seek a Product Development Chef to own menu innovation from concept to commercialization, with deep knowledge of regional cuisines and scalable production systems for in-house or outsourced production.

You'll lead recipe engineering, sensory evaluation, and quality control, ensuring cost targets and shelf-life considerations are integrated into scalable SOPs for central kitchens and co-packers alike.

Qualifications

• 510 years of experience as Chef R&D Chef Innovation Chef or Culinary Head in QSR cloud kitchens or fast-casual brands.
• Strong understanding of Middle Eastern Indian Asian Fast-Casual and Fusion cuisines.
• Experience with commercial manufacturing of food products technologies like frozen retort preservative based emulsified products.

Responsibilities

• Product Innovation & Development for Indian/Asian fast-food or fusion cloud kitchens.
• Develop accurate recipes, formulations, and portion sizes for each dish.
• Standardize recipes for consistency across central and outsourced kitchens.
• Translate complex recipes into SOPs suitable for high-volume QSR operations.
• Lead sensory evaluation, quality control, and iterative improvement.
• Design recipes considering cost targets, shelf-life, storage, and scalability.
• Collaborate with procurement and production teams to scale from lab to batch production.
• Create and train SOPs for kitchen processes and ensure operational compliance.

Job description

Job Details

Job Title: Chef Product Development (QSR / Cloud Kitchen)

Location: Dubai UAE

Employment Type: Full-Time

Department: Culinary Innovation & Operations

Cuisine: Indian Sandwiches Rolls Fast-food or QSR Fusion-focused

About the Role

We are building a next-generation QSR Cloud Kitchen brand serving high-quality consistent and scalable food experiences across multiple locations and formats. We are looking for a Product Development Chef who can take ownership of menu innovationfrom concept to commercialization. This role requires deep knowledge of regional and international cuisines strong R&D ability and the capability to convert recipes into standardized scalable and cost-efficient production systems whether executed in-house through central kitchens or via outsourced supply-chain partners.

Key Responsibilities

1. Product Innovation & Development - Indian Asian Fast-food or Fusion-focused cloud kitchens.
   • Research conceptualize and create new menu items aligned with brand identity and market trends in the GCC.
   • Conduct multiple rounds of product iteration improvement and refinement based on sensory evaluation.
   • Adapt recipes to fit the **local palate of the UAE and GCC markets while maintaining brand DNA.
   • Conduct competitive benchmarking across Dubais QSR and cloud-kitchen ecosystem.
2. Recipe Engineering & Standardization
   • Develop accurate recipes formulations and portion sizes for every dish.
   • Ensure dishes can be reproduced with consistency across all kitchens (cloud central or outsourced).
   • Build detailed standardized recipes (spec sheets) covering ingredients equipment steps timings yields and plating/packaging methods.
   • Translate complex recipes into operationally simple SOPs suitable for high-volume QSR operations.
   • Understanding nutritional component and nutritional values of the food items created
   • Someone who understands processes of retort frozen preservative based hot fill products and technologies
3. Sensory Evaluation & Quality Control
   • Lead internal tasting panels; document sensory feedback and continuously iterate to reach final approved benchmarks.
   • Maintain taste texture and visual consistency across all locations.
   • Collaborate with QA and Operations teams to ensure repeatable quality in daily operations.
4. Supply Chain & Production Integration
   • Work with procurement to shortlist suppliers evaluate raw materials and ensure ingredient consistency.
   • Design recipes considering cost targets shelf-life storage constraints and scalability.
   • Collaborate with central kitchen production teams to scale recipes from lab to batch production.
   • Support outsourcing partners (co-packers commissaries) in establishing production SOPs and quality guidelines.
5. Cloud Kitchen Operational Support
   • Develop SOPs for every kitchen process including preparation cooking assembly packaging and dispatch.
   • Train kitchen teams on new products workflows and quality standards.
   • Conduct periodic kitchen audits to monitor product adherence hygiene standards and operational compliance.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• 510 years of experience as Chef R&D Chef Innovation Chef or Culinary Head in QSR cloud kitchens or fast-casual brands.
• Strong understanding of Middle Eastern Indian Asian Fast-Casual and Fusion cuisines (flexible based on brand positioning).
• Experience with commercial manufacturing of food products technologies like frozen retort preservative based emulsified products etc
• Deep experience in recipe development sensory analysis and high-volume food production.
• Experience with central kitchen operations commissary models and outsourced production partners.
• Strong documentation process-thinking and organizational skills.
• Ability to balance creativity with cost scalability and operational simplicity.
• Knowledge of Dubai/UAE food safety standards (HACCP Municipality regulations) preferred.