Commissary Manager

Americana Restaurants; Sharjah Emirate; On-site; AED 446,000 - 725,000; Full time

Job summary

Americana Restaurants is seeking a hands-on Commissary Manager in the UAE to lead a poultry marination and vegetable processing operation. You will drive production performance, quality, safety and cost efficiency while ensuring regulatory compliance and continuous improvement across the facility.

The role requires extensive experience in poultry processing, production planning, budgeting and team leadership, with a strong focus on food safety and ESG goals. English fluency is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Technology, Food Science, Food Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management or related.
• Postgraduate qualification in Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain or Business Management is advantageous.
• Minimum 8 years of progressive experience in food manufacturing operations.
• Significant poultry, meat or protein processing experience; poultry marination is mandatory.
• Hands-on factory management with production, quality, safety and cost responsibility.
• Experience in production planning, budgeting, cost optimization and continuous improvement.
• Knowledge of HACCP, GFSI-recognized food safety systems and OH&S requirements.
• Experience with ERP and manufacturing systems (Oracle).
• Fluent in English; Arabic is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day commissary operations to meet production, service and cost targets.
• Ensure reliable supply of products to restaurants and distribution centers.
• Drive yield, throughput, labor productivity, line efficiency and schedule adherence.
• Optimize workflows, shift structure, manpower, inventory and asset use.
• Maintain HACCP, GMP, sanitation, traceability and recall readiness programs.
• Manage equipment reliability, maintenance and capital projects.
• Drive Lean, problem-solving and standardization across the factory.
• Provide timely performance updates to senior management and stakeholders.

Skills

Operational leadership

People management

Problem solving

Budgeting & cost control

Planning & scheduling

Communication & reporting

ERP systems (Oracle)

Fluent English

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Technology or related

Postgraduate qualification in Operations/Engineering/Supply Chain/Business Management

Tools

Oracle ERP

Manufacturing systems

GFSI food safety systems

Job description

The Commissary Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, operational performance, food safety, quality, people capability and financial results of the poultry marination and vegetable processing factory.

The role ensures the commissary consistently delivers safe, high-quality products on time and at the required cost while maintaining regulatory compliance, operational excellence and a strong culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

This is a hands-on leadership role requiring strong experience in poultry and food manufacturing, factory operations, food safety, production planning, cost management and people leadership.

Key Responsibilities:

Commissary Operations & Production Performance

• Lead day-to-day commissary operations to ensure achievement of production, service and cost targets.
• Ensure reliable and uninterrupted supply of products to restaurants and distribution centers.
• Drive performance in production yield, throughput, labor productivity, line efficiency, downtime reduction, waste control and schedule adherence.
• Optimize production workflows, shift structures, manpower allocation, inventory accuracy and asset utilization.
• Conduct regular operational performance reviews and implement corrective actions where required.

Poultry Marination & Vegetable Processing

• Provide operational leadership across poultry thawing, cutting, marination, packing and chilled or frozen product handling processes.
• Oversee vegetable receiving, washing, cutting, processing and packing operations.
• Ensure effective control of temperature, traceability, allergens, cross-contamination risks, foreign materials, shelf life and cold-chain requirements.
• Improve process capability, product consistency, recipe adherence, yield and finished-product quality.
• Support product commercialization, production trials, scale-up activities and introduction of new products.

Food Safety, Quality & HSE

• Ensure full compliance with company standards, franchisor requirements, food regulations and recognized food safety systems.
• Lead implementation and effectiveness of HACCP, GMP, sanitation, environmental monitoring, traceability and recall readiness programs.
• Maintain a strong culture of food safety, quality and occupational health and safety throughout the factory.
• Ensure the facility remains audit-ready and all corrective actions are effectively implemented and sustained.

Engineering, Maintenance & Asset Reliability

• Partner with Engineering and Maintenance teams to maximize equipment reliability and factory performance.
• Monitor preventive maintenance effectiveness and minimize equipment downtime.
• Support factory improvements, equipment upgrades and operational readiness initiatives.
• Contribute to equipment selection, commissioning and startup activities when required.

Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement

• Drive manufacturing excellence initiatives focused on safety, quality, service, productivity and cost reduction.
• Utilize Lean principles, structured problem-solving and root cause analysis to eliminate losses and improve operational performance.
• Standardize best practices and operating procedures across the factory.
• Identify and implement automation and technology solutions to improve productivity, consistency and operational efficiency.
• Manage factory operating budgets and production cost performance.
• Monitor material consumption, yield losses, labor costs, utilities, maintenance expenditure and inventory performance.
• Identify opportunities for sustainable productivity improvements and cost optimization.
• Support preparation of capital expenditure proposals and business cases for equipment upgrades, capacity expansion and factory improvements.
• Lead, coach and develop factory management and operational teams.
• Establish clear objectives, monitor performance and strengthen accountability across the operation.
• Support workforce planning, recruitment, onboarding, succession planning and capability development.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive and high-performance culture.

Risk & Business Continuity

• Identify operational, production, food safety, equipment and people-related risks.
• Develop and maintain contingency plans for production disruptions, utility failures, supply interruptions and product recalls.
• Lead operational response and recovery activities during incidents and emergencies.

Stakeholder Management & Reporting

• Provide accurate, timely and action-oriented performance updates to senior management.
• Build effective relationships with internal stakeholders, franchisors, regulatory authorities, auditors, suppliers, contractors and equipment vendors.
• Utilize operational and financial data to identify trends, prioritize actions and support business decisions.

Key Stakeholders:

Internal

Operations, QA, Supply Chain, Procurement, Finance, HR, Engineering, Maintenance, Warehouse, Development, Construction and IT.

External

Franchisors, regulatory authorities, municipalities, auditors, suppliers, equipment manufacturers, contractors, vendors and consultants.

Qualifications:

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Food Technology, Food Science, Food Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management or a related discipline.
• Postgraduate qualification in Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain or Business Management is advantageous.

Experience

• Minimum 8 years of progressive experience in food manufacturing operations.
• Significant experience in poultry, meat, protein or food processing environments.
• Proven hands-on factory management experience with responsibility for production, quality, food safety, people leadership and cost performance.
• Strong experience in production planning, budgeting, production costing and operational improvement.
• Poultry marination experience is mandatory.
• Experience in vegetable processing, chilled or frozen foods, QSR supply chains or GCC food manufacturing is preferred.
• Working knowledge of HACCP, GFSI-recognized food safety systems and occupational health and safety requirements.

Leadership & Technical Capabilities

• Strong operational leadership with a hands-on management style.
• Excellent people management and team development capability.
• Strong problem-solving, root cause analysis and decision-making skills.
• Commercial and financial acumen with experience managing budgets and costs.
• Knowledge of factory design, process flows, hygienic zoning, equipment and automation technologies.
• Strong planning, communication, reporting and change management skills.
• Experience using ERP and manufacturing systems such as Oracle.
• Fluent in spoken and written English. Arabic is an advantage.