Executive Chef at Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre

Hilton Worldwide, Inc.; Dubai International Financial Centre; On-site; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A luxury hotel brand located in the Dubai International Financial Centre is seeking an Executive Chef. This role involves overseeing culinary operations, ensuring high standards of food quality, and leading a motivated kitchen team. Ideal candidates will have significant experience in luxury culinary environments, outstanding leadership skills, and a strong focus on guest satisfaction. You will be part of an elite team, driving innovation and maintaining the prestige of our dining venues.

Qualifications

• Experience as an Executive Chef in luxury hotel brands.
• Solid background in menu development.
• Fluency in English and social media expertise.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage the Culinary and Stewarding business plan.
• Ensure exceptional guest experiences through quality food.
• Lead and inspire the Culinary teams, maintaining high standards.

Skills

Leadership

Food presentation

Menu development

Communication

Relationship management

Creativity

Education

Internationally recognized degree or diploma

Tools

F&D systems

MS Office

Job description

Job Description - Executive Chef at Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre (HOT0C5U6)

Executive Chef at Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre

Job Number: HOT0C5U6

Work Locations

Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai 74777

The Executive Chef at Waldorf Astoria DIFC, a Forbes 5-Star hotel, is responsible of the hotel’s culinary strategy and daily kitchen operations, ensuring exceptional menu quality, consistency, and guest experiences across all dining venues. This role will develop a high-performing team, drive efficiency and profitability, maintain the highest brand and hygiene standards, and position the hotel’s restaurants and bars as preferred luxury destinations within the market.

What will I be doing?

Commercial

• Develop the Culinary and Stewarding business plan, considering market strategy, financial targets and business volumes, as well as customer and team member experience.
• Manage the Culinary and Stewarding budget and forecast to support achievement of the hotel’s commercial goals.
• Review departmental results - including sales, food costs, profit margins, wastage, breakage, guest satisfaction - and take action with the Culinary and Stewarding management team to improve performance.
• Partner with the F&D Operations team to create attractive F&D concepts, menus, products and promotions that drive revenue and profit.
• Deliver delicious, high quality, well-presented food to meet guests’ needs - and Instagram feeds!
• Support Hilton’s sustainability goals through local sourcing strategies, use of seasonal produce, minimizing food waste, recycling, and efficient energy and water consumption.

Exceptional Guest Experiences

• Ensure the Culinary team prepare, present and deliver dishes on time, with pride and precision, to create exceptional guest experiences.
• Make sure that food allergies and dietary requirements are treated with absolute seriousness and that all chefs are trained on correct food handling.
• Review and act on guest feedback, taking prompt action to resolve guest complaints and improve guest loyalty.

Collaborate with F&D Operations to enhance the hotel’s image through online reputation management for F&D, driving positive reviews on key platforms and websites.

• Lead, develop and inspire the Culinary and Stewarding teams, creating an inclusive environment where all Team Members can thrive and achieve their professional goals.
• Practice great people management, from recruitment to training to succession planning and recognition.
• Develop an efficient Culinary and Stewarding workforce plan to identify current and future needs based on forecast business volumes, budgets and HR guidelines.
• Communicate well and often, building great relationships with key stakeholders.
• Make sure Culinary and Stewarding operations strictly comply with all regulations (including health, safety and hygiene, food safety certification, daily kitchen records and labelling) and that potentially hazardous situations are identified, reported and corrected.
• Work with the Purchasing team to identify and select suppliers and create efficient purchasing processes. Put controls in place to maintain high quality of produce and equipment.
• Work with the Finance team to set the minimum and maximum stocks of all food, material and equipment. Make sure FFE, kitchen upkeep and inventories are maintained.
• Keep up to date with what is happening in F&D – current and future trends, markets, ingredients, competitors and suppliers – to drive innovation.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for an inspirational leader who is passionate about food and drinks, with solid experience in a similar role and an internationally recognized degree or diploma. Experience in menu development is essential. Expertise in leading Michelin Guide award-winning restaurants would be an advantage.

To be successful in this position you will have:

• Current/Previous experience as Executive Chef
• Solid experience with luxury hotel brands
• Commercial focus, with a demonstrated ability to deliver exceptional business performance and results.
• Inspirational leadership and people management skills, with experience in leading, developing and motivating a large team and working effectively with other departments.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, able to deliver a compelling message for the right audience, from team briefings to commercial business presentations to representing the hotel publicly.
• Guest focus, experienced in implementing and maintaining the highest standards of food production, quality and hygiene to deliver memorable guest experiences.
• Effective relationship management skills to build and maintain good working relationships with key stakeholders, internally and externally, including suppliers.
• Creativity, strategic-thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment while remaining calm and focused under pressure.

You will also be fluent in English, a social media expert, and comfortable using F&D systems and MS Office.

What will it be like to work for Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts?

Waldorf Astoria provides guests the exceptional environment and the personalized attention of True Waldorf Service that creates a singular experience. If you understand the value of personalized attention and know how to treat even the most extraordinarily different experiences with the same rich level of customer service, you may just be the person we are looking for!