Executive Chocolate Chef – Chocolate Factory

Expertise Recruitment; Dubai; On-site; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking an Executive Chocolate Chef to oversee operations at a large-scale chocolate manufacturing facility in Dubai. The ideal candidate will manage production lines, drive innovation, and ensure compliance with food safety standards. At least 10 years of experience in chocolate or confectionery manufacturing is required, along with strong leadership skills and technical knowledge of chocolate processing.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of experience in large-scale chocolate or confectionery manufacturing.
• Proven experience managing multiple chocolate production lines and machinery.
• Solid understanding of chocolate tempering curves and viscosity control.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage large-scale industrial chocolate production.
• Supervise workforce and ensure production efficiency.
• Develop and launch innovative chocolate products.
• Ensure compliance with GMP, HACCP, and ISO/FSSC standards.

Skills

Leadership

Technical knowledge of chocolate processing

Production planning

Lean Manufacturing

Creativity in product innovation

Fluent in English

Job description

Summary

We are seeking an Executive Chocolate Chef with extensive expertise in industrial chocolate manufacturing to lead operations at our large-scale production facility. The role requires a unique combination of culinary creativity and deep technical knowledge of chocolate processing and machinery. The ideal candidate will oversee production lines, drive innovation, ensure operational excellence, and manage a large workforce while upholding the highest quality and food safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage large-scale industrial chocolate production, including tempering, enrobing, moulding, cooling tunnels, dragée coating, and wrapping.
• Supervise and develop a workforce of 100 staff across production lines, operators, chocolatiers, and packaging teams.
• Oversee production planning, scheduling, and raw material control (cocoa butter, nuts, inclusions) to ensure efficiency and minimize waste.
• Troubleshoot technical issues, such as fat crystallization, viscosity control, bloom prevention, and machine calibration (cooling tunnels, moulding, enrobing).
• Develop and launch innovative chocolate products, including pralines, dragées, seasonal collections, and long shelf-life lines, balancing artisanal quality with scalable production.
• Drive operational excellence using OEE, Lean Manufacturing, and continuous improvement practices.
• Ensure full compliance with GMP, HACCP, and ISO/FSSC 22000 standards, maintaining consistent quality, hygiene, and safety across all lines.
• Train and mentor production teams, building technical skills and ensuring adherence to production standards.

Requirements

• Minimum 10 years of experience in large-scale chocolate or confectionery manufacturing.
• Proven expertise in managing multiple chocolate production lines and related machinery.
• Strong technical knowledge of tempering curves, viscosity control, bloom prevention, and chocolate crystallization.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in managing and developing large production teams (100 staff).
• Track record of product innovation in chocolate, with the ability to balance creativity and industrial scalability.
• Solid background in production planning, scheduling, and raw material management.
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing and OEE practices.
• Strong understanding of GMP, HACCP, and ISO/FSSC 22000 food safety standards.
• Fluent in English, both written and spoken.