Executive Sous Chef – Culinary Operations & Excellence Leader at Kimpton Sevn Dubai (Pre-Opening)

InterContinental 62s Group plc; Dubai; On-site; AED 480,000 - 660,000; Full time

Job summary

Kimpton Sevn Dubai is seeking an Executive Sous Chef to lead and elevate culinary operations across luxury hotel outlets, events, and in-room dining. You will drive exceptional food quality, uphold Kimpton standards, and shape a high-performing culinary team.

The role demands extensive leadership experience in premium hospitality, pre-opening expertise, and a strong grasp of HACCP and kitchen operations to deliver outstanding guest experiences in a bold, lifestyle destination.

Qualifications

• Diploma or Degree in Culinary Arts, Hospitality Management, or related field.
• 8–12 years of progressive culinary leadership experience.
• Experience in luxury hotels or premium hospitality environments.
• Pre-opening experience highly desirable.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, HACCP, and kitchen operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day culinary operations across restaurants, bars, banquets, events, and in-room dining.
• Coach and develop culinary teams to foster talent.
• Support pre-opening recruitment, setup, SOPs, and trial operations.
• Maintain brand standards and guest satisfaction across all outlets.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Team development

Menu execution

Education

Diploma/Degree in Culinary Arts or Hospitality

Job description

At Kimpton Sevn Dubai, we are seeking an Executive Sous Chef to support and elevate culinary operations within one of Dubai's most anticipated lifestyle hospitality destinations.

This role is designed for a highly driven, creative, and operationally disciplined culinary leader who understands that exceptional dining experiences are built on strong leadership, flawless execution, innovation, and team collaboration—ensuring every restaurant, bar, event, and in-room dining experience consistently exceeds guest expectations.

One Hotel. A Bold Culinary Vision. One Extraordinary Standard of Excellence.

This is more than a traditional Executive Sous Chef role.

Kimpton Sevn Dubai is being created as a vibrant lifestyle destination where authentic hospitality, bold personalities, and exceptional food experiences come together. Every outlet will have its own distinctive identity, yet all will share one commitment to culinary excellence.

You will play a critical role in bringing the culinary vision to life—supporting kitchen operations, developing talent, driving consistency, and ensuring every guest experience reflects the creativity and energy of the Kimpton brand.

Why This Role Matters

Great kitchens are built on exceptional leadership.

As Executive Sous Chef, you will oversee day-to-day culinary operations while supporting the Cluster Director of Culinary in delivering operational excellence, team development, menu execution, and guest satisfaction.

You will serve as a key leader for the culinary team, ensuring standards are consistently maintained while fostering an environment of creativity, accountability, and continuous improvement.

This is a unique opportunity to shape the culinary culture of a landmark pre-opening hotel while building a high-performing team from the ground up.

Be the Operational Force Behind Culinary Excellence

You will work closely with the Cluster Director of Culinary while leading kitchen teams across restaurants, bars, banquets, events, and in-room dining operations.

From daily service execution and colleague development to menu implementation and operational readiness, you will help create culinary experiences that become defining moments for guests.

What We'll Support You to Do

• Drive Culinary Excellence: Deliver exceptional food quality, consistency, and operational standards
• Build High-Performing Culinary Teams: Recruit, mentor, and develop talented culinary professionals
• Support Pre-Opening Success: Help establish systems, standards, and a culture of excellence from day one

The Gig

Reporting to the Cluster Director of Culinary, the Executive Sous Chef will support all culinary operations at Kimpton Sevn Dubai.

• The Opportunity: Help shape the culinary identity of one of Dubai's most exciting lifestyle hospitality openings
• The Strategy: Deliver operational excellence, culinary consistency, and innovative guest experiences across all dining venues
• The Impact: Create memorable dining experiences while building a strong culinary culture and high-performing kitchen operation

You will be accountable for kitchen leadership, culinary standards, operational efficiency, food quality, colleague development, and guest satisfaction throughout the hotel.

Stay Human

At Kimpton, hospitality is personal.

This role is about passion, leadership, and creating meaningful experiences—both for guests and for the culinary teams who bring those experiences to life every day.

Your Day-to-Day

No two days are the same; your responsibilities will span a range of operational, creative, and leadership activities, including but not limited to:

Culinary Leadership & Standards

• Support the execution of the hotel's culinary vision and operational strategy
• Ensure all food is prepared and presented to the highest quality standards
• Maintain consistency across all outlets and culinary experiences
• Uphold Kimpton and IHG brand standards at all times

Operational Excellence

• Oversee daily kitchen operations across restaurants, bars, banquets, events, and IRD
• Ensure efficient service execution during all meal periods
• Monitor food quality, portion control, and production standards
• Drive continuous improvement in kitchen processes and workflow efficiency

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach, and inspire culinary colleagues across all kitchen areas
• Foster a culture of accountability, creativity, and teamwork
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and training initiatives
• Develop future culinary leaders through mentorship and coaching

Pre-Opening Culinary Excellence

• Support recruitment and development of the pre-opening culinary brigade
• Assist with kitchen setup, operational readiness, and equipment commissioning
• Implement SOPs, recipes, standards, and training programs
• Participate in trial operations, tastings, and opening readiness exercises

Menu Execution & Guest Experience

• Ensure menus are executed consistently and in line with culinary expectations
• Collaborate on menu development, promotions, and seasonal offerings
• Support VIP events, special functions, and unique guest experiences
• Continuously seek opportunities to elevate guest satisfaction

Financial & Operational Control

• Support management of food costs, labor costs, and departmental expenses
• Minimize waste while maximizing operational efficiency
• Assist with inventory management, purchasing controls, and stock monitoring
• Contribute to achieving departmental financial goals

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Restaurants & Bars, Banquets, Events, Purchasing, and Stewarding teams
• Support operational planning and business initiatives
• Collaborate with hotel leadership on guest experience enhancement
• Contribute to a culture of innovation and operational excellence

What Success Looks Like

• Consistently exceptional food quality and culinary execution
• Successful pre-opening and launch of Kimpton Sevn Dubai's culinary operations
• Strong, engaged, and highly motivated culinary teams
• Seamless kitchen operations supporting outstanding guest experiences
• Effective cost management and operational efficiency
• Positive guest feedback and strong culinary reputation

Who This Role Is Perfect For

• A passionate and experienced culinary leader ready for a major pre-opening opportunity
• Experienced in luxury hotels, lifestyle hospitality, or high-volume restaurant operations
• Strong in kitchen leadership, operations, and colleague development
• Passionate about creating memorable dining experiences
• Energized by fast-paced environments and opening new concepts

What We Need From You

Ideally, you bring some (or all) of the following qualifications and experience:

Education

• Diploma or Degree in Culinary Arts, Hospitality Management, or related field preferred

Experience

• 8–12 years of progressive culinary leadership experience within luxury hotels or premium hospitality environments
• Previous Executive Sous Chef or Senior Sous Chef experience preferred
• Multi-outlet culinary leadership experience strongly preferred
• Pre-opening experience highly desirable
• Strong knowledge of food safety, HACCP, quality assurance, and kitchen operations

Personal Attributes

• Passionate about culinary excellence and guest satisfaction
• Strong leadership and people development capabilities
• Highly organized and operationally disciplined
• Creative, innovative, and quality-focused
• Calm under pressure and solution-oriented
• Collaborative and committed to team success
• Driven to build a world-class culinary culture from the ground up

What You Can Expect from Us

At Kimpton Sevn Dubai, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts, we believe our success begins with our people.

We invest in you through competitive compensation, global travel privileges, and meaningful career growth opportunities within one of the world’s most respected hospitality groups.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing fair and inclusive employment opportunities to all colleagues and applicants, regardless of race, colour, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital or family status, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Through our myWellbeing framework, we actively support the physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing of our teams—because when our people are supported and thriving, they create exceptional experiences for our guests and each other

Kimpton Sevn Dubai: A Culture of Connection, Craft & Care

At Kimpton Sevn Dubai, you are not simply joining a team—you are becoming part of a culture that is personal, thoughtful, and distinctly human.

We are a close-knit, collaborative community where trust is earned, individuality is valued, and excellence is shaped through genuine care for people and experience.

We believe diverse perspectives strengthen our culture and inspire creativity. We seek individuals who are naturally intuitive, detail-oriented, and passionate about creating memorable moments that feel both effortless and meaningful.

At Kimpton, hospitality is bold yet refined, expressive yet intentional. More than a place to stay, we create spaces where guests feel connected, inspired, and truly welcomed—and where our teams feel empowered to bring their personality, creativity, and craftsmanship to everything they do.

Ready to Shape Something Distinctive?

If you do not meet every requirement but believe you bring the right energy, creativity, and passion for people, we would still love to hear from you.

Join Kimpton Sevn Dubai and be part of shaping a luxury lifestyle experience where individuality is celebrated, ideas are valued, and every detail contributes to something memorable.