Head Chef

Sunset Hospitality Group; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 360,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Sunset Hospitality Group is seeking a highly creative culinary leader for premium nightlife, lifestyle dining, entertainment-led or high-volume upscale concepts. Strong pre-opening experience and ability to launch concepts from concept to successful operation are essential.

You will lead kitchen strategy, develop high-impact menus, and own food cost, P&L and supplier relationships to drive profitability and guest satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as Chef De Cuisine or Head Chef in premium lifestyle dining, nightlife, entertainment-led or high-volume upscale dining concepts.
• Strong pre-opening experience within restaurant or lifestyle hospitality concepts is highly preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise in menu development, menu engineering, food costing and kitchen financial management.

Responsibilities

• Lead the overall culinary strategy and kitchen operations, ensuring consistently high standards of food quality, presentation and execution.
• Develop and evolve creative, commercially viable menus aligned with the concept, target clientele and overall guest experience.
• For new openings, lead all culinary aspects of pre-opening readiness, including kitchen setup, menu development and testing, recruitment, SOPs, supplier selection, OS&E coordination, training and opening preparation.
• Take ownership of food cost, kitchen P&L performance, menu engineering, purchasing, inventory and waste management, while maintaining quality standards.
• Build, lead and develop a high-performing culinary brigade capable of delivering consistent quality within a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
• Work closely with the General Manager, Beverage, Marketing and Entertainment teams to develop seasonal menus, events, activations and commercially driven dining experiences.
• Establish strong relationships with suppliers and ensure the sourcing of high-quality ingredients while optimizing pricing, availability and profitability.
• Monitor culinary KPIs and continuously identify opportunities to improve productivity, food cost, guest satisfaction and overall commercial performance.
• Maintain the highest standards of food safety, hygiene, HACCP and regulatory compliance across all kitchen operations.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Menu engineering

Food cost control

Pre-opening expertise

Staff development

Job description

Sunset Hospitality Group (SHG) is a leading multinational lifestyle hospitality group, with a wide portfolio encompassing Hotels & Resorts, Restaurants, Beach Clubs, Nightclubs, Fitness Centers, and more. SHG operates 113 properties in 26 countries with a commitment to deliver authentic and diverse hospitality experiences that bring people together, all around the world.

We are seeking a highly creative, commercially minded and hands-on culinary leader with a strong track record in premium nightlife, lifestyle dining, entertainment-led or high-volume upscale dining concepts. Strong pre-opening experience is highly preferred, with the ability to develop and establish a culinary operation from concept and menu development through to successful launch and ongoing performance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the overall culinary strategy and kitchen operations, ensuring consistently high standards of food quality, presentation and execution.
• Develop and evolve creative, commercially viable menus aligned with the concept, target clientele and overall guest experience.
• For new openings, lead all culinary aspects of pre-opening readiness, including kitchen setup, menu development and testing, recruitment, SOPs, supplier selection, OS&E coordination, training and opening preparation.
• Take ownership of food cost, kitchen P&L performance, menu engineering, purchasing, inventory and waste management, while maintaining quality standards.
• Build, lead and develop a high-performing culinary brigade capable of delivering consistent quality within a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
• Work closely with the General Manager, Beverage, Marketing and Entertainment teams to develop seasonal menus, events, activations and commercially driven dining experiences.
• Establish strong relationships with suppliers and ensure the sourcing of high-quality ingredients while optimizing pricing, availability and profitability.
• Monitor culinary KPIs and continuously identify opportunities to improve productivity, food cost, guest satisfaction and overall commercial performance.
• Maintain the highest standards of food safety, hygiene, HACCP and regulatory compliance across all kitchen operations.

Ideal Candidate:

• Proven experience as Chef De Cuisine or Head Chef within premium lifestyle dining, nightlife, entertainment-led or high-volume upscale dining concepts.
• Strong pre-opening experience within restaurant or lifestyle hospitality concepts is highly preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise in menu development, menu engineering, food costing and kitchen financial management.
• Strong understanding of high-volume operations while maintaining consistent food quality, presentation and speed of service.
• Creative and trend-aware, with the ability to develop a culinary offering that complements a high-energy, entertainment-led guest experience.
• Proven experience recruiting, developing and leading large, multicultural culinary teams.
• Strong commercial acumen with excellent knowledge of food cost, procurement, inventory and waste management.
• Previous international experience is considered an added advantage.