Multi-Unit Executive / Head Chef – Culinary Operations

Career Nest Academy; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 360,000 - 480,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Duty meals

Annual flight ticket

Visa and relocation support

Job summary

Career Nest Academy in the UAE seeks an experienced Head Chef to lead a flavour-led fast-casual concept across Abu Dhabi and future openings. You will set the menu, ensure consistency across lunch service, delivery, and new openings, and report to the founder.

You will collaborate with the central kitchen, refine recipes, set standards, train teams, and drive food-cost control while delivering high-quality dishes across locations.

Qualifications

• Experience leading culinary teams across multiple sites.
• Ability to develop and refine menus with signature dishes.
• Strong English communication and collaborative leadership.

Responsibilities

• Audit and refine the existing menu and develop signature dishes.
• Work with central kitchen on batch recipes, yields, and prep schedules.
• Decide what to cook centrally and how it is stored and finished at outlets.
• Ensure dishes hold up in busy service, takeaway and delivery.
• Create recipe cards, prep guides, and train teams to standards.
• Control food cost, portions, wastage, and allergen standards.
• Lead culinary readiness for new flagship and future openings.

Skills

Head Chef experience

Senior Sous Chef

English communication

Job description

A growing, flavour-led fast-casual concept in the UAE, built around fresh ingredients, bowls, grilled proteins, vegetables, salads and house-made sauces. Restaurants in Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah, a flagship opening in Abu Dhabi, and more to follow.

This is a brand role rather than a single kitchen. You set the food for every location and make sure it tastes the same on a busy lunch service, on a delivery order and in a restaurant that has not opened yet. You report directly to the founder and shape the menu as the concept grows.

What the role covers

• Audit and refine the existing menu, keep what works and develop new signature dishes
• Work hands-on with the central kitchen on batch recipes, yields, portion specifications and preparation schedules
• Decide what is prepared centrally and how it is stored, transported and finished at each outlet
• Make sure every dish holds up in busy service, takeaway and delivery
• Create recipe cards, preparation guides and presentation standards, and train the teams to follow them
• Control food cost, portions, wastage, food safety and allergen standards
• Lead culinary readiness for the new flagship, menu launches and future openings

What we're looking for

• An experienced Head Chef, or an exceptional Senior Sous Chef ready for broader responsibility
• Real strength in proteins, vegetables, salads, dressings, sauces and marinades
• Experience in fast-casual, multi-site or central-kitchen operations
• Wood-fire or Josper experience is a strong advantage
• Practical, collaborative leadership and genuine openness to feedback
• Strong English communication

The package

• Competitive tax-free salary, all-inclusive
• Medical insurance and duty meals
• Annual flight ticket allowance
• Employment visa and relocation support for overseas candidates