Operations & Compliance Manager – QSR Cloud Kitchen (Newly Established QSR Group)

Black Pearl Consult; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Black Pearl is expanding its UAE footprint in QSR and Cloud Kitchen formats and is recruiting an Operations & Compliance Manager who will take full ownership of setting up, regulating, and running multi-location operations from the ground up.

The role demands hands-on leadership, superb organization, and deep familiarity with UAE/GCC F&B regulations; you will drive pre-opening readiness, licensing, procurement and supplier audits, central kitchen setup, SOPs, and KPI tracking across sites.

Qualifications

• Experience in F&B operations, preferably QSR or cloud kitchens.
• Strong knowledge of UAE/GCC municipality and food safety regulations.
• Proven experience in location selection, lease negotiation and pre-opening operations.
• Experience building supply chain systems and managing vendors.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• UAE/GCC driving license preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage all regulatory requirements for QSR cloud kitchen and central kitchen setups in the UAE/GCC.
• Secure timely approvals for food licenses, HACCP, municipality permits, Civil Defense and trade licenses.
• Maintain compliance calendars for renewals, inspections and legal documentation.
• Liaise with authorities, consultants, free zones and government portals to ensure readiness.
• Identify and validate sites for cloud kitchens and QSR outlets based on footfall, access and cost.
• Lead lease negotiations, contract renewals and landlord coordination.
• Drive central kitchen setup, including workflows, equipment planning, and hygiene procedures.
• Establish SOPs for production, dispatch, storage and waste control.
• Collaborate with culinary teams to ensure consistent output.
• Identify and onboard suppliers; conduct audits and ensure HACCP/ISO/Halal compliance.
• Support procurement with cost-efficient supply-chain models and last-mile plans.
• Manage pre-opening processes from regulatory filings to site setup and launch.
• Coordinate cross-functionally with procurement, HR, finance, marketing and culinary teams.
• Track KPIs including COGS, waste, supplier performance and opening timelines.

Skills

Regulatory compliance

Project management

Vendor management

Food safety

Job description

A newly established and fast-growing QSR and Cloud Kitchen group in the UAE is expanding its footprint across the Middle East. To support this growth Black Pearl is recruiting an experienced Operations & Compliance Manager who will take full ownership of setting up regulating and running multi-location QSR operations from the ground up.

This role is ideal for someone who is hands-on highly organized operationally strong and deeply familiar with the UAE/GCC F&B regulatory environment. You will be responsible for ensuring smooth pre-opening operations supply chain readiness kitchen compliance and continuous operational excellence across all sites.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage all regulatory requirements for QSR cloud kitchen and central kitchen setups in the UAE/GCC.

• Ensure timely approvals for food licenses HACCP municipality permits Civil Defense and trade licenses.

• Maintain compliance calendars for renewals inspections and legal documentation.

• Liaise with authorities consultants free zones and government portals to ensure operational readiness.

  Location Scouting & Rental Management

• Identify and validate potential sites for cloud kitchens and QSR outlets based on footfall accessibility delivery zones and cost efficiency.

• Lead lease negotiations contract renewals exit terms and landlord coordination.

• Conduct feasibility assessments for shared kitchens commissary kitchens and regional expansion opportunities.

  Central Kitchen & Operations Setup

• Drive the setup and integration of central kitchen workflows equipment planning hygiene procedures and production systems.

• Establish SOPs for production dispatch receiving storage waste control and food safety.

• Work closely with culinary teams to ensure consistent output across all locations.

  Supply Chain & Vendor Development

• Identify and onboard suppliers across proteins vegetables sauces condiments and QSR raw materials.

• Conduct supplier audits and ensure compliance with HACCP ISO and Halal certifications.

• Support procurement by developing cost-efficient supply-chain models and last-mile distribution plans.

  Operational Governance & Pre-Opening Execution

• Manage full pre-opening processesfrom regulatory filings to site setup and operational launch.

• Coordinate cross-functionally with procurement HR finance marketing and culinary teams.

• Track operational KPIs including COGS waste control supplier performance and opening timelines.

Requirements

To be considered for this role you need to meet the following criteria:

• 810 years of experience in F&B operations preferably in QSR cloud kitchens or FMCG.

• Strong understanding of UAE/GCC municipality and food safety regulations.

• Proven experience in location selection lease negotiation and pre-opening operations.

• Experience building supply chain systems and managing vendors.

• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

• UAE/GCC driving license preferred.