Sous Chef

Sunset Hospitality Group; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Sunset Hospitality Group is seeking an experienced Sous Chef to join the Isola Ristorante Abu Dhabi opening. You will support the Chef de Cuisine/Executive Chef in overseeing day‑to‑day kitchen operations, ensuring top quality, presentation, hygiene, and efficiency with a focus on Italian cuisine.

The ideal candidate has 3–5 years in a sous chef or leadership role within high‑end or luxury hospitality, strong people skills, and a passion for delivering authentic, high‑quality dishes.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3–5 years as Sous Chef or similar leadership role.
• Experience in high‑end restaurants or premium F&B concepts.
• Strong knowledge of Italian ingredients and techniques, both traditional and contemporary.
• Excellent leadership and team management skills.
• Strong understanding of food safety, hygiene and kitchen procedures.
• Organised, hands‑on, and able to perform in a fast‑paced environment.
• Passionate about food quality and guest experience.

Responsibilities

• Support the Chef de Cuisine/Executive Chef in daily kitchen operations.
• Ensure dishes are prepared and presented to concept recipes, quality standards and specs.
• Maintain high standards of quality, presentation, and portion control.
• Lead, supervise, and motivate the kitchen team during service.
• Ensure mise en place and coordination between kitchen sections.
• Monitor food preparation, storage, and hygiene compliance with standards.
• Assist with menu development, recipe creation, and seasonal updates.
• Monitor stock levels, product quality, and food costs, minimising waste.
• Coordinate with suppliers and purchasing for ingredients.
• Train and develop junior chefs and kitchen staff.
• Maintain high standards of cleanliness, organisation and efficiency.
• Support HACCP and company food safety standards.

Skills

Leadership

Italian cuisine

Food safety

Team management

Communication

Organised

Guest experience

Job description

Sunset Hospitality Group (SHG) is a leading global hospitality group, specializing in the development and operation of exceptional hospitality experiences across Hotels & Resorts, Restaurants, Beach Clubs, Nightlife, and Fitness. With a growing international portfolio across multiple destinations, SHG is recognized for creating distinctive lifestyle concepts that combine exceptional service, innovative experiences, and strong brand identities.

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced and passionate Sous Chef to join our opening of Isola Ristorante Abu Dhabi. The Sous Chef will support the Chef de Cuisine / Executive Chef in overseeing the day-to-day kitchen operations, ensuring consistently high food quality, presentation, hygiene, and efficiency. The ideal candidate will have strong experience in Italian cuisine and a genuine passion for delivering authentic and high-quality dishes.

Responsibilities

• Support the Chef de Cuisine / Executive Chef in managing daily kitchen operations.
• Ensure all dishes are prepared and presented according to the concept’s recipes, quality standards, and specifications.
• Maintain high standards of food quality, consistency, presentation, and portion control.
• Lead, supervise, and motivate the kitchen team during service.
• Ensure proper mise en place and smooth coordination between kitchen sections.
• Monitor food preparation, storage, and handling to ensure compliance with food safety and hygiene standards.
• Assist with menu development, recipe creation, and seasonal updates.
• Monitor stock levels, product quality, and food costs, minimising waste where possible.
• Coordinate with suppliers and the purchasing team to ensure the availability and quality of ingredients.
• Train and develop junior chefs and kitchen colleagues.
• Ensure the kitchen is maintained to a high standard of cleanliness, organisation, and efficiency.
• Support the implementation and maintenance of HACCP and company food safety standards.
• Assist with managing kitchen operations during busy services and special events.
• Perform other duties related to the role as assigned.

Required Skills

• Minimum 3–5 years of experience as a Sous Chef or in a similar kitchen leadership position.
• Experience within high-end restaurants, luxury hospitality, or premium F&B concepts is highly desirable.
• Strong knowledge of Italian ingredients, cooking techniques, and traditional and contemporary Italian cuisine.
• Excellent leadership and team management skills.
• Strong understanding of food safety, hygiene, and kitchen procedures.
• Organised, hands-on, and able to perform effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Passionate about food quality, consistency, and delivering an exceptional guest experience.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.