Kitchen Manager jobs in United Arab Emirates

Job Title: Chef Product Development (QSR / Cloud Kitchen)

Location: Dubai UAE

Employment Type: Full-Time

Department: Culinary Innovation & Operations

Cuisine: Indian Sandwiches Rolls Fast-food or QSR Fusion-focused

About the Role :

We are building a next-generation QSR Cloud Kitchen brand serving high-quality, consistent, and scalable food experiences across multiple locations and formats. We are looking for a Product Development Chef who can take ownership of menu innovation from concept to commercialization.

This role requires deep knowledge of regional and international cuisines, strong R&D ability, and the capability to convert recipes into standardized, scalable, and cost-efficient production systems whether executed in-house through central kitchens or via outsourced supply-chain partners.

1. Product Innovation & Development – Indian Asian Fast-food or Fusion-focused cloud kitchens.
   • Research conceptualize and create new menu items aligned with brand identity and market trends in the GCC.
   • Conduct multiple rounds of product iteration improvement and refinement based on sensory evaluation.
   • Adapt recipes to fit the local palate of the UAE and GCC markets while maintaining brand DNA.
   • Conduct competitive benchmarking across Dubai's QSR and cloud-kitchen ecosystem.
2. Recipe Engineering & Standardization
   • Develop accurate recipes, formulations and portion sizes for every dish.
   • Ensure dishes can be reproduced with consistency across all kitchens (cloud, central or outsourced).
   • Build detailed standardized recipes (spec sheets) covering ingredients, equipment, steps, timings, yields and plating/packaging methods.
   • Translate complex recipes into operationally simple SOPs suitable for high-volume QSR operations.
   • Understanding nutritional component and nutritional values of the food items created.
   • Someone who understands processes of retort frozen preservative based hot fill products and technologies.
3. Sensory Evaluation & Quality Control
   • Lead internal tasting panels; document sensory feedback and continuously iterate to reach final approved benchmarks.
   • Maintain taste, texture and visual consistency across all locations.
   • Collaborate with QA and Operations teams to ensure repeatable quality in daily operations.
4. Supply Chain & Production Integration
   • Work with procurement to shortlist suppliers, evaluate raw materials and ensure ingredient consistency.
   • Design recipes considering cost targets, shelf‑life, storage constraints and scalability.
   • Collaborate with central kitchen production teams to scale recipes from lab to batch production.
   • Support outsourcing partners (co‑packers, commissaries) in establishing production SOPs and quality guidelines.
5. Cloud Kitchen Operational Support
   • Develop SOPs for every kitchen process including preparation, cooking, assembly, packaging and dispatch.
   • Train kitchen teams on new product workflows and quality standards.
   • Conduct periodic kitchen audits to monitor product adherence, hygiene standards and operational compliance.

• 510 years of experience as Chef R&D Chef Innovation Chef or Culinary Head in QSR cloud kitchens or fast-casual brands.
• Strong understanding of Middle Eastern, Indian and Asian Fast-Casual and Fusion cuisines (flexible based on brand positioning).
• Experience with commercial manufacturing of food products technologies like frozen retort preservative based emulsified products etc.
• Deep experience in recipe development, sensory analysis and high-volume food production.
• Experience with central kitchen operations, commissary models and outsourced production partners.
• Strong documentation process-thinking and organizational skills.
• Ability to balance creativity with cost scalability and operational simplicity.
• Knowledge of Dubai/UAE food safety standards (HACCP, Municipality regulations) preferred.