Nordic Head Chef & QA Lead

HMSHost Finland Oy; Vantaa; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Avolta is seeking a Nordic Head Chef & Quality Assurance Lead to own food safety, quality, and culinary standards across the Nordics, including Sweden and Finland. You will safeguard compliance and drive continuous improvement to ensure top guest experiences.

Based at Helsinki Airport or Stockholm Arlanda Airport, the role leads audits, specifications, allergen declarations and nutritional information while collaborating with Operations, Procurement and F&B teams.

Qualifications

• Professional culinary qualification or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Own and continuously develop the Nordic HACCP and Food Safety framework.

Job description

Location: Helsinki Airport, Finland or Stockholm Arlanda Airport, Sweden

Shape the future of food safety, quality and culinary excellence across the Nordics

Are you an experienced food safety and quality professional with strong culinary credibility? Do you thrive in a role where you can influence standards across multiple countries, locations and concepts?

We are looking for a Nordic Head Chef & Quality Assurance Lead to take ownership of food safety, quality assurance and culinary standards across Avolta’s Nordic food & beverage operations. In this highly visible regional role, you will safeguard compliance, drive continuous improvement and help ensure that every guest experience meets the highest standards of quality and food safety.

Your Mission

As Nordic Head Chef & Quality Assurance Lead, you will lead food safety and culinary standards across the Nordics, ensuring full HACCP compliance, operational excellence, regulatory adherence and a consistently high-quality guest experience while protecting the company’s reputation and supporting business performance.

What You’ll Be Doing

Lead Food Safety & Quality Assurance

• Own and continuously develop the Nordic HACCP and Food Safety framework.
• Drive compliance with food safety legislation, policies and company standards across the Nordic countries (Sweden, Finland and from 2027 also Latvia).
• Lead food safety audits, inspections and corrective action processes.
• Own the governance of product specifications, allergen declarations and nutritional information.
• Investigate food safety incidents and drive preventive actions.
• Ensure all locations remain audit-ready and operate to the highest hygiene and food safety standards.

Drive Culinary Excellence

• Define and maintain culinary standards across the Nordic region.
• Own recipe development, recipe costing and product specifications.
• Ensure consistency in food quality, preparation methods and presentation.
• Support menu launches, new concepts and commercial initiatives.
• Monitor food quality performance and drive continuous improvement.

Partner with the Business

• Work closely with Operations, Procurement, Supply Chain and F&B teams.
• Collaborate with suppliers and manufacturers to ensure quality and specification compliance.
• Act as the key food safety expert for the business.
• Coach and develop Kitchen Managers and kitchen teams across the Nordics.
• Build a strong food safety culture and capability within the organisation.

What We’re Looking For

• Professional culinary qualification or equivalent experience.
• At least five years’ leadership experience in multi-site food service, hospitality, travel retail, catering, restaurant or retail food operations.
• Strong expertise in HACCP, food safety management systems and food legislation.
• Proven experience leading audits, inspections and compliance programmes.
• Experience developing standards, processes and training programmes.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Fluent English and either Swedish or Finnish.
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly within the Nordic region.

It Would Be Great If You Also Have

• Experience from an international or multi-country organisation.
• Food safety or quality management certifications.
• Experience leading food safety initiatives across multiple countries.
• Knowledge of Nordic food authorities and regulatory frameworks.

Why Join Avolta?

This is a unique opportunity to make a visible impact across one of the Nordic region’s leading travel food & beverage businesses. You will have the freedom to shape food safety and quality standards, influence culinary development and work closely with colleagues across multiple countries and concepts.

You’ll join a business that values collaboration, continuous improvement and a passion for delivering exceptional guest experiences.

Practical Information

This is a full-time, permanent position based at either Helsinki Airport or Stockholm Arlanda Airport.

As the role operates within a security-classified airport environment, successful candidates must pass a security clearance and hold a valid work and residence permit in Finland or Sweden.

Osaamisalue: Hotelli-, ravitsemus- & matkailuala