Sous Chef - Italian Cuisine

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group; Muscat; On-site; OMR 28,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Mandarin Oriental Muscat is seeking a senior culinary leader to collaborate with the Chef de Cuisine and guide Essenza's Italian kitchen. You will drive menu development, supervise daily operations, and uphold MOHG standards for quality, safety, and presentation.

You will mentor kitchen staff, plan rosters, ensure VIP dietary requests are accommodated, and stay ahead of trends to keep Essenza's cuisine authentic and innovative.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in authentic Italian culinary techniques, including regional Italian dishes, pasta and sauce preparation.
• Proven ability to lead a culinary team in a high-end, fine-dining environment.
• Excellent understanding of food safety, hygiene, and kitchen management practices.
• Strong communication, organizational, and leadership skills.
• Experience coordinating with Chef de Cuisine on menus for special promotions and events.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily kitchen operations for Essenza restaurant.
• Prepare weekly staff rosters and manage staffing needs.
• Ensure strict adherence to local food safety regulations and MOHG standards.
• Supervise cleanliness and maintenance of the kitchen.
• Monitor VIP guest requirements and special dietary requests.
• Stay updated with global food trends to keep Essenza innovative.

Skills

Italian culinary techniques

Leadership

Food safety & hygiene

Team management

Menu development & promotions

Job description

Collaborate with the Chef de Cuisine to create dishes and suggest menu items for special promotions and events Ensure all plating guides are accurate up to date and followed according to dish description cooking method and presentation standards Maintain the authenticity of all Italian cuisine prepared adhering to standards set and agreed by the Chef de Cuisine Identify areas for improvement in food quality and communicate suggestions to the Chef de Cuisine Foster proactive efficient and effective inter-departmental communication to promote teamwork and enthusiasm across the Food amp Beverage division Oversee daily ordering and requisition of ingredients Provide leadership direction and support to all kitchen colleagues at all times Assist the Chef de Cuisine in preparing weekly staff rosters Ensure strict adherence to food safety standards as defined by Mandarin Oriental Muscat Safe amp Sound and local Muscat Municipality regulations Supervise the cleanliness and maintenance of the Essenza kitchen following up on reports to maintain an immaculate environment Ensure all Essenza cuisine displays are safe creative clean and presented according to Chef de Cuisine standards Uphold Mandarin Oriental Muscat grooming and appearance standards reflecting professionalism and care Monitor VIP guest requirements including special dietary requests Ensure customer satisfaction in accordance with MOHG Legendary Quality Experiences LQEs MOHG Pillars and MOQA service standards Communicate rules and regulations to colleagues using the Colleague Handbook and other appropriate documents Conduct counselling and disciplinary actions in line with company procedures Attend daily and weekly team meetings Conduct hands-on dish training to keep food knowledge and cooking techniques current Share expertise in Essenza specialty Italian cuisine with colleagues Oversee and manage all food safety-related administration for Essenza restaurant Comply with Jardine audit procedures and other departmental policies Assist the Chef de Cuisine with administrative tasks and support other kitchen areas as required Stay updated with global food trends to ensure Essenza cuisine remains innovative and aligned with international standards Perform other reasonable duties as assigned by the Chef de Cuisine

Required Skills & Experience

Strong experience in authentic Italian culinary techniques, including regional Italian dishes, pasta and sauce preparation. Knowledge of contemporary Italian dining trends. Proven ability to lead a culinary team in a high-end, fine-dining environment. Excellent understanding of food safety, hygiene, and kitchen management practices. Strong communication, organizational, and leadership skills. Passion for delivering high-quality, consistent, and innovative Italian cuisine.