Chef De Cuisine (Catering)

Leylaty Group; Jeddah; On-site; SAR 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Leylaty Group is seeking a Chef de Cuisine to lead culinary operations, translating the Executive Chef's vision into high-volume central catering and on-site events. You will mentor the team, ensure safety, quality, and cost control, and contribute to menu development across all operations.

The role requires on-site leadership for events, strong staff scheduling, and collaboration with the Executive Sous Chef to maintain peak production efficiency and brand standards.

Qualifications

• Leads and mentors culinary staff across production shifts.
• Involves menu development and maintaining consistency in quality and safety.
• Requires strong organizational and communication skills for events and operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise all culinary staff during production shifts in the catering unit.
• Oversee preparation, cooking, and adherence to recipes and production timelines for daily ops and events.
• Implement quality control to ensure taste, presentation, and portion consistency.

Skills

Leadership

Menu planning

Training

Scheduling

R&D

Communication

Problem-solving

Adaptability

Tools

HACCP

Job description

Position Purpose

The Chef de Cuisine is the culinary operations leader responsible for translating the Executive Chef's vision into reality.

This position's core purpose is to ensure the flawless execution and consistent excellence of all food production, both in terms of quality, presentation, and safety across the high-volume central catering unit and during the seamless, on-site service of all outside catering events.

Leading and mentoring the culinary team to maintain peak efficiency in production while serving as the on-site culinary commander for events.

The Chef de Cuisine is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the kitchen, ensuring the highest standards of food safety, food quality, presentation, and service. This role involves managing kitchen staff, controlling costs, and maintaining health and safety standards. The Chef de Cuisine plays a critical role in menu development and maintaining consistency across all culinary operations.

Main Responsibilities

In-Unit Production Management

• Lead and Supervise: Direct and manage all culinary staff during production shifts within the catering unit, ensuring smooth and efficient operation.
• Menu Execution: Oversee the preparation and cooking of all menu items, strictly adhering to recipes, quality standards, and established production timelines for both daily operations and scheduled events.
• Quality Control: Implement and monitor strict quality control measures to ensure consistency in taste, presentation, and portion size across all prepared foods.
• Inventory and Ordering: Collaborate with the Executive Sous Chef on inventory management, minimize waste, and assist with ordering and receiving ingredients to maintain optimal stock levels.
• Hygiene and Safety: Enforce and uphold all health, safety, and sanitation standards and regulations (HACCP included) within the kitchen.

Off-Site Catering Event Execution

• Logistics and Setup: Lead the culinary setup, organization, and execution for all off-site catering events, ensuring the seamless transfer and preparation of food.
• On-Site Leadership: Act as the culinary representative on-site, managing the event kitchen operations, supervising the event culinary team, and coordinating with the front-of-house management.
• Client Interaction: Maintain a professional and hospitable demeanor when interacting with clients, ensuring their culinary needs and expectations are met or exceeded during the event.
• Presentation: Ensure all food presented at the event meets the highest aesthetic and quality standards, maintaining the brand's reputation.
• Breakdown: Oversee the proper breakdown, packaging, and transport of all equipment and leftover food post-event.

Leadership and Administration

• Training and Development: Train, mentor, and motivate culinary staff, promoting a culture of learning, excellence, and professionalism.
• Scheduling: Assist the Executive Sous Chef in creating and managing staff schedules for both in-unit production and off-site events.
• R&D: Assist the Executive Chef in menu development, testing new recipes, and optimizing production methods to improve efficiency and quality.
• Reporting: Regularly report on kitchen performance, inventory status, and event feedback to the Executive Chef and Executive Sous Chef.

Key Competencies

• Strong Leadership: Proven ability to lead, delegate, and motivate a large and diverse culinary team under pressure.
• Organizational Skills: Exceptional attention to detail and ability to manage complex logistics for simultaneous production and off-site events.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills for coordinating with management, staff, and clients.
• Problem-Solving: Decisive and quick-thinking in resolving issues that arise during production or on-site at events.
• Adaptability: Capacity to thrive in a fast-paced environment and handle the unique challenges presented by both central kitchen production and varying off-site event locations.