Sushi Head Chef

Zuma Restaurants; Saudi Arabia; On-site; SAR 280,000 - 420,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

World-class training

Global opportunities

Family meals

Rewards & recognition

Staff discount

Job summary

Zuma Restaurants in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, seeks a Sushi Head Chef to lead our sushi operation, ensuring exceptional quality, consistency, and guest satisfaction across all services.

You will mentor a skilled sushi team, optimize prep and presentation, and collaborate with senior leadership to continuously elevate the dining experience with seasonal and traditional Japanese techniques.

Qualifications

• Genuine love for Japanese cuisine and strong passion for sushi
• Proven experience as Sushi Head Chef or senior sushi leader in luxury, high-volume settings
• Deep knowledge of sushi preparation: fish cutting, rice, sashimi, nigiri, maki, and traditional techniques
• Strong leadership: ability to inspire, develop, and manage a sushi team
• Team player with collaborative work style across a large culinary team
• Solid operational and commercial awareness: manage food costs, stock, and kitchen performance
• Highly organized, hands-on, calm, and focused in fast-paced environments
• Guest-focused and passionate about delivering memorable dining experiences
• Meticulous attention to detail to maintain top sushi quality and presentation

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the sushi operation to uphold top-quality, consistency, presentation, and taste during service
• Maintain sushi mise en place, fish prep, and kitchen prep for smooth service
• Mentor and develop the sushi team with clear training and guidance
• Ensure recipes are prepared and delivered to Zuma standards consistently
• Handle, prepare, and store fish and all sushi ingredients to maintain freshness and safety
• Collaborate with senior management to review guest feedback and improve offerings
• Monitor sushi section costs, stock levels, quality, and waste for commercial efficiency
• Ensure health, safety, hygiene, and food safety standards at all times
• Work with the culinary team to refine offerings with seasonal ingredients and traditional techniques

Job description

As a Zuma Sushi Head Chef, you'll be at the heart of our guest experience. You'll create memorable moments, embody our vibrant restaurant energy, and play a crucial role in maintaining the high standards that define the Roka experience.

Zuma is a contemporary Japanese restaurant collection, inspired by the dynamic Izakaya dining style. Our global collection includes four incredible locations across the Middle East; Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Riyadh. Our venues are icons in each of their hospitality landscapes, demonstrating our commitment to excellence and to elevating our guest experiences. Zuma is proud to be part of the Azumi collection.

Life at Zuma

At Zuma, we're more than a restaurant – we're a vibrant community fuelled by the energy that flows from our Robata grills, guided by our core values:

Honor the Mastery - we celebrate every detail, always striving for perfection – putting pride in everything we do

Do Unto Others - we support each other to be at our best, treating every team member and guest with warmth and openness

Embrace the Energy - we bring passion and positivity to everything we do

Main Duties

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Lead and oversee the sushi operation, ensuring the highest standards of food quality, consistency, presentation and taste throughout every service
• Maintain all sushi mise en place, fish preparation and kitchen preparation at a sufficient level to ensure a smooth and uninterrupted flow of food during service
• Lead, mentor and develop the sushi team, providing clear training, guidance and support to maintain and exceed Zuma standards
• Take overall responsibility for the performance of the sushi section, ensuring all dishes are prepared and delivered consistently to the required standards
• Ensure the correct handling, preparation and storage of fish and all sushi ingredients, maintaining the highest standards of freshness, quality and food safety
• Work closely with the senior management team to evaluate guest feedback and continuously identify opportunities to improve the sushi offering and overall dining experience
• Manage and monitor sushi section costs, stock levels, product quality and waste, ensuring the operation remains commercially effective
• Ensure all health, safety, hygiene and food safety standards are consistently maintained throughout the sushi operation
• Work closely with the senior culinary team to develop and refine the sushi offering, incorporating seasonal ingredients, traditional Japanese techniques and innovative Japanese-inspired concepts

What We Look For

Our ideal candidate embodies our values and the following:

• A genuine love for Japanese cuisine with a strong passion for sushi and Japanese culinary techniques
• Proven experience as a Sushi Head Chef, or senior sushi leadership role within a luxury, high-volume restaurant or similar operation
• Strong technical knowledge of sushi preparation, including fish cutting, sushi rice, sashimi, nigiri, maki and other traditional Japanese techniques
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire, develop and manage a sushi team
• A natural team player who is comfortable working collaboratively with a large and diverse culinary team
• Strong operational and commercial awareness, with experience managing food costs, stock, product quality and kitchen performance
• Naturally organised, hands-on and able to remain calm and focused in a fast-paced environment
• Naturally friendly, guest-focused and passionate about creating memorable dining experiences
• Strong attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining consistently high standards of sushi quality, presentation and execution

Benefits

We offer incredible career growth, international opportunities, and the chance to contribute to a world-renowned brand, where every detail from the finest ingredients to our unrivalled atmosphere is crafted to perfection.

As part of our team, you'll enjoy:

• World-Class training, designed to inspire and educate
• Global opportunities, experience hospitality around the globe with our five incredible brands
• Family Meals are shared daily
• Rewards & Recognition, we value our team and celebrate your contributions to our success with meaningful rewards and recognition
• Staff discount, enjoy exclusive discounts across the Azumi group, worldwide!

Our Commitment to Inclusivity

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome all applicants. If you require any assistance to make the recruitment process more accessible, please let one of our Talent Acquisition team know.

Ready to create some magic

Join us and bring your talent to a team that's elevating contemporary dining on a global stage.