Executive Head Chef

Executive Head Chef

Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE

Employment Type: Full-Time

About the Role

AK59 Cafe & Restaurant is seeking an exceptional Executive Head Chef to lead our culinary vision and kitchen operations. We are looking for a passionate leader who combines creativity with operational excellence, delivering outstanding dining experiences while maintaining the highest standards of quality, consistency, and efficiency.

This role is ideal for a chef with experience in premium cafés, boutique hospitality, or upscale all-day dining concepts who is eager to help shape a growing brand.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all aspects of kitchen operations, ensuring exceptional quality, consistency, and presentation.
• Design and develop innovative menus, seasonal offerings, and signature dishes that align with the restaurant’s identity.
• Drive culinary creativity while maintaining commercial viability and profitability.
• Oversee food costing, menu engineering, inventory management, purchasing, and supplier relationships.
• Recruit, train, mentor, and inspire the kitchen team to achieve excellence.
• Establish and maintain SOPs to ensure consistency across all menu items.
• Ensure full compliance with HACCP, food safety regulations, and hygiene standards.
• Monitor kitchen performance, productivity, labor costs, and waste reduction initiatives.
• Collaborate with management on business strategy, promotions, and continuous improvement.
• Foster a positive, disciplined, and professional kitchen culture.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of leadership experience as a Head Chef, Executive Chef, or Sous Chef ready to step into an Executive Chef role.
• Proven experience in premium cafés, boutique restaurants, or upscale all-day dining establishments is preferred.
• Strong expertise in international cuisine, breakfast and brunch, artisanal sandwiches, salads, pasta, desserts, pastries, cakes and modern café concepts.
• Strong understanding of menu engineering, food costing, inventory control, and kitchen financial performance.
• Excellent leadership, coaching, and team development skills.
• Thorough knowledge of HACCP and UAE food safety regulations.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, quality-driven environment.
• Culinary diploma or equivalent professional qualifications are preferred.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary package based on experience.
• Opportunity to influence and shape the culinary direction of a growing premium hospitality brand.
• Professional development and long-term career growth.
• Supportive management team and collaborative work environment.
• Staff meal on duty.

Preferred Candidate

• Currently based in the UAE or eligible to work in the UAE.
• Strong portfolio showcasing previous menu development and culinary creations.
• Experience opening new restaurants or cafés is highly desirable.

To Apply

Please send your CV along with

• A recent photo
• Portfolio of signature dishes and menu creations
• Current and expected salary
• Notice period or earliest available joining date

Pay: AED2,991.46 - AED13,669.65 per month

Work Location: In person