Operations Manager ( catering )

Job Purpose

Working Conditions

• The position is based in the UAE and requires regular presence in commercial kitchens, production facilities, stores, delivery areas, and client sites.
• Flexible hours, weekends, and public holidays may be required according to operational needs and catering schedules.
• Work location is in person.

Overall Operations

• Coordinate kitchen production, purchasing, stores, logistics, service, and administration.
• Monitor production and delivery schedules and ensure orders are prepared and delivered accurately and on time.
• Develop procedures, resolve operational problems, control wastage, and improve efficiency.

Production and Food Safety

• Oversee production planning, portion control, recipes, yields, food quality, presentation, and consistency.
• Ensure compliance with HACCP procedures, UAE food safety requirements, temperature controls, and required records.
• Conduct inspections of kitchens, stores, chillers, freezers, and vehicles and implement corrective actions.

Staff and Inventory

• Supervise staff, plan staffing levels, prepare rosters, provide training, and monitor performance, attendance, and productivity.
• Coordinate procurement and stores, including stock availability, receiving, storage, rotation, FIFO or FEFO, and variance investigation.
• Control food, packaging, and operational costs in coordination with purchasing and stores teams.

Logistics and Clients

• Oversee delivery and transportation operations and ensure temperature-controlled transport and accurate loading and dispatch.
• Coordinate delivery schedules with drivers, schools, offices, and other client locations.
• Manage client relationships, site visits, complaints, service standards, and contractual requirements.

Performance and Systems

• Monitor food, labor, packaging, transportation, and operational costs, waste, returns, shortages, and overproduction.
• Prepare operational budgets, forecasts, reports, and KPI summaries for production, delivery, quality, waste, and labor productivity.
• Ensure accurate use of company software and coordination between digital ordering systems and kitchen production.

Qualifications and Experience

• A bachelor's degree or diploma in hospitality management, catering management, food service management, business administration, or a related field.
• Five to eight years of experience in catering, food service, hospitality, or commercial kitchen operations.
• Experience managing multiple departments and operational teams.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, HACCP, and commercial kitchen practices.

Preferred Background

• High-volume catering management experience is strongly preferred.
• UAE catering or hospitality experience is preferred.
• Experience with schools, corporate catering, or institutional catering is an advantage.

Pay

• Pay is AED4,000.00 to AED8,000.00 per month.