Chef Catering Manager – VIP Fine Dining

About the role

Black Pearl Consult is seeking a highly detailed, hands-on Chef Catering Manager to oversee premium catering operations for exclusive VIP guests in Abu Dhabi. The role combines elite culinary artistry with full business operations management, covering fine-dining menus, back-of-house kitchen execution and front-of-house luxury service.

Key responsibilities

• Design, innovate and execute bespoke, Michelin-grade fine-dining menus tailored to VVIP and UHNWI preferences
• Supervise kitchen execution during high-profile events, ensuring quality, presentation, temperature and taste meet ultra-luxury standards
• Run regular recipe costing, ingredient sourcing and waste-control audits to optimise culinary gross margins
• Maintain hands-on control of catering operations, coordinating kitchen preparation with front-of-house service
• Oversee elegant table setups, silver service protocols and venue aesthetics aligned with fine-dining benchmarks
• Act as the main point of contact for VIP clients during events, handling sensitive requirements with discretion
• Manage the catering division's business and commercial operations, including P&L accountability, budgeting and cost control
• Oversee supply chain logistics, vendor procurement contracts and luxury asset inventories (chinaware, silver, equipment)
• Drive operational training for culinary and hospitality staff and ensure compliance with health, safety and HACCP regulations

Required profile

• About 10 years of progressive experience in premium hospitality, luxury 5-star hotels or elite catering operators
• Verified career progression from a hands-on restaurant Chef to a multi-unit or senior Catering Manager
• Documented experience managing high-end catering and private activations for VIP/UHNWI guests
• Regional GCC experience, including local VIP hospitality protocols, supplier networks and cultural preferences
• Professional fluency in English; Arabic or other European languages are highly advantageous