Head Chef - Japanese Fine Dining

About the role

A premium Japanese and contemporary international fine-dining operation in Fujairah is looking for an experienced Head Chef. The role suits an established culinary professional whose career has been built in internationally recognised fine-dining restaurants, luxury hotels or premium restaurant groups. The successful candidate combines hands-on Japanese culinary expertise with kitchen leadership, menu development, commercial control and experience in high-standard hospitality. Candidates must currently live in the UAE and be able to join immediately or within a short notice.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the full kitchen operation, ensuring high standards of food quality, consistency, presentation and service.
• Develop and evolve premium Japanese and contemporary international menus, seasonal dishes and new culinary concepts.
• Lead, train and develop a multicultural culinary team while keeping disciplined kitchen standards.
• Manage food costing, purchasing, inventory, portion control, wastage, productivity and kitchen profitability.
• Maintain structured recipes, plating standards, kitchen SOPs, HACCP, food safety and quality-control procedures.
• Work with management and suppliers on menu strategy, premium ingredients, operational performance and the dining experience.

Required profile

• 10+ years of progressive culinary experience, including substantial senior kitchen leadership.
• Proven Head Chef, Chef de Cuisine or equivalent experience in a premium restaurant or luxury hospitality setting.
• Strong Japanese fine-dining expertise, including contemporary techniques and premium ingredients.
• Experience in a luxury hotel, fine-dining restaurant or premium restaurant group.
• Responsibility for menu development, recipe standardisation, food costing, purchasing, inventory and kitchen performance.
• Strong English and experience leading multicultural teams.
• Experience with sushi, sashimi, robata, tempura, Japanese hot kitchen, premium seafood sourcing, pre-opening or major launches is highly valued.
• Candidates mainly in casual dining, mass catering, cafeterias, production kitchens or banqueting are unlikely to match the role.