Creative Director - Desserts & Coffee

About the role

Semisweet, a Dubai dessert and coffee company, is looking for a Creative Director to be the keeper of its brand's taste and image across the UAE. Reporting directly to the Owner and sitting on the leadership team, the role covers products, packaging, brand identity, store design and content. It is a hands-on position in a growing company: at first you will brief and approve yourself with support from a small team, then build the creative function under you, starting with a Head of Product.

Key responsibilities

• Set the creative direction for desserts, coffee and drinks, and lead every new product from brief to launch
• Build a focused menu around signature products, write the specifications for the kitchen and coffee teams, and sign off every product
• Own the brand identity and all design work: packaging, cups, menus, website, app and sales materials
• Direct photography, video and social content, and plan seasonal collections three months ahead
• Shape interiors, displays, signage and uniforms so each shop acts as the brand's strongest marketing
• Lead the creative team and freelancers, manage the creative budget and partner with Marketing, Business Development and Operations to turn launches into sales

Required profile

• 8+ years in pastry, food, hospitality or consumer brands, including 3+ years leading creative or product development, with a portfolio of launches you have led
• Strong understanding of the UAE and GCC food, cafe and dessert scene and of what local customers value
• Fluency in English is mandatory; proficiency in Arabic is a strong asset

Required skills

• Refined palate and solid knowledge of pastry and desserts; specialty coffee knowledge is a plus
• Strong eye for design, packaging, photography and retail spaces
• Able to develop products to a target cost and price
• Project management across several launches at once