Head Bakery / Pastry Chef

About the role

A recruitment consultancy is seeking a highly experienced Head Bakery / Pastry Chef to lead and manage a premium bakery and pastry operation in Abu Dhabi. The role suits someone with a strong background in artisanal baking and pastry production, with proven leadership experience and a passion for creativity, presentation and product development. It is a senior position requiring both hands-on expertise and the ability to lead and inspire a professional kitchen team.

Key responsibilities

• Oversee daily bakery and pastry production, ensuring consistent quality and presentation
• Lead and manage the bakery and pastry team, including training and performance monitoring
• Develop new products and refine existing recipes to meet brand and market expectations
• Maintain high standards of hygiene, food safety and operational efficiency
• Collaborate with senior kitchen leadership to align production with overall culinary direction
• Support brand visibility through strong product presentation and contribution to content initiatives

Required profile

• Minimum 5-10 years of experience in a senior leadership role within a high-quality bakery or pastry operation
• Proven experience in menu and product development, ensuring consistency and high-quality standards
• Demonstrated ability to lead, train and manage a pastry and bakery team
• Strong English communication skills (spoken and written)
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-standard production environment; international candidates are welcome

Required skills

• Bakery and pastry production, including product design, finishing and visual presentation
• Food safety, hygiene standards and kitchen best practices
• Branding and presentation, including experience supporting social media content