#9234: Travelling Head Chef for High Profile Residence in the UAE

Our clients are seeking a highly flexible, creative, and progressive Private Head Chef to join a prestigious private household in the UAE. This is an exceptional opportunity for a culinary professional with experience in private residences or luxury hospitality environments who thrives in delivering world-class dining experiences.
The successful candidate will demonstrate innovation in menu planning, adaptability under pressure, and a passion for creating healthy, refined, and exciting cuisine tailored to a variety of dietary requirements and preferences. The role also requires occasional local and international travel with the family.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, design, and continuously update creative menus and recipes for daily family dining and occasional VVIP events.

• Create refined, healthy Mediterranean-style cuisine with a fine dining approach, inspired by chefs such as Yotam Ottolenghi, featuring vibrant salads, fresh seasonal ingredients, lean proteins, and colourful presentation.

• Prepare a wide range of cuisines, including gastropub-style comfort food, family-style meals, and international dishes to ensure a varied and exciting rotational menu.

• Design healthy, nutritious, and visually appealing meals for children with exceptional attention to presentation and care.

• Accommodate all dietary requirements and restrictions, including gluten-free, low-carbohydrate, allergy-sensitive, and balanced nutritional meal planning.

• Provide macro and nutritional breakdowns for meals and snacks when required.

• Deliver exceptional standards under pressure and accommodate last-minute requests with professionalism and efficiency.

• Seek and implement feedback, refining dishes and menus to satisfy Royal family members and distinguished guests.

• Maintain a calm, respectful, and well-organised kitchen environment, demonstrating excellent leadership, communication, and team management skills.

• Ensure full compliance with HACCP standards, food safety regulations, and all operational policies and procedures.

• Source high-quality, fresh, and organic ingredients wherever possible while maintaining awareness of local market availability.

• Manage ingredient orders, supplier relationships, LPO reviews, pricing, produce quality checks, and delivery integrity.

• Conscientiously manage resources to minimise wastage and maintain operational efficiency within allocated budgets.

• Report equipment issues, maintenance concerns, and any safety hazards promptly.

• Accompany the family on local and international travel when required.

Candidate Requirements

It is essential that candidates possess the following:

• Previous experience working within a private household environment or for high-profile/VVIP families.

• A creative mindset with a passion for progressive cuisine and continuous culinary development.

• Strong leadership skills with the ability to maintain a calm and respectful kitchen culture.

• Excellent verbal and written English communication skills preferred.

• A 3-year Hospitality Management qualification or equivalent culinary university degree.

• Minimum 5–8 years’ experience in a similar role within an international five-star hotel or luxury private household.

• Strong working knowledge and application of HACCP procedures and food safety standards.

• Ability to perform under pressure and manage last-minute requests with discretion and professionalism.

• Strong organisational, management, and communication skills.

• Flexibility to work early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and travel as required.

Employment Details

Location: UAE
Contract Type: Permanent
Start Date: TBC
Working Hours: 8 hours per day (early and late shifts as scheduled)
Working Days: 6 days per week

Holiday Allowance:

• You will be entitled to maximum of 30 Calendar Days paid annual leave after completion of one-year genuine service in accordance with Palace Rules & Regulations

Package & Benefits

• Salary: QAR 24,0450 per month

• Total Package Value:

• QAR 32,795 per month (approximately £6,672.05 equivalent)

• Housing allowance: QAR 8,500

• Mobile phone allowance: QAR 250

• Vehicle provided