Senior Sous Chef

Role Overview

Senior Sous Chef at Emirates Flight Catering, a leading airline catering operation.

Role Purpose

Lead production operations and manage staff across assigned kitchen sections to deliver high-volume, high-quality meals that meet airline specifications and operational timelines. Act as operational deputy to the Executive Sous Chef, ensuring compliance with all kitchen policies, procedures, and food safety standards while maintaining workflow continuity and staff performance.

Key Responsibilities

Production Management & Operations

• Manage production, processes and schedules in assigned areas in accordance with policies, regulations, specifications, recipes and requirements, applying effective controls.
• Prepare, update and maintain production sheets including separate breakdowns for EK and other airlines for production and assembly staff.
• Ensure that all assigned production staff carry out their duties within set timeframes to maintain continuity of workflow and prevent operational delays.
• Manage material, staff and equipment in the most effective manner to ensure on-time, high-quality deliveries in strict adherence to all laid-down procedures.
• Strictly implement procedures to ensure recipe compliance at all times while actively promoting innovative ideas for cost-reduction without compromising on quality.

Quality Assurance & Compliance

• Check and ensure that dishing is correct in weight, presentation and items are prepared per airline specifications.
• Ensure food products are colour coded with dates.
• Ensure that Sous Chefs and Junior staff follow all developed specifications in terms of portion size, quantity and quality.
• Conduct daily tasting panels, checks, cascades, briefings and reports as and when applicable in an organized and responsible manner.
• Supervise staff in the implementation process in their section and report any non-conformance.

Staff Leadership & Development

• Demonstrate leadership skills to efficiently manage a large multi-national workforce.
• Provide feedback and coaching to team members.
• Develop effective delegation skills and assign responsibilities appropriately.
• Propose solutions for non-conformance issues; escalate if they cannot be corrected immediately.
• Coach team on proactive attempts at solutions, focusing on products, equipment, labour topics and material management.

Problem-Solving & Communication

• Find solutions to problems and take corrective action before they occur while handling daily operational activities.
• Ensure that Executive Sous Chefs are kept informed about daily production, problems encountered and actions taken.
• Address customer expectations and issues effectively and suggest long-term solutions to any anomalies or improvement ideas reported or observed.
• Exercise problem-solving and decision-making ability in real time, with creative and out-of-the-box thinking.

Lean & Continuous Improvement

• Understand the lean manufacturing standards established by EKFC and support deployment and maintenance of best practices.
• Reduce or eliminate the 7 areas of waste in operations.

Governance & Compliance

• Share responsibility with ESC and deputize in their absence for compliance of all policies, procedures, rules and regulations of the kitchen.

Qualifications & Experience

• Hotel Management or Culinary degree.
• Minimum of 6 years' experience in the culinary field.
• Hotel Catering equivalent experience in a 5-star facility with excellent knowledge in all aspects of cooking and different cuisines.
• Knowledge and experience of food products and processes in a facility with extensive in-house production.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of all aspects of cooking in various cuisines.
• Experience in creating recipes, menu development and costing.
• Previous experience in high-volume a la carte and/or banqueting in a large kitchen team.

Skills & Competencies

• Ability to provide feedback and coaching.
• Ability to develop oneself in the current role and beyond.
• Willingness to take on responsibility.
• Effective delegation skills.
• Problem-solving and decision-making ability in real time, with creative and out-of-the-box thinking.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Effective training and communication skills.