Global Head of Culinary, dnata Catering & Retail

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Job Purpose
dnata is one of the world's largest air and travel services providers; offering ground handling, cargo, travel and catering & retail services at over 130 airports in more than 30 countries across six continents. At dnata, we are by your side for the entire travel experience. dnata Catering and Retail is one of the world's leading inflight hospitality providers, delivering world-class culinary services and innovative products that enhance our passengers' experience.

The Global Head of Culinary, dnata Catering & Retail, is a key role within the business. This role would be the face of dnata Catering & Retail for all Culinary related fields and would lead all efforts to efficiently and effectively enable the business to lead the industry in menu and product design, food quality delivery as well as Chef recruitment and training. The role would require planning and coordination of a variety of menu development activities to manage the team in its ability to provide top quality menu presentations and food products to our customers. There would be a requirement to strategies for cost effective arrangements, ensuring commitment to our customers' requirements whilst maintaining profitability. This role is also responsible for executing and maintaining the culinary agenda to support the realisation of the overall business strategy. A significant amount of global travel will be required in this role.

In this role, you will:

• Lead the Culinary integration activity for any Global mergers and acquisitions.
• Manage the global development team in its effectiveness to develop the right products for our customers at the right cost, maintaining efficiency for dnata and maximising profitability.
• Drive best practice across the business in all culinary and associated areas, ensuring quality and cost control.
• Work with procurement teams to manage critical vendors to deliver on contract requirements including performance targets and continuous improvement, focussing on the quality of product as well as its yield performance.
• Monitor and review customer menus to ensure they are within the Customer requirements and profitable for dnata, proactively suggesting changes if certain items are not successful or working within the business or the customer.
• Develop a strategy to continuously improve our menu presentation operations in both quality and efficiency, driving costs out where possible whilst still providing a high-end customer experience.
• Ongoing review of the trends in the marketplace(s), demonstrating internally and externally where we should focus our styles within our customer guidelines.
• Maintaining a full menu programme for Special Meals globally, that will fulfil customer requirements as well as our own, reducing customer comments.
• Expertly develop successful relationships across all levels of stakeholders, internally and externally
• Assist in sourcing senior Chefs globally, ensuring an agreed sign off process with all businesses for senior roles.

Qualifications & Experience
To be considered for the role, you must meet the below requirements:

• Demonstrated success in a similar role, with 15+ years' experience in an Executive Culinary role such as Group Exec chef, Group Food and Beverage or Group Culinary Director
• Experience of working in a global international market such as high-end hotels, resorts or large upmarket Catering group
• Experienced Chef with a background in large operations and high-volume production.
• Hold a recognised Catering qualification.
  Expert influencing and negotiating skills with a demonstrated ability to adapt personal style to suit a varied audience and a variety of interpersonal styles.
• Demonstrated capacity to influence stakeholders and facilitate change, including challenging the status quo and a willingness to think outside the square and deliver innovative solutions both internally and externally.
• Demonstrated ability to build strong customer relationships and develop communications within the heart of the customer culinary team.
• Energetic leader and trusted Culinary advisor, with an absolute commitment to high quality menu development and cost-effective production.
• Experience in the food manufacturing arena, with an understanding of QA, supply planning and production.
• Leadership capabilities with the financial competency to devise, execute and manage own budget.

At dnata, part of Emirates Group, we're committed to providing our employees with opportunities to grow and develop in their careers. So, if you're looking for a challenging and rewarding opportunity, apply today and join our team!

Recruitment Process and Timeline

dnata, part of Emirates Group, is an international organisation with employees from over 170 nationalities, we encourage applications from across the globe. Your application journey begins by applying via the Emirates Group Careers website. Please ensure your CV is up to date for our talent acquisition team to review your profile. If you meet the criteria of the role, you will then be invited to complete a HireVue video interview, to share more about your experience and your career aspirations. If you are shortlisted, you will then be invited to interview with our hiring managers. If you are successful, your recruiter will reach out to you with an offer and then our Onboarding team will ensure a smooth transition to your new role at Emirates Group