Emirates Group

dnata is more than a global air and travel services provider. We connect people with possibilities and opportunities across 130+ airports in 34 countries through ground handling, cargo, travel, and catering & retail services. Our purpose is clear: to deliver on the promises our customers make. We are powered by a bold vision to be the world’s most admired air and travel services provider, which guides our strategy, culture, and every role across our teams. Our core values fuel everything we do: we are safe, we play to win, we respect everyone and work together as a team, and we are future thinking. At dnata, we foster diversity, nurture ambition, and celebrate achievement. If you're inspired by purpose and motivated to be part of a global team shaping the future of aviation and travel, we’d love to have you onboard. 

The Global Head of Culinary (GCE) is a pivotal executive role responsible for shaping the culinary strategy and overseeing its execution across the airline catering division. As the company’s global culinary leader, the GCE will ensure the delivery of world-class culinary offerings that elevate the customer experience, meet operational efficiency targets, and contribute to profitability. This role will focus on aligning culinary innovation with commercial goals, ensuring sustainable and cost-effective menu offerings, and driving customer-centric food solutions.

In partnership with the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), the GCE will work to support the company’s commercial objectives by integrating culinary strategy into broader business development, client partnerships, and operational growth.

In  this role, you will:

• Define and lead the global culinary strategy to align with the company's broader commercial objectives, ensuring culinary excellence, operational efficiency, and profitability.
• Develop and champion the culinary vision that supports the company's goals of market differentiation, customer satisfaction, and sustainable growth.
• Act as the culinary ambassador to clients, stakeholders, and media, ensuring culinary offerings reflect the company’s brand values and commercial aspirations.
• Collaborate closely with the Chief Commercial Officer and senior leadership to integrate culinary goals into overall business and client strategies.
• Lead the development and continuous enhancement of global menus with diverse regional tastes across all classes, ensuring alignment with airline brand requirements and customer expectations.
• Foster innovation in menu design, incorporating global and regional trends, dietary requirements, and regional tastes while maintaining cost controls and profitability.
• Lead the development and execution of high-end restaurant-quality, sustainable, and cost-effective meal solutions customized to meet the unique needs of airline clients, ensuring seamless onboard delivery that enhances the passenger experience across all service classes.
• Lead the creation of special meals programs, ensuring scalability, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency on a global scale.
• Ensure the highest standards of culinary quality, safety, and consistency across all production facilities worldwide, aligned with both regulatory standards and client specifications.
• Work with procurement, supply chain, and finance teams to optimize food costs, streamline operations, and deliver cost-effective yet high-quality solutions.
• Define key performance indicators (KPIs) and monitor culinary performance globally to ensure the achievement of financial and operational targets, optimizing profitability without compromising quality.
• Collaborate with internal teams to drive continuous improvement initiatives, focusing on reducing waste, improving yield, and driving efficiencies across the supply chain and production.
• Build and lead a world-class global/regional culinary team, ensuring effective training, mentorship, and career development opportunities for senior chefs and culinary leaders.
• Lead talent acquisition for senior culinary roles, ensuring alignment with business goals and company culture.
• Foster a high-performance culture within the culinary team, emphasizing collaboration, continuous learning, and a passion for innovation and excellence.
• Develop and maintain strong, long-lasting relationships with airline clients, providing exceptional culinary support and insights to ensure alignment with their evolving needs.
• Lead culinary presentations for key clients, ensuring that menus and products meet client expectations and create a compelling value proposition.
• Actively engage with customers and internal teams to monitor satisfaction, address issues, and develop solutions that drive business growth and retention.
• Collaborate with the sales and marketing teams to align culinary initiatives with broader commercial goals and client expectations.

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

• Bachelor’s degree with 15+ years’ experience in a senior culinary leadership role within large-scale food service, airline catering, or luxury hospitality.
  
• Proven success in strategic menu design, cost management, culinary innovation, and operational efficiency.
• Significant experience working within global markets, with an understanding of diverse cultural tastes, dietary/religious restrictions, and the unique demands of airline catering.
• Strong expertise in commercial collaboration, with a deep understanding of how culinary strategy supports and drives business development, profitability, and customer satisfaction.
• Exceptional leadership, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence both internally and externally to achieve business goals.
• Culinary degree or equivalent recognized qualification (e.g., WACS, CMC) is required; advanced certifications are a plus.
• Deep understanding of food safety, quality assurance systems, and compliance requirements (e.g., HACCP, ISO).
• Experience in food manufacturing, supply chain management, and cost control within a large-scale, high-volume environment.
• Demonstrated track record of success in a comparable global leadership role.
• Financial acumen to manage budgets and optimize costs while maintaining culinary quality.

At 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!