Italian Head Chef

Specialty: Italian cuisine

Location: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (Candidate required to relocate to Jeddah)

Reporting to: CEO

Restaurants Managed: 2 existing Italian restaurants (150160 pax each) + 2 upcoming venues

Role Overview:

Our client, a fast growing Restaurant chain, is seeking a highly skilled and passionate Italian Head Chef to lead the culinary operations across a growing portfolio of Italian restaurants.

The successful candidate will bring authentic Italian culinary expertise, strong leadership in managing kitchen teams, and a proven ability to run high-volume, premium dining concepts. This is a key leadership position that will oversee all aspects of kitchen operations, from menu development and cost control to team training and pre-opening planning for new outlets.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead daily kitchen operations.
• Ensure authentic Italian food preparation and high-quality standards are maintained consistently.
• Collaborate with the CEO and management to design innovative menus rooted in traditional Italian cuisine.
• Oversee inventory, food cost control, supplier coordination, and kitchen hygiene in line with HACCP standards.
• Recruit, train, and manage a diverse team of chefs, commis, and kitchen staff.
• Manage pre-opening tasks for new restaurants including kitchen layout planning, equipment selection, and staff onboarding.
• Monitor customer feedback and work closely with front-of-house to ensure an exceptional dining experience.
• Drive kitchen efficiency, minimise waste, and ensure compliance with local food safety regulations.

Requirements:

• Minimum 810 years of experience in Italian cuisine, with at least 35 years as Head Chef or Executive Chef.
• Proven experience managing high-capacity restaurants (70+ covers).
• Hands-on experience in restaurant pre-openings, kitchen design, and team structuring.
• Strong leadership, training, and communication skills.
• Deep understanding of Italian culinary traditionspastas, pizzas, sauces, antipasti, etc.
• Experience working in international, Multi-chain hospitality groups is a plus.
• Fluent in English; Italian language is a bonus.

What We Offer:

• Full relocation support to Saudi Arabia
• Visa support
• Accommodation & other benefits