Food Preparation Lead

Food Preparation Lead

Hello Chef is growing fast - increasing production volumes, expanding our ingredient range, and bringing more preparation in-house to improve quality and reliability.

As the operation scales, disciplined standards, predictable execution, and careful ingredient handling are essential to protecting food quality and production flow.

We're hiring a Food Preparation Lead to own day to day ingredient preparation across our vegetable, dairy, and dry preparation rooms. Reporting to the Operations Manager, you'll lead from the floor, enforce standards, and ensure preparation runs cleanly, safely, and to plan.

This is a hands on role for someone who takes pride in food quality, strong preparation standards, and building a reliable operation at scale.

Mission

Consistently deliver the right ingredient, handled the right way, every time.

Accountabilities

1. Vegetable and Ingredient Quality and Complaint Resolution

• Ensure only fresh, acceptable-quality ingredients are prepared and released to production.
• Investigate all food preparation-related customer complaints within 24 hours and take corrective action.
• Identify and eliminate root causes (handling, storage, sequencing, supplier quality) to prevent repeat issues.

2. Controlled & Efficient Production Execution

• Review weekly ingredient requirements and define clear sequencing and handling plans.
• Organise room layout and workflow to protect ingredient quality and maintain efficient preparation.
• Ensure vegetable, dairy, and dry ingredient preparation runs smoothly without delays, bottlenecks, or rework.

3. People, Hygiene & Standards Management

• Develop and hold PICs accountable for hygiene, accuracy, and daily workflow across preparation rooms.
• Ensure the right number of people are working in the right places to maintain steady production flow.
• Maintain clean, organised, inspection ready preparation areas with consistent standards across shifts.

Competencies

• Ingredient Quality Awareness: Recognises good ingredient quality and protects it during preparation and handling.
• Root Cause Thinking: Identifies the underlying causes of preparation or quality issues and fixes processes to prevent repeat problems.
• Production Planning & Workflow Organisation: Organises preparation work logically so ingredients are ready on time without disrupting production.
• Standards Leadership: Maintains strong hygiene, quality, and operational discipline through the PICs and team.

What We Offer

• An on site, hands on role aligned to a six day production schedule.
• Market competitive compensation with biannual performance reviews
• 26 days annual leave, annual flight allowance, and relocation support if moving to Dubai
• Premium medical insurance (including dental and optical)
• 50% Hello Chef discount and regular food tastings
• A high ownership, high feedback culture with clear expectations and real accountability