Head Chef / Assistant Manager – West African & Caribbean Kitchen

About West to West Kitchen

West to West Kitchen is an award-winning, proudly homegrown UAE restaurant bringing together the flavours of Sierra Leone, Trinidad and Jamaica.
We don’t just cook food, we share culture, create experiences, and build community.

We’re expanding to The Flavours Hub in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi’s new destination for authentic street-style dining and we’re looking for a Head Chef / Assistant Manager to help lead this exciting new chapter.

The Role

This is a hybrid leadership role combining culinary excellence with hands-on operational management. You’ll oversee kitchen operations, guide menu innovation, build strong systems, and lead a small, high-performing team across both our Masdar and Najda outlets.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain consistent food quality, flavour, presentation and speed.
• Train, motivate and support a 5–7-member kitchen team.
• Build and refine SOPs to ensure smooth daily operations.
• Manage ordering, inventory, portioning and cost control.
• Support event catering, community events and special activations.
• Lead recipe development in collaboration with the founders.
• Uphold hygiene, HACCP and safety standards at all times.

Who We’re Looking For

• Minimum 5 years’ professional kitchen experience, including 2 years as Sous Chef or higher.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Solid grasp of kitchen operations, cost control and team development.
• Passion for West African and/or Caribbean cuisine.
• Calm, proactive and solutions-focused under pressure.
• UAE driving licence preferred.

What We Offer

• Salary: AED 6,000 – 6,500 per month (starting), with progression up to AED 8,000 based on performance.
• Benefits: Company visa, health insurance & daily meal benefits.
• Growth: A chance to shape a rapidly growing, home-grown UAE brand.

How to Apply

This is not a CV-only application process ; we want to get to know how you think, lead and approach your work.

To apply:

1. Email your CV to wtowteam@gmail.com.

2. We’ll reply with a short set of written questions to complete.
(These questions help us understand your experience, leadership style, and passion for food.)

3. Submit your answers by 9 November 2025.

Early applications are strongly encouraged. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for face-to-face interviews from 10 November 2025 in Abu Dhabi.

If you love food, leadership and teamwork, and you’re ready to grow with us, we’d love to hear from you.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: AED6,000.00 - AED8,000.00 per month

Application Question(s):

• Do you have at least 5 years’ kitchen experience, including 2+ years as Sous Chef or higher?