Job description

Job Summary:

Our client is seeking a commercially astute, operationally focused, and entrepreneurial Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to establish, lead, and grow our UAE operations. The successful candidate will have extensive experience in healthcare catering, hospital catering, institutional food services, or a closely related contract catering environment. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring both strategic vision and direct operational involvement. During the start-up and growth phases, the CEO will be actively engaged in contract mobilization, operational management, business development, procurement, food costing, financial performance, staffing, quality assurance, and client relationship management. The primary focus will be to establish a profitable and sustainable healthcare catering operation in the UAE. Once the core business is successfully established, the CEO will also support the development of training and healthcare support service initiatives as part of the company's long-term growth strategy.

• Strategic Leadership
  • Develop and execute the UAE business strategy, growth plans, and operational roadmap.
  • Establish the business as a recognized provider within the healthcare and institutional catering sector.
  • Identify growth opportunities, partnerships, and new service lines.
  • Drive sustainable revenue growth, profitability, and market expansion.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, clients, healthcare institutions, and government entities. 
• Operational Leadership
  • Lead the establishment and day-to-day operations of the business.
  • Work closely with catering, production, procurement, logistics, quality, and service teams.
  • Participate directly in contract mobilization and operational set-up.
  • Monitor service delivery, productivity, and operational performance.
  • Develop scalable operating systems, policies, and performance controls.
  • Ensure operational excellence, quality standards, and continuous improvement.
  • Identify and eliminate inefficiencies, unnecessary costs, and operational risks. 
• Healthcare Catering Management
  • Develop and implement healthcare catering strategies and operating models.
  • Target hospitals, rehabilitation centers, clinics, nursing homes, and healthcare institutions.
  • Ensure compliance with nutritional, dietary, clinical, cultural, and religious requirements.
  • Implement food safety, HACCP, hygiene, and quality management systems.
  • Establish procurement, supplier management, production, and meal distribution processes.
  • Develop staffing models and operational structures for catering operations.
  • Lead contract pricing, tender preparation, and mobilization activities.
  • Maintain strong client relationships and ensure service excellence. 
• Business Development & Growth
  • Identify and pursue new business opportunities within healthcare and institutional sectors.
  • Lead client presentations, negotiations, and commercial discussions.
  • Develop and manage a robust pipeline of business opportunities.
  • Prepare commercially viable tenders and proposals.
  • Assess operational, financial, and reputational risks before pursuing contracts.
  • Support the expansion of services into training and healthcare-related support activities. 
• Financial & Commercial Management
  • Own the P&L and overall financial performance of the UAE business.
  • Prepare budgets, forecasts, and financial plans.
  • Monitor revenue, profitability, cash flow, and operating expenses.
  • Implement effective cost controls and profitability reporting.
  • Review food costs, labor costs, productivity, and contract performance.
  • Present financial and operational reports to senior stakeholders and the Board.
  • Ensure compliance with UAE accounting, VAT, payroll, and statutory requirements
• People Leadership
  • Recruit, develop, and lead high-performing management and operational teams.
  • Create an accountable, service-focused, and performance-driven culture.
  • Develop organizational structures, KPIs, and succession plans.
  • Coach and mentor leadership teams while maintaining operational visibility.
  • Foster a collaborative, multicultural work environment. 
• Future Business Development
  • Support the development of training and workforce development initiatives.
  • Evaluate new healthcare support service opportunities.
  • Conduct market assessments and business planning for future service expansion.
  • Work closely with stakeholders to establish sustainable new business divisions

• Essential Experience
  • Minimum 15 years of progressive leadership experience, including executive-level responsibilities.
  • At least 4-5 years of recent UAE experience within healthcare catering, hospital catering, institutional food services, or contract catering.
  • Proven experience managing hospital or healthcare catering contracts.
  • Strong understanding of food production, procurement, logistics, food safety, labor management, and service delivery.
  • Experience mobilizing new contracts and establishing operational frameworks.
  • Demonstrated success in improving profitability, productivity, and operational performance.
  • Experience managing large, multicultural teams.
  • Strong knowledge of tendering, costing, contract management, and commercial negotiations.
  • Experience operating within the UAE or wider GCC region. 
  Preferred Experience
  • Healthcare catering and patient feeding services.
  • Clinical and therapeutic diet programs.
  • Central production kitchen operations.
  • Government, semi-government, or institutional contracts.
  • Training center operations or workforce development initiatives.
  • Healthcare support services.
  • Business start-ups and market entry projects.
  • Multi-site operational leadership.
  • GCC regional leadership exposure, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain.