Independent Food Company jobs

<p><strong>Job Purpose:</strong></p><p>The Executive Pastry Chef is responsible for leading the creation, development and execution of premium pastry and dessert concepts across Independent Food Company's portfolio, including the development and launch of new pastry brands.</p><p>The role combines brand creation, culinary innovation, product development and operational leadership, ensuring that each concept delivers a distinctive identity, exceptional product quality, commercial viability and a consistent guest experience.</p><p>The incumbent will lead the end-to-end culinary development of new pastry brands, from initial concept creation and menu development through kitchen design and layout planning, recipe standardization, equipment selection, team recruitment, training and successful operational launch.</p><p>While the role carries strategic and creative responsibilities, the Executive Pastry Chef must remain fully hands-on, actively participating in product development, tastings, production trials, training and new brand openings.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Key Responsibilities</strong></p><p><strong>Pastry Brand Creation &amp; Concept Development</strong></p><p>1. Lead the culinary creation and development of new pastry, bakery and dessert brands, from initial concept ideation through commercial launch.</p><p>2. Collaborate with Brand Development, Marketing, Design and Operations to establish each brand's culinary identity, positioning, product offering and guest experience.</p><p>3. Develop distinctive pastry concepts aligned with market opportunities, consumer preferences, international trends and business objectives.</p><p>4. Define the product strategy, menu architecture and signature offerings for each new concept.</p><p>5. Lead the development of pastry kitchen designs and layouts, defining production workflows, equipment positioning, preparation areas, storage requirements and operational efficiency in collaboration with Design and Projects teams.</p><p>6. Define kitchen equipment requirements and technical specifications, ensuring layouts support the proposed menu, production capacity, quality standards and future scalability.</p><p>7. Participate in concept development workshops, product presentations, tastings and management approval processes.</p><p>8. Ensure proposed concepts are commercially viable, operationally scalable and aligned with approved business plans and investment budgets.</p><p><strong>Menu Development, Product Innovation &amp; R&amp;D</strong></p><p>1. Lead the development of pastry menus, including French pastries, viennoiserie, entremets, tarts, petits gâteaux, chocolates, baked goods and plated desserts.</p><p>2. Create distinctive signature products, seasonal collections, festive offerings and limited-edition launches.</p><p>3. Lead recipe development, experimentation, product testing and tastings through final approval.</p><p>4. Establish standardized recipes, ingredient specifications, preparation methods, portion sizes, presentation guidelines and product costings.</p><p>Develop and approve production SOPs, recipe manuals, shelf-life standards and training materials.</p><p>6. Collaborate with Supply Chain and Procurement to approve ingredients, suppliers and product specifications.</p><p>7. Balance culinary creativity with commercial performance, considering food cost, production efficiency, shelf life, wastage and customer demand.</p><p>8. Continuously review product performance and recommend improvements based on sales results, customer feedback and market trends.</p><p><strong>Market Research, Trends &amp; Culinary Innovation</strong></p><p>1. Conduct ongoing market research and competitor benchmarking to identify emerging pastry concepts, products, ingredients and consumer preferences.</p><p>2. Attend relevant local and international pastry exhibitions, culinary trade shows, industry events and professional workshops to remain informed of global developments and innovations.</p><p>3. Monitor international pastry trends, leading pâtisseries, emerging brands, production techniques, equipment innovations and new ingredient applications.</p><p>4. Conduct market visits and product benchmarking across relevant local and international destinations to identify opportunities for new concepts and product development.</p><p>5. Build relationships with pastry professionals, ingredient suppliers, equipment manufacturers and industry specialists to exchange knowledge and explore new opportunities.</p><p>6. Translate market insights and emerging trends into actionable product innovations, menu improvements and new brand development proposals.</p><p><strong>New Brand Openings &amp; Pre-Opening Execution</strong></p><p>1. Lead all pastry-related workstreams for new brand openings, ensuring culinary and operational readiness within approved timelines.</p><p>2. Work closely with Design and Projects to finalize kitchen layouts, production flows, equipment specifications and technical requirements.</p><p>3. Collaborate with Procurement on equipment selection, value engineering, sourcing and final approvals.</p><p>4. Establish production models, including central kitchen versus in-store production, storage requirements and distribution arrangements.</p><p>5. Prepare pre-opening production plans, ingredient lists, manpower requirements, SOPs and training schedules.</p><p>6. Support recruitment, technical assessments and selection of pastry teams for new concepts.</p><p>7. Lead pre-opening training, production trials, mock services and operational readiness assessments.</p><p>8. Remain actively involved during launch to ensure consistent product quality, production efficiency and smooth operations.</p><p>9. Conduct post-opening assessments and implement improvements during the first three months of operation.</p><p><strong>Pastry Production &amp; Quality Standards</strong></p><p>1. Oversee pastry production standards across assigned brands and outlets, ensuring consistent execution of approved recipes and specifications.</p><p>2. Maintain expert oversight of classical and contemporary French pastry techniques, including lamination, fermentation, baking, chocolate tempering, sugar work and finishing.</p><p>3. Establish quality standards covering taste, texture, appearance, freshness and presentation.</p><p>4. Conduct regular product tastings, kitchen inspections and quality assessments.</p><p>5. Identify and resolve product inconsistencies, production inefficiencies and technical challenges.</p><p>6. Ensure compliance with approved shelf-life, storage, packaging and product handling standards.</p><p>7. Personally lead critical production activities during menu launches, new openings and operational challenges.</p><p><strong>Kitchen Operations, Cost Control &amp; Commercial Performance</strong></p><p>1. Develop efficient pastry production models that support product quality, scalability and profitability.</p><p>2. Establish and monitor recipe costings, ingredient consumption, production yields, portion controls and food cost targets.</p><p>3. Monitor and control production wastage, including overproduction, spoilage, expired products, preparation losses and unsold inventory, implementing corrective actions to minimize losses.</p><p>4. Monitor and investigate inventory and production variances, including discrepancies between theoretical and actual consumption, recipe yields, stock levels and recorded wastage.</p><p>5. Establish wastage and variance control procedures, ensuring accurate tracking, reporting, root-cause analysis and corrective action.</p><p>6. Work with Finance and Operations to establish food cost targets and ensure menus meet approved commercial objectives.</p><p>7. Oversee production planning based on sales forecasts, demand patterns and outlet requirements.</p><p>8. Collaborate with Supply Chain and Procurement to source premium ingredients and identify cost optimization opportunities without compromising quality.</p><p>9. Implement effective inventory management, stock rotation, ordering and waste reduction practices.</p><p>10. Identify opportunities for production efficiencies, equipment optimization and ingredient standardization.</p><p>11. Ensure compliance with HACCP, food safety regulations, allergen management and hygiene standards.</p><p><strong>Team Leadership, Recruitment &amp; Development</strong></p><p>1. Define pastry organizational structures and manpower requirements for new and existing concepts.</p><p>2. Lead recruitment, technical assessments and selection of pastry chefs and supporting production teams.</p><p>3. Establish training programs covering French pastry techniques, recipe execution, production standards, presentation and food safety.</p><p>4. Develop standardized training materials, recipe manuals, production SOPs and technical guides.</p><p>5. Provide hands-on coaching and mentorship to strengthen technical capabilities and develop future pastry leaders.</p><p>6. Establish clear performance expectations, responsibilities and productivity standards.</p><p>7. Support succession planning and the development of a sustainable pastry talent pipeline.</p><p>8. Foster a culture of creativity, discipline, accountability and continuous improvement.</p><p><strong>Cross-Functional Collaboration &amp; Strategic Development</strong></p><p>1. Collaborate with Brand Development and Marketing on product positioning, storytelling, seasonal campaigns and launch activities.</p><p>2. Work with Design and Projects to ensure production facilities meet culinary, operational and brand requirements.</p><p>3. Partner with Procurement and Supply Chain on ingredient specifications, supplier approvals, packaging and equipment.</p><p>4. Coordinate with Operations to ensure consistent product execution across assigned locations.</p><p>5. Support Finance with recipe costing, food cost analysis, investment requirements and commercial feasibility.</p><p>6. Participate in strategic planning discussions relating to new concepts, expansion opportunities and product development.</p><p>7. Represent the company's pastry expertise during strategic collaborations, supplier engagements and relevant culinary initiatives.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Qualifications &amp; Experience</strong></p><p>1. Diploma or degree in Pâtisserie, Culinary Arts or a related discipline from a recognized institution. Formal French pastry qualifications such as CAP Pâtissier, Le Cordon Bleu, École Ducasse or equivalent are highly preferred.</p><p>2. Minimum 10–12 years of progressive pastry experience, including at least 4–5 years in a senior pastry leadership position within premium pâtisseries, luxury hospitality groups or established pastry brands.</p><p>3. Demonstrated experience in developing and launching pastry concepts, creating complete menus and establishing production operations from inception.</p><p>4. Expert command of classical French pâtisserie and contemporary pastry techniques, including viennoiserie, entremets, chocolate, sugar work and laminated doughs.</p><p>5. Strong experience in recipe development, menu engineering, food costing, production planning, wastage control and inventory variance management.</p><p>6. Proven ability to lead kitchen design and layout planning, equipment selection, production setup, recruitment and operational implementation.</p><p>7. Experience managing pastry teams across multiple locations or production facilities is highly desirable.</p><p>8. Strong commercial understanding, creativity, attention to detail and ability to translate culinary concepts into scalable and profitable business offerings.</p><p>9. Strong awareness of international pastry trends, emerging concepts, ingredients and culinary innovations.</p><p>10. Excellent leadership, communication, planning and cross-functional collaboration skills.</p><p>11. International culinary exposure and experience in the French pastry market are highly advantageous. French language proficiency is an advantage.</p>

<p><strong>Job Purpose:</strong></p><p>The Head of Legal is responsible for leading the Group's legal function, safeguarding the Company's legal interests, minimizing legal and regulatory risk, and providing commercially focused legal advice that supports INDPT's strategic growth. The role oversees all legal, governance and compliance matters across the Group, including corporate structuring, commercial transactions, employment law, real estate, litigation, regulatory compliance and international expansion. The Head of Legal partners closely with the Executive Team to ensure the business operates within a robust legal and governance framework while enabling sustainable growth across existing and future markets.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Key Responsibilities:</strong></p><p><strong>Strategic Legal Advisory</strong></p><ul><li>Serve as the principal legal advisor to the Executive Team and senior leadership.</li><li>Provide commercially sound legal advice to support operational and strategic decision-making.</li><li>Advise on legal risks associated with new brands, international expansion, acquisitions, investments and strategic initiatives.</li><li>Translate complex legal matters into practical business recommendations.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Corporate &amp; Strategic Legal Affairs</strong></p><ul><li>Lead the legal establishment and incorporation of new companies and legal entities across existing and future international markets.</li><li>Design, review and implement the Group's legal structure, including restructurings, holding structures, entity consolidations and corporate reorganizations.</li><li>Lead all corporate governance activities across the Group, ensuring compliance with statutory, regulatory and shareholder obligations.</li><li>Manage corporate records, board resolutions, shareholder resolutions, powers of attorney and statutory filings.</li><li>Advise the Executive Team on governance best practices and corporate legal strategy.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Corporate Transactions</strong></p><ul><li>Lead, draft, review and negotiate complex corporate transactions, including and not limited to:</li></ul><p>o Shareholder Agreements</p><p>o Joint Venture (JV) Agreements</p><p>o Franchise Agreements</p><p>o Management Agreements</p><p>o Strategic Partnership Agreements</p><p>o Mergers &amp; Acquisitions (M&amp;A)</p><p>o Investment Agreements</p><p>o Business acquisitions and disposals</p><ul><li>Conduct legal due diligence and manage transaction execution through completion.</li><li>Support strategic growth initiatives through legally sound transaction structures.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Commercial Contracts</strong></p><ul><li>Draft, review and negotiate all commercial agreements across the Group, including and not limited to:</li></ul><p>o Supplier Agreements</p><p>o Consultancy Agreements</p><p>o Licensing Agreements</p><p>o Marketing Agreements</p><p>o Technology &amp; Software Agreements</p><p>o Service Agreements</p><p>o Confidentiality Agreements (NDAs)</p><p>o Procurement Agreements</p><p>o Design Agreements</p><ul><li>Develop and maintain standardized contract templates and legal documentation across the business.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Real Estate &amp; Development</strong></p><ul><li>Lead all legal matters relating to the Group's real estate portfolio.</li><li>Review and negotiate lease agreements for new and existing locations.</li><li>Manage landlord negotiations, commercial lease matters and development agreements.</li><li>Handle rent disputes, eviction notices and other real estate-related legal matters.</li><li>Support the Expansion and Development teams on all legal aspects of restaurant openings, relocations and property acquisitions.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Employment Law &amp; Employee Relations</strong></p><ul><li>Provide legal guidance on all employment-related matters across the Group.</li><li>Advise on:</li></ul><p>o Labour law compliance</p><p>o Employment contracts</p><p>o Disciplinary actions</p><p>o Investigations</p><p>o Employee grievances</p><p>o Terminations</p><p>o Settlement agreements</p><p>o Labour disputes</p><ul><li>Support HR in managing complex employee relations matters while ensuring compliance with applicable labour laws across all operating jurisdictions.</li><li>Handle all labor related disputes in court</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Litigation &amp; Dispute Resolution</strong></p><ul><li>Lead all litigation, arbitration and dispute resolution matters involving the Group.</li><li>Develop legal strategies that minimize financial, operational and reputational risk.</li><li>Manage external legal counsel and oversee litigation budgets.</li><li>Negotiate settlements where commercially appropriate.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Compliance, Risk &amp; Internal Investigations</strong></p><ul><li>Develop and maintain the Group's Legal &amp; Compliance Framework.</li><li>Identify legal risks across all business functions and implement mitigation strategies.</li><li>Lead internal investigations involving misconduct, fraud, conflicts of interest, ethical concerns and regulatory matters.</li><li>Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, licensing requirements and industry standards across all operating jurisdictions.</li><li>Support internal audit and governance initiatives where required.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Intellectual Property</strong></p><ul><li>Protect and manage the Group's intellectual property portfolio.</li><li>Oversee trademark registrations, renewals and enforcement.</li><li>Advise on licensing, brand protection and intellectual property disputes.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Policies, Procedures &amp; Governance</strong></p><ul><li>Develop, implement and continuously update company-wide legal policies, governance frameworks and standard operating procedures.</li><li>Establish legal approval matrices, delegated authorities and contract governance processes.</li><li>Ensure legal documentation and policies remain aligned with regulatory changes and business requirements.</li><li>Deliver legal awareness and compliance training to leadership and key business functions.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>External Stakeholder Management</strong></p><ul><li>Manage relationships with external law firms, regulatory authorities, government entities, landlords, investors and strategic partners.</li><li>Select, appoint and oversee external legal advisors while ensuring cost-effective legal support.</li><li>Represent the Company in legal negotiations and discussions with external stakeholders.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Leadership</strong></p><ul><li>Lead, mentor and develop the Legal &amp; Compliance Department.</li><li>Set departmental objectives, priorities and performance expectations.</li><li>Allocate resources effectively and monitor team performance.</li><li>Manage the departmental budget and optimize external legal expenditure.</li><li>Foster a culture of integrity, accountability and proactive legal risk management.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Regional Responsibilities</strong></p><ul><li>Support legal operations across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Kingdom and future expansion markets.</li><li>Ensure compliance with local legislation while maintaining consistent legal governance standards across all jurisdictions.</li><li>Coordinate with regional external legal advisors on cross-border legal matters.</li><li>Support international expansion through entity establishment, licensing, regulatory compliance and transaction execution.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Job Requirements:</strong></p><p><strong>Qualifications</strong></p><ul><li>Bachelor of Laws (LLB).</li><li>Qualified lawyer admitted to practice in a recognized jurisdiction.</li><li>Master's degree in law (LLM) preferred.</li><li>Membership in a recognized Bar Association.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Experience</strong></p><ul><li>12–15+ years of post-qualification legal experience.</li><li>Minimum 5 years leading an in-house legal function or serving in a senior legal leadership role.</li><li>Experience within hospitality, retail, consumer goods or multi-brand organizations is highly preferred.</li><li>Demonstrated experience in:</li></ul><p>o Corporate law</p><p>o Commercial contracts</p><p>o Corporate governance</p><p>o Mergers &amp; Acquisitions</p><p>o Shareholder and investment agreements</p><p>o Franchising</p><p>o Joint ventures</p><p>o Employment law</p><p>o Real estate and leasing</p><p>o Regulatory compliance</p><p>o Litigation management</p>

<p>Independent Food Company is home to some of the region's most recognised hospitality concepts, including SALT, Somewhere, Parker's, Shalwa, Somewhere, and Public. We are a fast-growing organisation with an expanding portfolio of concepts, an active acquisition strategy, and ambitious plans for growth across new and existing markets. As we scale, the quality of our people remains central to everything we build. That is where you come in.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Role Summary: </strong></p><p>The Human Resources Director is an executive leadership role responsible for defining and executing the organization's people strategy, organizational transformation agenda, and culture in alignment with the company's long-term business objectives. As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the Human Resources Director partners closely with the COO and senior leadership to build a high-performing, scalable organization by leading talent strategy, organizational design, leadership development, performance management, total rewards, workforce planning, governance, and HR operations across all business units and geographies.</p><p><br></p><p>This role serves as the custodian of the company's culture, leadership capability, organizational effectiveness, and employee experience while ensuring compliance with labor legislation, corporate governance standards, and best HR practices.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Key Responsibilities: </strong></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Executive Leadership &amp; People Strategy </strong></p><ul><li>Develop and execute the organization's long-term Human Resources strategy aligned with business growth, transformation, and expansion objectives.</li><li>Serve as a strategic advisor to the COO and Executive Leadership Team on organizational effectiveness, workforce strategy, leadership capability, succession planning, culture, organizational performance, and people-related business decisions.</li><li>Shape executive decisions through workforce analytics, organizational insights, and strategic people recommendations.</li><li>Lead the HR function as a business partner that enables organizational performance rather than a transactional support function.</li><li>Build a future-ready organization capable of supporting rapid regional and international growth.</li><li>Drive a high-performance culture centered around accountability, ownership, agility, and operational excellence.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Organizational Transformation &amp; Change Management </strong></p><ul><li>Lead enterprise-wide transformation initiatives supporting organizational restructuring, business expansion, acquisitions, and strategic change.</li><li>Design and implement comprehensive change management frameworks to maximize adoption and minimize organizational disruption.</li><li>Assess organizational readiness, change impact, and people-related risks across transformation initiatives.</li><li>Develop executive communication strategies and leadership engagement plans during periods of organizational change.</li><li>Establish governance models to monitor transformation progress, employee adoption, and business outcomes.</li><li>Build change management capability across leadership teams.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Organizational Design &amp; Workforce Effectiveness </strong></p><ul><li>Design scalable organizational structures that support business growth and operational efficiency.</li><li>Define organizational governance including reporting structures, spans of control, role clarity, and decision-making authorities.</li><li>Establish company-wide job architecture, grading frameworks, competency models, and career pathways.</li><li>Lead organization-wide workforce planning aligned with future business requirements.</li><li>Continuously assess organizational effectiveness and implement structural improvements where required.</li><li>Develop succession plans for executive, leadership, and business-critical positions.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Organizational Performance &amp; Strategy Execution </strong></p><ul><li>Translate corporate strategy into measurable organizational, departmental, and individual performance objectives.</li><li>Design and oversee enterprise-wide KPI and performance management frameworks.</li><li>Ensure alignment between business objectives, departmental goals, and employee performance.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Talent Acquisition, Workforce Planning &amp; Emiratization </strong></p><ul><li>Develop and oversee the organization's talent acquisition strategy across all business units and geographies.</li><li>Ensure workforce planning supports business expansion, new market entry, and long-term organizational growth.</li><li>Lead executive recruitment and succession planning for strategic leadership positions.</li><li>Strengthen employer branding to position the organization as an employer of choice.</li><li>Develop and lead the organization's Emiratization strategy, ensuring sustainable national talent attraction, development, retention, and compliance with UAE government regulations and nationalization targets.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Leadership Development &amp; Talent Management </strong></p><ul><li>Establish an integrated talent management strategy covering leadership development, succession planning, high-potential identification, and career progression.</li><li>Develop executive leadership programs to strengthen organizational leadership capability.</li><li>Lead succession planning across all critical functions and leadership levels.</li><li>Build internal talent pipelines that reduce dependency on external hiring.</li><li>Promote internal mobility and long-term employee development.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Learning &amp; Organizational Capability </strong></p><ul><li>Develop enterprise-wide learning strategies aligned with business capability requirements.</li><li>Establish leadership academies, management development programs, and functional capability frameworks.</li><li>Lead implementation and continuous enhancement of the Learning Management System (LMS).</li><li>Ensure employees receive structured onboarding, compliance training, leadership development, and technical capability programs.</li><li>Measure organizational capability improvement through learning analytics and performance outcomes.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Compensation, Rewards &amp; Performance </strong></p><ul><li>Develop and oversee the organization's Total Rewards Strategy, ensuring compensation, benefits, incentives, recognition, and wellbeing programs support business objectives, employee engagement, and talent retention.</li><li>Design competitive compensation structures aligned with market benchmarks, internal equity, and organizational sustainability.</li><li>Lead executive compensation reviews, salary structures, grading frameworks, and short- and long-term incentive programs.</li><li>Ensure payroll governance, compensation compliance, and equitable reward practices.</li><li>Oversee annual salary reviews, bonus frameworks, promotion cycles, and workforce budgeting.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Culture, Employee Experience &amp; Engagement </strong></p><ul><li>Champion the organization's culture and employee value proposition.</li><li>Develop strategies that strengthen employee engagement, retention, wellbeing, and organizational commitment.</li><li>Lead organization-wide engagement surveys and action planning initiatives.</li><li>Partner with leadership to reinforce company values and desired leadership behaviors.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Employee Relations, Governance &amp; Compliance </strong></p><ul><li>Establish governance frameworks for HR policies, procedures, and people-related decision making. Ensure full compliance with UAE labor laws, Emiratization regulations, and employment legislation across all entities.</li><li>Lead employee relations matters including disciplinary processes, grievances, investigations, and dispute resolution.</li><li>Develop HR governance standards that ensure consistency, fairness, and legal compliance.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>HR Operations, Digital Transformation &amp; Analytics </strong></p><ul><li>Oversee all HR operations, shared services, payroll governance, and employee lifecycle processes.</li><li>Lead digital transformation initiatives through the implementation and optimization of HR technologies.</li><li>Ensure HR data integrity, confidentiality, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance. • Continuously improve HR operational efficiency through automation, process optimization, and data-driven decision-making.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Health, Safety &amp; Employee Wellbeing </strong></p><ul><li>Champion employee wellbeing as a strategic business priority.</li><li>Oversee workplace health, safety, and wellbeing initiatives across all business units.</li><li>Promote mental health, work-life balance, and employee assistance programs.</li><li>Ensure compliance with occupational health and safety regulations.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Mergers, Acquisitions &amp; International Expansion </strong></p><ul><li>Lead the people strategy for mergers, acquisitions, restructures, and organizational integrations.</li><li>Develop workforce integration plans during acquisitions and organizational consolidations. Establish HR frameworks for new country entries and international expansion.</li><li>Ensure organizational structures, policies, and talent strategies support multi-country operations. Partner with executive leadership during due diligence, integration planning, and organizational transition activities.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>HR Governance &amp; Executive Reporting </strong></p><ul><li>Develop and monitor HR governance frameworks aligned with corporate governance standards.</li><li>Present workforce insights, organizational performance, talent risks, and HR strategy updates to the Executive Leadership Team and Board when required.</li><li>Develop executive dashboards covering workforce planning, talent metrics, engagement, turnover, succession, organizational effectiveness, and people-related business risks.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Qualifications:</strong></p><p><br></p><ul><li>Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Psychology, or a related discipline (Master's degree preferred).</li><li>18+ years of progressive Human Resources experience, including at least 7 years in executive HR leadership roles.</li><li>Proven experience leading HR strategy within large, multi-brand, multi-entity, or regional organizations.</li><li>Demonstrated success leading organizational transformation, restructuring, and business growth initiatives.</li><li>Proven experience developing Total Rewards strategies, organizational design frameworks, and executive talent management programs.</li><li>Strong knowledge of UAE labor laws, Emiratization regulations, and international HR best practices. Experience partnering with Executive Leadership Teams and Board-level governance.</li><li>Professional HR certifications such as SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CIPD Level 7, or equivalent are highly desirable.</li></ul>

Driven to create unique home-grown food concepts that bring people together, the Independent Food Company is a UAE-based hospitality company with multiple concepts under its umbrella – SALT, Parker's, Somewhere, Public, Soil, Shalwa and Kumo.<br><br>We're looking for experienced and passionate Baristas to join our team.<br><br><strong>Key Responsibilities<br><br></strong><ul><li>Prepare exceptional coffee beverages espresso pulling, coffee brewing.</li><li>Must be skilled at Latte Art - minimum 3 designs with precision. </li><li>Calibrate manual machines to maintain consistent quality.</li><li>Collaborate with your team to deliver memorable guest experiences.<br><br></li></ul><strong>Requirements<br><br></strong><ul><li>Minimum 2 years of experience as a Barista in high-volume environment.</li><li>Passion for coffee, creativity, and teamwork.</li><li>If you've got the skill, energy, and love for coffee culture, we'd love to meet you.<br><br></li></ul>Apply with your CV.

<p><strong>Role Purpose:</strong></p><p><br></p><p>The Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist is responsible for executing end-to-end hiring activities across the organization's operations and corporate functions. They support mass recruitment and urgent hiring needs, contribute to creative and high-volume sourcing initiatives including open day recruitment events, and maintain recruitment dashboards and metrics to track performance, working closely with the Talent Acquisition Lead</p><p><strong>Key Responsibilities</strong></p><ul><li>Execute the end-to-end recruitment cycle for F&amp;B &amp; Corporate function roles across all levels, from sourcing to offer stage</li><li>Support mass recruitment campaigns and urgent/high-volume hiring needs for new store openings and seasonal peaks</li><li>Handle day-to-day recruitment activities for assigned roles, ensuring timely fulfilment of vacancies against agreed SLAs and time-to-fill targets</li><li>Support the planning and execution of open day recruitment events and walk-in interview drives to attract high volumes of qualified candidates</li><li>Contribute creative, out-of-the-box sourcing ideas (social media campaigns, employer branding activations, community and campus partnerships) to build a strong hospitality and F&amp;B talent pipeline</li><li>Maintain recruitment dashboards and metrics (time-to-fill, cost-per-hire, source of hire, offer acceptance rate, pipeline conversion) to track performance and share insights with stakeholders</li><li>Support the Talent Acquisition Lead on strategic TA projects, employer branding initiatives, and process improvement plans</li><li>Travel across sites, stores, and restaurants as needed to support on-ground hiring events, interviews, and hiring manager coordination</li><li>Build and maintain a pipeline of qualified candidates for critical and recurring hospitality/F&amp;B roles to reduce time-to-fill</li><li>Partner with hiring managers and operations teams to understand manpower needs and support effective recruitment planning</li><li>Coordinate with recruitment agencies, job boards, universities, and hospitality institutes to diversify sourcing channels</li><li>Ensure a positive candidate experience throughout the recruitment journey, from first contact to onboarding handover</li><li>Track and report on recruitment KPIs, providing regular updates and insights to the Talent Acquisition Lead</li><li>Stay current on hospitality and F&amp;B labor market trends, salary benchmarks, and competitor hiring practices to help keep sourcing strategies competitive</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Qualifications</strong></p><ul><li>Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or equivalent</li><li>7-10 years of experience in Talent Acquisition/Recruitment, with exposure to hospitality, restaurants, or F&amp;B operations</li><li>Experience supporting mass recruitment and urgent/high-volume hiring needs</li><li>Experience supporting or running open day recruitment events</li><li>Strong knowledge of recruitment metrics, dashboards, and reporting tools</li><li>Fluency in English is a must; Arabic language is a plus</li><li>Proficiency in MS Office and applicant tracking systems (ATS)</li><li>Willingness and flexibility to travel as required</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Additional Insights for the Senior TA Specialist Role</strong></p><ul><li>This role suits a candidate who is comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-volume hiring environment typical of hospitality and F&amp;B operations, where urgency and adaptability are critical</li><li>Good stakeholder coordination skills are essential, as the role interfaces regularly with operations leaders, hiring managers, and the Talent Acquisition Lead</li><li>Familiarity with applicant tracking systems (ATS) and data visualization tools (Excel, Power BI, or similar) supports the dashboard and metrics component of the role</li><li>Regional or on-site travel should be expected, particularly around new openings, open day events, and peak hiring periods</li><li>Creativity in sourcing and employer branding is increasingly important in hospitality recruitment, where competition for frontline and skilled talent is high</li></ul><p><br></p>

<h4 >Full job description</h4><p ><strong>Job Title:</strong> Care Contact Center Agent<br><strong>Department:</strong> Care Department<br><strong>Reports To:</strong> Care Department Manager<br><strong>Location:</strong> Office-Based<br><strong>Working Hours:</strong> Full-Time</p><h3 ><strong>Job Purpose</strong></h3><p >The Care Contact Center Agent handles customer communication across different channels including calls, emails, social media, Google Chat, and reviews. The role focuses on providing excellent customer service, resolving complaints, maintaining brand standards, and ensuring customer satisfaction.</p><h3 ><strong>Key Responsibilities</strong></h3><ul><li><p >Handle incoming customer calls, inquiries, and complaints professionally.</p></li><li><p >Make outbound calls for customer support, follow-ups, and feedback.</p></li><li><p >Respond to emails, social media messages, Google Chat, and online reviews promptly.</p></li><li><p >Maintain and update Google listings and online platforms.</p></li><li><p >Manage customer orders and reservations.</p></li><li><p >Handle customer complaints calmly and professionally, aiming for quick resolution.</p></li><li><p >Record and categorize customer inquiries and complaints accurately.</p></li><li><p >Escalate complex issues to the relevant department when needed.</p></li><li><p >Follow up on pending customer concerns until resolved.</p></li><li><p >Coordinate PR invites and support special events.</p></li><li><p >Respond professionally during crisis situations, including negative comments or viral content.</p></li><li><p >Send marketing messages and customer updates when required.</p></li><li><p >Provide personalized service to VIP guests and ensure a smooth customer experience.</p></li><li><p >Participate in brand immersion activities and guest journey assessments.</p></li><li><p >Provide feedback to improve customer experience and operations.</p></li><li><p >Meet department and individual KPIs.</p></li></ul><h3 ><strong>Soft Skills</strong></h3><ul><li><p >Customer-focused with a positive attitude.</p></li><li><p >Strong problem-solving and communication skills.</p></li><li><p >Ability to stay calm and professional under pressure.</p></li><li><p >Team player with good coordination skills.</p></li><li><p >Flexible, proactive, and willing to learn.</p></li><li><p >Open to feedback and continuous improvement.</p></li></ul><h3 ><strong>Requirements</strong></h3><ul><li><p >Flexible to work shifts, weekends, public holidays, and overnight schedules.</p></li><li><p >Highly motivated and able to handle challenges.</p></li><li><p >Organized, punctual, and able to multitask.</p></li><li><p >Tech-savvy and comfortable using digital platforms.</p></li><li><p >Previous contact center experience, preferably in the GCC.</p></li><li><p >Fluent in Arabic and English, both spoken and written.</p></li></ul>

Independent Food Company is home to some of the region's most recognised hospitality concepts, including SALT, Somewhere, Parker's, Shalwa, Somewhere, and Public. We are a fast-growing organisation with an expanding portfolio of concepts, an active acquisition strategy, and ambitious plans for growth across new and existing markets. As we scale, the quality of our people remains central to everything we build. That is where you come in.<br>Role Purpose The Talent Acquisition Lead is responsible for driving end-to-end hiring activities across the organization's operations and corporate functions. They manage mass recruitment and urgent hiring needs, lead creative and high-volume sourcing initiatives including open day recruitment events, and build recruitment dashboards and metrics to track performance, working closely with the Head of Talent Acquisition on wider TA projects.<br>Key Responsibilities Lead the end-to-end recruitment cycle for F&B & Corporate function roles across all levels, from sourcing to offer stage Manage mass recruitment campaigns and urgent/high-volume hiring needs for new store openings and seasonal peaks Own day-to-day recruitment activities for the TA team, ensuring timely fulfilment of vacancies against agreed SLAs and time-to-fill targets Plan and run open day recruitment events and walk-in interview drives to attract high volumes of qualified candidates Develop and execute creative, out-of-the-box sourcing strategies (social media campaigns, employer branding activations, community and campus partnerships) to build a strong hospitality and F&B talent pipeline Build and maintain recruitment dashboards and metrics (time-to-fill, cost-per-hire, source of hire, offer acceptance rate, pipeline conversion) to track performance and share insights with stakeholders Partner closely with the Head of Talent Acquisition on strategic TA projects, employer branding initiatives, and process improvement plans Travel abroad and across sites, stores, and restaurants as needed to support on-ground hiring events, interviews, and hiring manager coordination in different countries/regions Build and maintain a strong pipeline of qualified candidates for critical and recurring hospitality/F&B roles to reduce time-to-fill Partner with hiring managers and operations teams to understand manpower needs and translate them into effective recruitment plans Manage relationships with recruitment agencies, job boards, universities, and hospitality institutes to diversify sourcing channels Ensure a positive candidate experience throughout the recruitment journey, from first contact to onboarding handover Track and report on recruitment KPIs, providing regular updates and insights to the Head of Talent Acquisition Stay current on hospitality and F&B labor market trends, salary benchmarks, and competitor hiring practices to keep sourcing strategies competitive<br>Qualifications Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or equivalent5-8 years of experience in Talent Acquisition/Recruitment, with a significant portion within hospitality, restaurants, or F&B operations Proven experience managing mass recruitment and urgent/high-volume hiring needs Track record of planning and running open day recruitment events Strong knowledge of recruitment metrics, dashboards, and reporting tools Fluency in English is a must; Arabic language is a plus Proficiency in MS Office and applicant tracking systems (ATS) Willingness and flexibility to travel as required<br>Additional Insights for the TA Lead Role This role suits a candidate who is comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-volume hiring environment typical of hospitality and F&B operations, where urgency and adaptability are critical Strong stakeholder management skills are essential, as the role interfaces regularly with operations leaders, hiring managers, and the Head of Talent Acquisition Familiarity with applicant tracking systems (ATS) and data visualization tools (Excel, Power BI, or similar) supports the dashboard and metrics component of the role Regional or on-site travel should be expected, particularly around new openings, open day events, and peak hiring periods Creativity in sourcing and employer branding is increasingly important in hospitality recruitment, where competition for frontline and skilled talent is high