Chief Executive Officer - UAE | Healthcare & Institutional Catering

My client is a new player in the market, but they have a solid backing and European presence with contracts mobilising later this year already.

We are seeking an experienced and highly operational Chief Executive Officer to lead the establishment and growth of the UAE business, with an immediate focus on building a high-quality, commercially sustainable healthcare and institutional catering operation.

This is a hands-on leadership role. The successful candidate will be expected to work closely with operational teams and be directly involved in contract mobilisation, kitchen and production efficiency, staffing, procurement, food costing, quality, client relationships and service delivery.

The Role

The CEO will take overall responsibility for the UAE operation, driving both its commercial performance and operational excellence.

Key priorities will include:

• Establishing and scaling the UAE healthcare catering business
• Leading contract mobilisation and operational start-up
• Driving food production, quality, cost control and service standards
• Building and developing high-performing multicultural teams
• Managing budgets, P&L and overall commercial performance
• Leading procurement, tendering, costing and contract negotiations
• Developing strong relationships with healthcare clients and senior stakeholders
• Implementing SOPs, controls and performance management systems
• Identifying and resolving operational challenges directly and decisively
• Building a scalable platform for future growth

About You

We are looking for a proven senior operator with a strong background in:

• Healthcare or hospital catering
• Large-scale institutional or contract catering
• Managing complex catering operations and teams
• Mobilising and establishing new contracts
• Improving operational efficiency and profitability
• Food production, food safety, procurement and labour management
• P&L ownership and commercial management
• Tendering, costing and contract negotiation
• Building SOPs, controls and performance frameworks
• Client and senior stakeholder management
• UAE or wider GCC operations and business practices

You will be a hands-on, commercially minded leader who is comfortable being close to the operation and solving problems personally when required.

Most importantly, you will have a demonstrable track record of building, improving, scaling or turning around a catering operation.

This is an opportunity to join an ambitious group at the beginning of its UAE journey and play a pivotal role in building the platform, team and operating culture from the ground up.

Get in touch: michelle@corecruitment.com