Culinary Standards And Specifications Manager

Emirates

As a Culinary Standards and Specifications Manager you will lead the planning, management, and governance of all food and beverage agreed service standards and culinary data processes. In this role, you will oversee a team to ensure accurate execution, compliance, and timely delivery of menu plans and databases. You will monitor adherence to pre-determined menu plans, ensuring timely implementation and alignment with the overall strategy and objectives of the Inflight Services Department.

In This Role You Will

• Develop and maintain up-to-date menu standards, guidelines, and product specifications in alignment with EK Culinary Design. Establish a centralized document resource within the EK Catering Management System for internal teams and external suppliers.
• Develop and manage a communication strategy for internal and external stakeholders, in collaboration with Corporate Communications & Marketing Brand (CCMB) partners where appropriate, ensuring timely dissemination of standards. Work closely the Culinary Development team to create a structured workflow for service and product introductions.
• Support the team on menu planning and development of cuisine-specific menus in alignment with culinary development objectives. Collaborate with Culinary Development and Regional Catering Operations teams to ensure clear understanding and effective implementation of new instructions, updates, and exceptions, facilitating accurate communication with outstation caterers.
• Manage the menu approval process, ensuring alignment with brand, service standards, and budgets. Use robust version control and change tracking systems (e.g., CAT360) for menu documentation for accuracy and traceability. Conduct regular audits and maintain service consistency through structured reviews and updates.
• Conduct regular audits of menu data against onboard delivery, revalidating specifications and identifying discrepancies. Ensure consistency and quality of service through structured reviews and updates.
• Define and manage system enhancements in collaboration with IT, from scoping to testing and deployment, and organising regular sessions to ensure all enhancements are communicated. Ensure menu data updates align with operational inventory systems and onboard galley loading plans.
• Collaborate with CASA and the Data Science team to use data analytics tools to analyze menu performance, customer feedback, and operational data. Incorporate these insights into menu planning, personalization strategies into menu cycles. Present regular reports on trends and gaps to senior management for continuous improvement.
• Manage cross-functional collaboration with Culinary Design, Catering Operations, Procurement, QA, Cabin Crew Training, and suppliers to ensure cohesive implementation of approved menu specifications. Act as the primary liaison and manage the resolution of escalated menu-related issues, ensuring consistency and operational alignment across all stakeholders.
• Conduct performance reviews, monitoring team performance and service standards, provide coaching to ensure team effectiveness. Design training sessions for catering and cabin crew teams, supporting continuous learning through SOP updates and knowledge repositories.
  
  

Qualification

To be considered for this role, you must meet the below requirements:

• Completed Degree or Honours (12+3 equivalent)
• 8+ years of experience in In-Flight Services or In-flight Administration
• Experience in an administrative role within the hospitality or food service industry, culinary data management, preferably in aviation catering
• Ability to generate new ideas and to combine existing elements to create new sources of value
• Excellent organisational skills and project management knowledge
• Strong knowledge of Emirates Catering Management System or ERP systems and demand planning tools
• Expertise in menu management, Recipe Creation and Menu planning processes
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage complex data-driven operations
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills
• Ability to work in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment