Director - ABA & Innovation Centers

Position Overview

Based at ABA UAE, in order to further strengthen our team, we are currently seeking:

Director – ABA & Innovation Centers

United Arab Emirates

Responsible for coordinating, managing, and directing all aspects of the innovation centre, while maintaining cost effective operations and high quality of products. Provide training for all chefs and Assistant chefs, meet BanoPuratos quality standards, establish and enforce food specifications, recipes and sanitation, and maximize customers satisfaction.

Responsible for managing ABA Academy, develop and promote related programs.

Key Accountabilities

Innovation Centre

• Lead the effective development and execution of the Innovation Centre’s strategy and plans to contribute to the realization of BanoPuratos strategic objectives
• Ensure the timely provision of input to the CEO, in line with the approved process, to ensure that innovation centre needs are reflected in the overall BanoPuratos strategy
• Schedule and coordinate the work of chefs in the innovation centres and at the customers premises, delegate tasks, and manage progress throughout the day
• Develop standard recipes and techniques for pastry, bakery, and chocolate preparation and presentation which help to assure consistently high quality and to minimize food costs.
• Ensure that all ingredients used in the innovation centre comply with BanoPuratos guidelines and that no ingredients are used unless and until they are appropriately recorded within BanoPuratos system.
• Coordinate with the Sales Managers on demonstrations to assure that culinary activities consistently exceed the customers’ expectations, and on items that have been removed from the brands portfolio.
• Evaluate new concept products or recipes, ensure that quality and cost are consistently met, and decide on whether to add them to the company magazine.
• Ensure all recipes are in the BanoPuratos style, in line with BanoPuratos ethos and make the best of use of ingredients including consideration of cost, local supply, and seasonality
• Work in conjunction with the Marketing Manager about food production aspects of special events being planned.
• Bake or directly supervise the baking of items that require skilful preparation.
• Ensure that chefs are managing the ordering, storage, and rotation of stock in line with BanoPuratos policies to minimize waste and maximize freshness and value of BanoPuratos products.
• Ensure that high standards of sanitation, cleanliness and safety are always maintained throughout all innovation centre areas by establishing and maintaining a regular cleaning and maintenance schedule.
• Manage the innovation centre database by ensuring the timely entry of recipes.
• Keep abreast with emerging pastry, baking, and chocolate handling techniques and best practices, and ensure the proper sharing of lessons learned across the department
• Oversee the budget execution of the centre, identify potential risks and issues and provide recommendations.
• Consolidate all reporting input to formulate centre budget and submit to the CEO for approval and further consolidation
• Formulate workforce planning reports and talent acquisition plan and budgets for the department, to ensure adequate staffing for optimal operational smoothness, and submit to the CEO for approval
• Manage multi-disciplinary reporting organizational units and ensure effective leadership to adequately manage human capital in their achievement of the centre performance objectives
• Provide guidance to his/her subordinates on operational and people management matters. Provide them with mentoring and coaching, when necessary, in order to ensure that they are well equipped to tackle the operational requirements from a professional and behavioral standpoint.
  
  

ABA

• Design and implement a comprehensive curriculum that meets industry standards and caters to the needs of professional chefs.
• Ensure all programs are aligned with the latest trends and techniques in the bakery, pastry and chocolate industries.
• Regularly update course materials and teaching methods to maintain high standards.
• Identify and invite prominent international chefs to conduct specialized classes and workshops.
• Coordinate schedules, travel arrangements, and accommodations for guest chefs.
• Facilitate smooth communication and collaboration between guest chefs.
• Manage the daily operations of ABA, including staffing, budgeting, and resource allocation.
• Represent ABA at industry events, conferences, and exhibitions.
• Visit clients when necessary to promote ABA programs.
• Coordinate with the marketing department for ABA programs’ flyers on social media.
• Communicate with international chefs to invite them to conduct special programs at ABA academy.
• Conduct regular staff meetings to ensure effective communication and teamwork.
  
  

Who are we looking for?

• Minimum of 12 years of pastry, baking, and chocolate making experience, out of which 4 years at a managerial level.
• Bachelor degree in baking, or any related field.
• Fluent in English, French is a plus.
• Ability to develop strategic plan, coordinate effectively chefs and sous chefs’ tasks, and allocate demonstrations
• Strong ability to create new recipes with the highest quality ingredients while keeping costs within the budgetary restrictions
• Strong knowledge of pastry, baking, and chocolate making techniques and principles
• Strong knowledge of safety, sanitation, and food handling procedures.