Kitchen Production Team Leader

Job Requisition ID: 164779

Established in the 1930s as a trading business, Al-Futtaim Group today is one of the most diversified and progressive, privately held regional businesses headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Structured into five operating divisions; automotive, financial services, real estate, retail and healthcare; employing more than 35,000 employees across more than 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, Al-Futtaim Group partners with over 200 of the world's most admired and innovative brands. Al-Futtaim Group’s entrepreneurship and relentless customer focus enables the organisation to continue to grow and expand; responding to the changing needs of our customers within the societies in which we operate.

By upholding our values of respect, excellence, collaboration and integrity; Al-Futtaim Group continues to enrich the lives and aspirations of our customers each and every day.

Overview of the role

To assist IFB Manager/Team Leader in execution of IKEA Food Service concept in IKEA Swedish deli in line with IKEA concept and ensuring that the daily operation of kitchen and production is supervised and directed at the highest standard, way to strengthen the IKEA store's position as the best home furnishing store in the local market.

What you will do

Customers

• Ensure our guests are always in focus and strive to make them smile. Meet and serve our guests showing empathy and care. Willing to listen and support them with an attitude based on the IKEA values.
• Lead by example and a good ambassador for the IKEA store in all contact with our guests, and give them a good reason to return again and again.
• Always look at our store through the eyes of our customers. Have a daily dialogue with our guests to get continuous feedback about their experiences and to learn more about their needs and wants, then act based on their input.
• Empower and encourage the team to take immediate action to meet the needs of guests and give input on how to continuously improve our meeting with them.
• Ensure our guests have a great shopping experience always throughout the day and handle customers’ complaints proactively and provide reasonable resolution in timely manner.

Commercial

• Secure local adaption of the global and country directions and ambitions, to deliver to the total business agenda and a more People and Planet Positive IKEA.
• Ensure that alignment, budget and resources are in place to move the sustainability agenda within the market.
• Enable and follow-up sustainability performance and progress based on the country business plans, Group tools and methods.
• Be well updated on current and upcoming IFB trends in the market and conduct periodical competition survey in the market.
• Ensure that the range and menu is aligned as per the direction from RSO.
• Should be well aware about the relevant KPI and work towards achieving the same.
• Works and analysis reports like stock report, monthly KPI’s, Sales tree and suggests and take actions to improve the same positively.
• Be responsible for monthly stock take and maintain stock par levels in all Food & Beverages units, as well as purchasing, reordering and stock rotation (FIFO).
• Create action plan for discrepancies in the stock to avoid the same, by conducting recipe spot checks, weekly stock take, wastage control, right portioning and well managed expiry (BBD).
• Develop and plan the menu with other chefs in the kitchen, according to the market needs and customer’s preference (Market specific) in collaboration with RSO.
• Collaborate with the RSO culinary team to secure plate presentation and production according to recipe cards/PPSI.
• Communicate the IFB business plan to the team and implement the activities as per the RSO direction.
• Monitor and control the gross margins, food costs, operational costs, productivity, sales mix and recipe cost.
• Create, maintain and actively use the production chart to train co-workers. Also, ensure all co-workers taste and learn about new products before they are launched.
• Work with the store keeper/third party to ensure product availability at all times.
• Ensure all the IFB inventories are received, handled and stored as per the prescribed SOP.

People

• Committed to the development of his team and secure their training to ensure all co-workers understand the IKEA Concept and other key guidelines, and how they have an impact on their specific roles.
• Train the co-workers how to work with the Swedish range and local range according to the recipes.
• Empower, support and coach his co-workers on the job to help them perform better and grow.
• Work actively to create an environment where the IKEA culture/values is a strong and living reality, and diversity is valued, to ensure the IKEA store is regarded as a great place to work.
• Handle the sections staffing and roster attending to any problem that may arise with regard to the attendance of the staff or any additional manpower needed for production.
• Actively work with the senior culinary team to increase work knowledge and expertise in all areas of production.
• Supervise and coordinate activities of commis chefs and co-workers engaged in food preparation.
• Delegate work to subordinates, observe working methods and coordinate with senior production co-workers on necessary training to increase productivity and performance.
• Ensure we have a simple and straightforward internal communication and information flow, and secure that key information is understood by all IKEA Food co-workers.

Steering the business

• Work actively to make the IKEA store successful and high performing, today and tomorrow by attracting visitors, achieving sales growth and reasonable profitability, ensuring the satisfaction of guests and co-workers, and excellent operational performance as measured through our defined Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Collaborate with the IFB Team Leader to enhance Swinishness and the link between the IKEA Food Service & Swedish Food Market when appropriate.
• Responsible for the efficient organisation of the business area in relation to financial performance i.e. gross profit, costs, hours planning, productivity levels, absence management and holiday planning to agreed service levels.
• Ensure the implementation and follow-up of the SOP rules and guidelines.
• Organize planned and random microbiological and other product analyses for the store.
• Build relationships with relevant national and local authorities, auditors and suppliers.
• Be well updated on current and upcoming national legislation on food safety.
• Ensure that all IKEA FOOD co-workers are familiar with CASY (incident reporting).
• Ensure that the IKEA FOOD Team knows how to act if an incident occurs through the Emergency Management Team.
• Initiate and follow up of investigations caused by incidents concerning national and international range.

Operations

• Develop and manage the HACCP system. (when applicable)
• Ensure that IKEA Food Safety programs are implemented and followed in the store.
• Make random food safety checks in the store.
• Ensure that all IKEA FOOD co-workers are participating in IKEA Food Safety e-learning and other food safety training initiatives.
• Ensure that systems and methods stated in IKEA Concept Documentation are implemented in the Restaurant, Swedish food market, Bistro and co-worker restaurant.
• Promote a “safety first” culture where co-workers are encouraged to raise and discuss concerns and solutions, also co-operate with external service providers and authorities when needed.
• Ensure that all food incidents or potential incidents, are reported to Regional Service Office on a timely basis.
• Adjust and implement the IKEA HACCP plan to secure store’s requirements, also ensure the HACCP routines are known and followed in the daily work.
• Ensure himself and the team is well aware about audits, like Mystery Shopper, Operational Audit, External Food Safety Audit, and Property Audit and follow the same.
• Implement, develop and monitor the food safety and hygiene standards and regulations to ensure a safe working environment for both the customers and co-workers in accordance with the HACCP standards as well as the local health and safety regulations standards.
• Direct the preparation, cooking and presentation of culinary dishes; enforcing strict health and hygiene standards in the kitchen and troubleshooting any problem that may arise in the section assigned to.
• Confidently work with the food handling process.
• Coordinate with his subordinates regarding stocks and ingredients available to proactively produce food in accordance to the time allotted.
• Ensure all equipment and machineries are working according to highest standards, and securing Preventive maintenance is done frequently and in place.
• Perform other related functions that may be assigned from time to time.
• Use the full potential of the IKEA Concept, tools, manuals, guidelines and other best practices.

Required skills to be successful

• Must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Must be able to build working relationships
• Must be able to speak and understand English
• Must have proven leadership abilities and lead by example
• Must have the ability to bring out the best in co-workers and to motivate and develop the organization
• Must have the ability to create an environment where the IKEA values are a strong and living reality that embraces the diversity of co-workers and visitors

What equips you for the role

• Must have a minimum of 2-3 years food production & service supervisory experience, preferably in a high-volume business
• High School/Trade School Graduate preferably in hotel, business or culinary program of study
• Must have an interest and knowledge of culinary or food service industry
• Must have a strong customer focus
• Must have the ability to work in a high-volume, fast-paced, and constantly changing retail environment
• Working knowledge of food safety and sanitation standards as per HACCP
• Able to multi-task and work in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills
• Advanced Food Handler certification
• Must have analytical skills
• Must have multitasking capabilities
• Must be computer literate