Chef Garde Manger📣 Job Ad

About the Role

IHG Hotels & Resorts is seeking a dedicated Chef Garde Manger to join our team in Jeddah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. This full-time position involves overseeing the production of all cold items, developing and standardizing recipes, and leading a culinary team. The role requires 5-10 years of relevant experience in a professional kitchen environment.

Role Overview

As Chef Garde Manger, you will be responsible for maintaining consistent quality and presentation across all cold food preparations. This includes ensuring adherence to stringent food safety standards and contributing to collaborative menu planning and culinary innovation within the kitchen operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the production of all cold items, including salads, dressings, cold sauces, cured meats, terrines, pâtés, canapés, hors d’oeuvres, and buffet/banquet displays.
• Develop, standardize, and execute recipes, portioning, and plating for various outlets, room service, and events.
• Plan mise en place and production schedules to meet daily service and banquet demands while ensuring product freshness and quality.
• Lead, train, and mentor garde manger team members, assigning tasks and maintaining performance standards during service.
• Ensure consistent taste, texture, temperature, and visual presentation across all cold items.
• Maintain strict food safety, sanitation, and allergen-control procedures, ensuring compliance with HACCP and local regulations.
• Manage stock control for perishables, monitor yields, minimize waste, and support food-cost management and ordering processes.
• Collaborate with other kitchen sections and banquet coordinators on menu planning, special events, and seasonal offerings.
• Innovate cold-menu items and decorative displays to enhance guest experience and support revenue initiatives.

Qualifications and Experience

• A culinary diploma or relevant professional experience in cold-kitchen, pastry, or garde manger disciplines is preferred.
• A minimum of 5-10 years of progressive culinary experience, with a focus on garde manger operations.
• Solid knowledge of food safety, HACCP principles, and required local certifications/permits.

Required Skills and Attributes

• Strong technical skills in preparing salads, charcuterie, curing, terrines, aspic, cold sauces, and buffet/display presentations.
• Ability to read and scale recipes, perform basic food-cost calculations, and meet kitchen Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities, attention to detail, and creativity in culinary execution.
• Clear communication skills in the local language.

Work Context

This is a full-time position based in Jeddah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The role requires flexibility to work varied shifts, including mornings, evenings, weekends, and during banquet events, to meet operational demands.