Contract Restaurant Manager jobs

Female Restaurant Manager

Alain Ducasse Café & Manufacture — Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Job type: Full-time, permanent Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE (on-site)

Reporting to: Area Manager / VP: Food & Beverage Operations.

About the RoleWe are opening the Maison's new shop and café in Abu Dhabi — a destination dedicated to craftsmanship, excellence and the art of hospitality, bringing together exceptional expertise in chocolate, pastry, bakery, ice cream, coffee and a curated selection of savoury creations, all crafted to the Maison's uncompromising standards.We are looking for an experienced Restaurant Manager to lead the outlet from pre-opening through steady-state operation: owning the P&L, building the front-of-house team, and protecting the quality and consistency that define the Maison.This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who is equally comfortable reviewing a profit and loss statement in the morning and tasting a ganache, praliné or single-origin chocolate on the production floor in the afternoon.

Key ResponsibilitiesCommercial & Financial Performance (P&L Ownership)Own the outlet's full P&L: revenue, COGS, labour, and controllable expenses — including monthly forecasting, variance analysis and corrective action plans.Prepare and present weekly and monthly management reports (sales, covers, average spend, retail sell-through, food and beverage cost %, payroll %, wastage).Build and manage the annual budget with the General Manager; set pricing for café and retail (chocolate, pastry, ice cream) in line with Maison guidelines and local market positioning.Drive revenue through menu engineering, retail merchandising, upselling programmes, corporate gifting and seasonal campaigns (Ramadan, Eid, National Day, Valentine's, festive).Manage supplier contracts, purchasing and payment terms; control inventory, stock takes and shrinkage.

Chocolate, Pastry & Product ExcellenceMaintain chocolate and pastry quality standards: correct storage temperatures and humidity, shelf-life and rotation discipline, and presentation at the counter and in the boutique.Partner with the Chef Chocolatier, Pastry Chef and Bakery team on daily production planning, product launches, seasonal collections and tasting protocols.Ensure every team member can confidently describe and sell the product range — origins, cocoa percentages, ganache and praliné families, allergens and pairings.Safeguard the traceability, hygiene and handling requirements specific to chocolate and chilled pastry products.

Team Leadership & PeopleRecruit, onboard, train and retain the front-of-house and retail team; build a succession pipeline.Run daily briefings, weekly training sessions and quarterly performance reviews; manage rosters to match demand while controlling labour cost.Foster a culture of savoir-faire, craftsmanship and transmission of expertise — coaching, not just directing.Guest Experience & StandardsDeliver a service experience consistent with the Maison's standards across the café, boutique and any private/event space.

Handle guest feedback and complaints as the senior point of escalation; convert feedback into training and process fixes.

Compliance, Safety & AdministrationEnsure full compliance with UAE food safety legislation and Abu Dhabi authority requirements (ADAFSA / Abu Dhabi Municipality food control, DED trade licensing, Civil Defence, HACCP and hygiene audits).Maintain health, safety and fire-safety standards; lead internal audits and corrective actions.Manage POS, inventory and reservation systems; keep records audit-ready at all times.Ensure all staff hold valid permits (visa, medical, food handler certification) and that records are current.

Requirements5+ years of food and beverage operations experience, with at least 2 years in a management role (Restaurant Manager, Assistant Manager or Outlet Manager) in an upscale, fine-dining or luxury retail F&B environment.Proven P&L ownership — able to read, build and act on a profit and loss statement; demonstrable experience controlling food cost, labour cost and wastage.Strong chocolate and pastry background — experience in a chocolaterie, pâtisserie, bakery, dessert concept or a pastry-driven luxury operation. Knowledge of bean-to-bar chocolate, ganache and praliné production, tempering, and cold-chain handling is highly valued.Language skills: fluency in Arabic and English (Arabic is used daily with our guests, suppliers and local partners). French is a distinct advantage.Leadership presence: calm under pressure, excellent grooming and presentation, natural coach and role model for a young team.Commercial instinct: comfortable with retail merchandising, pricing, promotions and corporate gifting sales.

Systems literacy: POS, inventory/stock management, reservations and reporting tools; confident with spreadsheets.UAE market knowledge: familiarity with Abu Dhabi licensing, food safety and employment requirements — or the ability to get up to speed quickly.Education: degree or diploma in Hospitality Management, Culinary Arts, Business or a related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.Must be able to work shifts, weekends and public holidays as required by the operation.

What We OfferThe opportunity to launch a new Maison destination in Abu Dhabi as part of the opening team.

A role with genuine P&L ownership and direct influence on the outlet's commercial direction.

Work alongside chefs and artisans trained to the Maison's standards, with access to the group's know-how.

Career development within a growing regional operation.

Pay: AED10,000.00 - AED14,000.00 per month

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Abu Dhabi: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Language:

• French (Preferred)

Work Location: In person