Culinary Development Senior Assistant

Company Description The Lime Tree Cafe & Kitchen is a Dubai-based brand that began in 2001 with a vision to offer a welcoming escape from city life through wholesome, nutritious food in a casual setting. From its first café in Jumeirah, it has grown into a prominent local name with multiple contemporary café locations across the city. The company provides customized catering, full-sized cakes, foodie hampers and gifts, and a retail range featuring preserves, chutneys, cookies, and biscuits. Its Gourmet to Go concept offers popular Lime Tree favorites conveniently packaged for takeaway. The Lime Tree Cafe & Kitchen is committed to innovation, regularly updating menus with fresh, natural ingredients and highlighting Middle Eastern flavors and certified local produce where possible.Role Description The Culinary Development Senior Assistant is a full-time, on-site position based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This role supports the development and refinement of menus by assisting with recipe testing, documenting cooking procedures, and ensuring consistency in presentation and flavour. The Senior Assistant collaborates closely with the culinary leadership to research new ingredients and trends, organise tastings, and gather feedback for continuous improvement. Day-to-day responsibilities include coordinating kitchen trials, maintaining accurate records of product specifications, assisting with project timelines for new menu launches, and supporting communication between the kitchen and front-of-house teams. The role also involves administrative tasks related to culinary projects, such as organising files, preparing reports, and helping ensure that new offerings align with The Lime Tree’s standards for quality and nutrition.QualificationsStrong analytical skills and research abilities to support menu development, ingredient sourcing, and product testing.Effective communication skills, including the ability to collaborate with chefs, operations teams, and management in a fast-paced environment.Proven administrative assistance experience, including organizing documentation, maintaining databases, and preparing reports for culinary projects.Project management skills to coordinate timelines, tasks, and cross-functional activities related to new menu items and product launches.Prior experience in culinary, food service, or hospitality environments is highly beneficial.Knowledge of food safety and hygiene standards, with attention to detail and consistency in execution.Proficiency in basic office software (e.g., word processing, spreadsheets) for documentation and reporting.Formal culinary training or a related qualification is an advantage but not mandatory; equivalent practical experience will be considered.