PRIVATE CHEF – PERFORMANCE & WELLNESS

POSITION OVERVIEW

An exceptional opportunity for an experienced Private Chef to join a UHNW family of five based in Dubai, UAE.

The family leads a highly active, health-conscious lifestyle and is seeking a performance-led chef who can deliver exceptional cuisine while tailoring nutrition to individual health, fitness and body-composition objectives.

The chef will take full responsibility for the family's daily culinary requirements, catering for two adults and three children. The successful candidate will combine culinary excellence, nutritional knowledge and discretion, creating food that is nutritious, balanced and enjoyable without compromising flavour, variety or presentation.

The chef will operate from a fully equipped professional chef's kitchen, separate from the main family kitchen, providing a dedicated environment for the preparation and delivery of the family's meals. The chef will be supported by a dedicated Chef's Hand, who will assist with food preparation and service as required, as well as being responsible for kitchen cleaning, deep cleaning, organisation and supporting the preparation of staff meals.

The role will be primarily based in the UAE, with occasional international travel to Europe and other overseas destinations required throughout the year. The chef must be comfortable maintaining the same high standards of culinary service and nutritional planning while travelling with the family.

This is a hands-on role for a chef who is proactive, highly organised and genuinely passionate about performance, wellness, nutrition and exceptional food, with the ability to lead and utilise their kitchen support effectively.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Performance \& Wellness

Develop and execute daily menus tailored to each family member's individual nutritional and performance requirements.

Adapt meals according to training schedules, energy requirements, recovery and personal objectives.

Develop appropriate pre- and post-training meals, snacks and refreshments.

Maintain a strong understanding of performance nutrition, nutrient density and balanced eating.

Support individual body-composition and wellness objectives through considered menu planning.

Work collaboratively with the family, Estate Manager and, where applicable, personal trainers, nutritionists and wellness professionals.

Monitor feedback and continually adapt menus according to the family's preferences, requirements and changing objectives.

Maintain a practical and sustainable approach to healthy eating rather than overly restrictive or repetitive “diet food”.

Family Cooking

Provide all daily meals for two adults and three children.

Create nutritious, varied and appealing meals appropriate for different ages and requirements.

Ensure children's meals are balanced, nutritious and enjoyable.

Accommodate individual preferences, dislikes and dietary requirements.

Maintain flexibility around the family's changing daily schedule.

Prepare snacks, packed meals and food for activities or travel when required.

CULINARY REQUIREMENTS

The family particularly enjoys Asian cuisine, authentic UAE and Middle Eastern cuisine, and biryani, alongside a broad range of international dishes.

The successful chef must be highly versatile and able to deliver both healthy contemporary cuisine and authentic family favourites.

Required Culinary Strengths

Excellent knowledge of Asian cuisine and cooking techniques.

Strong ability in authentic UAE and Middle Eastern cuisine.

Exceptional biryani preparation.

Strong international culinary repertoire.

Excellent knowledge of fresh seafood, meat, poultry, vegetables and whole foods.

Ability to create nutritious, contemporary and visually appealing dishes.

Strong understanding of flavour, texture and presentation.

Ability to make intelligent nutritional adjustments without compromising the authenticity or enjoyment of a dish.

Authenticity is important to the family. Traditional dishes should retain their character, flavour and quality while being thoughtfully incorporated into an overall performance-led approach.

MENU DEVELOPMENT \& NUTRITION

Plan weekly menus in advance.

Develop menus around the family's training, travel and social schedules.

Ensure variety across meals and cuisines.

Balance protein, carbohydrates, healthy fats, fibre and micronutrients appropriately.

Source high-quality, fresh and seasonal ingredients.

Develop healthy snacks and desserts where appropriate.

Continually research new ingredients, culinary techniques and wellness trends.

Maintain flexibility to modify menus at short notice.

A formal qualification in nutrition, sports nutrition or a related field would be advantageous, although practical experience and demonstrable knowledge will also be considered.

FOOD PURCHASING \& KITCHEN MANAGEMENT

Manage all household food purchasing and sourcing.

Maintain relationships with high-quality suppliers.

Manage food inventory and stock rotation.

Ensure the kitchen is fully stocked and organised.

Minimise food waste.

Maintain accurate awareness of household food requirements.

Maintain exceptional food hygiene and kitchen cleanliness standards.

Ensure all food preparation and storage complies with the highest standards.

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL \& ENTERTAINING

The role will include occasional international travel with the family, primarily to Europe and other overseas destinations.

The successful candidate must be comfortable:

Travelling internationally as required by the family.

Working from private residences, hotels, villas, yachts or other locations.

Adapting to different kitchens, equipment and local ingredients.

Planning menus and sourcing ingredients ahead of travel.

Maintaining the family's nutritional and performance requirements while overseas.

Preparing meals around changing travel, training and activity schedules.

Maintaining discretion and professionalism while travelling.

Supporting family entertaining and private events when required.

Coordinating with local chefs, household staff and suppliers where appropriate.

The chef should be highly adaptable and resourceful, able to maintain the same level of culinary excellence regardless of location.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

The ideal candidate will have:

Extensive experience as a Private Chef within a UHNW, HNW or high-profile household.

Formal culinary training from a recognised culinary institution.

Strong knowledge of Asian, Middle Eastern and international cuisine.

Demonstrable expertise in authentic UAE cuisine and biryani.

Strong knowledge of nutrition, wellness and performance-led cooking.

Experience catering for families and children.

Previous international private-chef travel experience is highly desirable.

A genuine interest in health, fitness, longevity and nutrition.

Excellent menu planning and organisational skills.

Exceptional attention to detail.

A proactive and solutions-focused approach.

The ability to work independently and manage the household kitchen to an exceptionally high standard.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Complete discretion and respect for family privacy.

Flexibility to adapt to a dynamic household environment.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

The successful candidate will be:

Performance-led – motivated by achieving tangible results and understanding how nutrition supports performance and wellbeing.

Passionate – genuinely interested in food, nutrition, health and culinary development.

Discerning – understands the expectations of a UHNW household and consistently delivers to a high standard.

Proactive – anticipates requirements rather than waiting to be instructed.

Adaptable – comfortable responding to changing schedules, preferences, locations and requirements.

Family-focused – understands how to create food that works for both adults and children.

Discreet – understands the confidentiality and privacy expected within a private household.

Professional – polished, reliable, organised and able to maintain clear boundaries within a private family environment.

SUCCESS IN THE ROLE

Success will be demonstrated through the ability to:

Deliver consistently exceptional food.

Support the family's individual performance and wellness objectives.

Create healthy food that is genuinely enjoyable and sustainable.

Maintain variety and culinary creativity.

Understand and anticipate the family's needs.

Build trust and strong working relationships with the family.

Maintain an exceptionally high standard of kitchen management.

Deliver consistently high standards while travelling internationally.

Continually develop the household's culinary and wellness offering.

PACKAGE

Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience Working Schedule: Full time International Travel: Occasional, primarily Europe and other overseas destinations Start Date: October 1st

The package will be commensurate with the experience and calibre of the successful candidate.

Pay: From AED1.00 per month

Work Location: In person